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Steam Garden: Tokyo, Japan steampunk party at Christon Cafe Shinjuku. Japanese cosplay fashion event.

steam garden, kenny creation, tokyo steampunk party

The concept of Steampunk is only beginning to gain recognition in Japan, even though there have been many works that incorporate the aesthetic, such as Katsuhiro Otomo’s anime film Steamboy. My Tokyo-based friends Kenny Creation and Luke Chaos have been passionate about Steampunk for some time, and last year, they founded the event Steam Garden. (Photo above by Aki Saito)

3d photography, blacklight photography

On March 10th, I went to their fourth event, themed “Celtic Fantasy.” Luke and Kenny rented out the entire Christon Café Shinjuku (a theme restaurant filled with European relics), and filled it with tribal fire dancers, cosplay performances, Medieval food, and live music on period instruments. (Photo by Jab)

japanese steampunk party, steampunk girls

Each event has a different theme, revolving around a past era. Previously, Steam Garden did a Meiji-themed party — a fascinating time when Japan was opening its doors to the West, and fusing Victorian fashion with traditional kimonos and obis.

steam garden, steampunk club, tokyo

This time, the code word was Celtic Fantasy. Luke describes it as “a blend of industry, fantasy, and epic adventure set to a soundtrack of exciting tribal and Celtic music.”

celtic fantasy party, dancing

Kenny Creation DJ-ed possibly the most original set I’ve ever heard… it was exclusively bagpipe music! The crowd wasn’t sure how to dance to it, but Sarah and I gave it a go.

japanese fire breather, sword swallower

In between sets, there were mesmerizing performances by motion capture and stunt performer Kaori Kawabuchi (Final Fantasy 13), live music on a variety of period instruments from medieval group Homonculus…

tokyo steampunk, fire breathers, chaos royale

… steamcore music and tribal fire dance from Chaos Royale VS Lyon.

absinthe tokyo, absente, japanese steampunk hair

Kana is the beautiful green Absinthe fairy, serving French “grande absente”.

steampunk men's fashion, steampunk man, top hat

With the dapper “philosopher” of Steam Garden, Luke. La Carmina wears:

Plaid purple dress: Miho Matsuda, from Closet Child. I wore it quite differently in this grunge outfit post.
Clockwork purse: Amavel, from Lumine Shinjuku (pics from this store soon)
Tako corset: gifted by Dracula Clothing (I wore it on the cover of Ladies of Steampunk magazine)

braveheart costume, cosplay, blue facepaint

Braveheart roamed the room, challenging partygoers to duels in a Scottish accent.

captain nemo costume, steampunk accessories

One section of Christon Cafe contained tables, which sold pocket-watches, Steampunk accessories and other brass and clockwork instruments.

christon cafe food, tokyo steampunks

You could also order food — a plate of meat on skewers, to fit the Medieval vibe.

hooded witch costume, renaissance fantasy faire

Yukiro Dravarious is an evil witch from the woods.

japanese steampunk fashion, tokyo victorian clothing

Steam Garden attracts an extremely fashionable, well-dressed crowd. It’s inspiring to see how Japanese alternative fashionistas have adopted the style, making it into something distinctively Japanese.

steampunk girls, dresses, japanese masks

Love the cute twist on Steampunk’s signature brown clothing and brass goggles.

pageboy costume, plaid skirt braveheart

I enjoyed the company of a Victorian pageboy, a Braveheart lass…

victorian inventor, inventor's society

… Captain Nemo, and a Victorian inventor gentleman.

mori girls, tokyo mori fashion, deer antlers hair

A striking Mori-kei wood maiden look here, with flowers and antlers in the hair.

Shiro-Nuri kei, white face makeup, shironuri tokyo style

Every style tribe is welcome here, like Shiro-Nuri (white face paint, ghostly fashion).

steampunk lolita, japanese lolitas

And Japanese Lolitas. Do you like their coordinates?

steampunk glove, handmade outfits

Many of the outfits involved DIY gear, like this impressive glove with moving parts.

asymmetrical glasses, cool japanese glasses

If you’re having a hard time deciding between square and circular glasses, why not choose both!

christon cafe shinjuku

Except for the first two, all photos are by Said Karlsson, who photographed me for two magazine covers and spreads.

tokyo steampunk dancers, bellydancing

Steam Garden occurs every few months, and I can’t wait for the next one in July. People from all over Japan travel here to attend, as it’s the only regular, organized Steampunk event in the country.

For updates, and to keep track of this scene, join the Tokyo Steampunk Society on Facebook. As Luke puts it, “Here’s hoping the airship will keep on soaring higher!”

mori kei, tokyo mori fashion, deer antler hairpiece

Did you know this Steampunk culture existed in Japan? What do you think of the performances and fashion at this event?

PS: Off to Montreal to cover Kinetik festival, and the local alt art/culture! Let me know your travel tips.

SHARE & COMMENT

38 Comments

  1. Yolanda
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 6:09 pm | Permalink

    Kenny Creation ! <3

  2. Gerald
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 6:10 pm | Permalink

    ^_^

  3. Bella
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 6:10 pm | Permalink

    Wow!Wow!

  4. PBD
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 6:10 pm | Permalink

    that’s a beautiful place

  5. Candy
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 6:14 pm | Permalink

    OMG!!!!!

  6. Rich
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    Great Japanese steampunk article

  7. Ryan
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    Daaang. Japanese steampunk. I want to visit. (I like the Eerie Witch and the Lady Samurai.)

  8. Arthur
    Posted May 18, 2013 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    Japanese Steampunk is insane.

  9. trashtastika
    Posted May 19, 2013 at 4:55 am | Permalink

    I LOVED the outfits I saw when I attended the event before this one (I was there last November) – but I was too chicken to ask people if I could take their photos! Next time… I’m just in awe at how wonderfully the alt fashionistas make each sub-culture their own :)

    • lacarmina
      Posted May 19, 2013 at 8:01 pm | Permalink

      I know, it’s amazing how creative the Japanese are with any style! <3 hope we can go together next time. What are your travel plans?

  10. MelissaR
    Posted May 19, 2013 at 8:16 am | Permalink

    LOVE the contacts and the Celtic style dress with corset is aaammmaaazing!

  11. Dani
    Posted May 19, 2013 at 2:34 pm | Permalink

    wow awesome

  12. Alana
    Posted May 19, 2013 at 2:34 pm | Permalink

    The pictures turned out great!

  13. Hadie
    Posted May 19, 2013 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

    Thinks for giving a sight in the japanese Scene. It´s very interesting.

  14. Gavin
    Posted May 19, 2013 at 7:43 pm | Permalink

    Followed the link to your blog on Tokyo Steampunk Society’s Facebook. Just wanted to say, great writeup of the event! I was the “Inventor Gentlemen.”

  15. Gry
    Posted May 20, 2013 at 2:13 am | Permalink

    Pretty steamy!

  16. Anna
    Posted May 20, 2013 at 10:54 pm | Permalink

    phantasmagoric ball :)

  17. Tessa
    Posted May 21, 2013 at 12:47 pm | Permalink

    I haven’t visited your blog in a while but now that I’m back it’s like, WOW. I think you have improved greatly in every aspect, like photography, posing and composition of content. Looks like you really are going from strength to strength!

    • lacarmina
      Posted May 22, 2013 at 1:18 am | Permalink

      Aw, thank you! It’s heartening to hear that. There’s always ways to improve, I’m glad you are enjoying the new direction. Lots of posts to come about Maldives, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and more… it’s nice to hear from you again, please come back and chat any time!!

  18. Paulson
    Posted May 21, 2013 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

    The fashions are unbelievable thanks for this

  19. Jill
    Posted May 21, 2013 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

    Really great
    La Carmina will u come to Germany

  20. Kiki
    Posted May 21, 2013 at 3:55 pm | Permalink

    Ahhhhhhhhhhhh :)

  21. psique
    Posted May 21, 2013 at 6:29 pm | Permalink

    This post is amazing

  22. natalie
    Posted May 22, 2013 at 1:11 am | Permalink

    yummy!!

  23. Stitcheh
    Posted May 22, 2013 at 1:21 am | Permalink

    Amazing

  24. Layas
    Posted May 22, 2013 at 1:21 am | Permalink

    you great La Carmina

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