Category Archive for Fims + Videos
JAPANESE HOST BOYS: KABUKI-CHO HOSTS HAIRSTYLE. SHINJUKU HAIR SALON, CLUB AI, JROCK VISUAL KEI TUTORIAL.
Hello, pretty host boys! I guest-hosted a Norway TV show about love in Japan, so of course, we explored the unique phenomenon of the host boy. Women pay these spiky-haired creatures to sing karaoke with them in Kabuki-cho clubs, drink copious champagne and whisper sweet nothings. A rent-a-boyfriend, if you will.
The Norway TV show went to the home of Club Ai’s #1 host boy (yes, they are ranked and their “bite-me” photos displayed outside the club). Keiju greeted Ari and Per in nothing but a bath towel.
Ari Behn, bestselling author and husband of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, is quite the Prince Charming himself.
But how can anyone compete with these slick-suited, vaguely foreign smooth-talkers?
Bracelet buddies. (Super Exclusive Lothario Host Friendship Club?)
Like many of you, the Norwegians wanted to know — what’s the secret to Japanese host boy hair? How do they get it so stylized? So we took them to Kurokami, a hair salon that specializes in these matters.
Ari and Per got host-ified!
The amount of hairspray used is unbelievable (almost a can a person). Using a small comb, the hair stylists sectioned, straightened and sprayed.
Voila: Ari Behn as a host boy.
We got a host-style wig just in case. The cameraman modeled it for us!
Naomi and I had so much fun working with Norwegian TV (she took these photos). Our coolhunting and trend consulting firm, La Carmina & The Pirates, helps film/TV crews shoot in Japan and elsewhere. We help with arranging locations, translation, business dealings and more. There’s more about our services on our website.
Do you swoon in the presence of host boys? Have you ever been to a host club? What was it like?
PS: I think my host boy is much more attractive than the ones on the Norway TV show…
Japanese Word of the Day: Makaseru = Coordinate
Song of the Day: Chthonic – Forty-Nine Theurgy Chains (A Taiwanese metal band!)
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NEW TRAVEL HOSTING JOB: BELGIUM TV DOCUMENTARY ABOUT SAKURA SEASON! ARI OG PER PROGRAM WITH ARI BEHN.
Spring is in the air… and I’m hosting yet another travel TV show! This time, it’s for Belgium’s national broadcast station, VRT (Vlaamse Radio en Televisieomroep). The documentary is about cherry blossom season in Tokyo: sakura culture, festivities and fun. Can’t wait!
Once again, my First Mate Naomi will be making arrangements for the TV shoot. (She took most of the photos in this post). Our company, La Carmina & The Pirates, offers “fixing” services to film and TV companies. We take care of location scouting, translation, scheduling and more. If you’re coming to Tokyo, Japan and want to hire us, come check out our website.
Last fall, NRK (Norway TV) hired us for a shoot in Tokyo about Japanese love and host clubs. One of the stars is Ari Behn, the Prince of Norway! The other is famous photographer Per Heimly, who shot album covers for black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It quite surreal, running around Tokyo with this pair.
Thank you to everyone for your enthusiastic messages about the show! Naomi and I are tickled pink that you enjoyed it. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from the filming.
We were quite the motley crew. Cameraman, sound man, producer, photographer-host, Mistress of the Dark, prince-host.
Ari and Per were great to work with. They’re interested in the people and culture around them, and always up for having fun.
I gave them lessons on how to bow properly.
Forty-five degrees, please.
Tokyo is heaven for photographers. Per kept clickity-clicking his camera.
Flower Lolita headband: Gifted from My Velcroe
Goth coffin backpack: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child
Coat: my own design
So far, I’ve worked with TV shows from Australia, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, France, USA, Canada — and now, Belgium. I feel fortunate I am able to do TV hosting. However, I feel I’ve only gotten started — there’s so much more I’ve yet to accomplish!
If you missed the NRK Norway show about Tokyo, it’s on again a few times. (Times, channels and details are here.)
Interested in featuring your clothing/brand/product on one of my TV shows, or in a blog post? Send me an email and we’ll chat.
Japanese Word of the Day: Kyuu – Steep
Song of the Day: SSQ – Walkman On (1983, before she was Stacey Q. Wonderful song.)
LA CARMINA
