Category Archive for J-News
J-POP CENTER OPENING AUGUST 2009 IN SAN FRANCISCO: JAPANESE FASHION BOUTIQUES, VIZ CINEMA.
San Francisco was always a hub for Japanese culture, and it’s soon going to be top stop in America for Harajuku fashion. New People World is counting down the days to the August opening of its J-Pop Center: an ultra-mod 20,000 sq. foot complex in Japantown (1746 Post St.) That’s three stories and a basement dedicated to J-pop culture… including several Lolita boutiques!
† Basement: The 143-seat VIZ Cinema – with “high-definition digital projection and THX®-certified sound” – will broadcast the best of Japanese cinema. Expect anime, samurai dramas, J-horror…
† First floor: Dedicated to two of my favorite victuals: coffee (Blue Bottle, a local roaster) and bentos (Delica rf-1). I wonder if the bentos will be cute? (PS – you can now pre-order Cute Yummy Time!)
† Main floor: The New People signature shop delivers “all that is kawaii, fun, fabulous and bizarre.” Everything from music, toys, clothing, books, DVDs, and limited edition products.
† Second floor: THIS is what we’ve been waiting for. Get ready for the US flagship boutiques of Baby the Stars Shine Bright, Alice and the Pirates, Black Peace Now, and 6% Doki Doki! (You can see photos of all these stores in my shopping guide.)
† Third floor: Superfrog Gallery will exhibit fun, modern artists (soon to be announced). I hope it’ll be as fantastic as Royal/T in LA!
Seiji Horibuchi, head of VIZ Media and Pictures, spearheaded the J-Pop Center project. His vision: “to foster the appreciation, preservation and exposure of Japanese pop culture and to connect the public with its creators.” Investment to date: $15 million. A promising sign that the US interest in J-pop culture will continue to spawn…
Song of the Day #127: Queens of the Stone Age – Another Love Song (I love the album, Songs for the Deaf.)
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J-NEWS #3: JAPAN FASHION WEEK ROBOT RUNWAY MODEL, NE-NET COLLECTION, MAD TEA PARTY.
Hot off the blogs! Get your J-news here!
† Robot runway model debuts at Japan Fashion Week. She won’t get out of bed for less than 10,000 volts… HRP-4C was designed to look like an average Japanese woman, but I think her silver-and-black body makes her look more like a Storm Trooper. Mrs. Roboto can walk, move her arms and make facial expressions such as anger and surprise – but she isn’t yet ready to do daily chores or carry out Japan’s secret plans to take over the world…
† Sakura Syndrome launches website and new Japan&Anime Party. DJs and organizers Somnium in Tenebris and Mona Risa jumpstarted the interest in Japanese pop culture in Greece with their J-music events. Their new site has concert reviews, recent press and more. Check out the details for the April 3rd party, which includes a cosplay contest!
† Mad Hatter party takes over Royal/T maid cafe in LA. LA Weekly reports on the Alice in Wonderland-themed soiree, which attracted both LA’s doll collectors and Lolitas.
† Japan Fashion Week opened last Monday; sadly, h.NAOTO and other Goth Loli designers won’t be on the runways this year. I continue to be intrigued by Ne-net, a young label that isn’t exactly wearable but strikes a chord with me nonetheless. Conehead hair, boxing gloves and champion belts, wrestler masks like the ones from Swimmer…
I posted photos of Ne-net’s store in Laforet here; you can view more Japan Fashion Week runway photos on the website. Which designers caught your attention?
Keep up the contest entries! You have a great chance of winning this time around; there are TWELVE generous Goth/Lolita prizes up for grabs (3 gift certificates from Gloomth, 9 makeup prizes from Aromaleigh!)
Song of the Day #76: Kaya – Chocolat
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† HOW TO WIN
Each person can enter up to three times. You receive…
– 1 entry if you embed my new video in a blog post or forum, or link to it via Facebook, Twitter, Stumble or any other social network.
– 1 point if you promote the contest in a blog post or forum, or link to it via Facebook, Twitter, Stumble or any other social network. (You can promote it at the same time as the video.)
– 1 point if you comment here and tell me your favorite Gloomth/Aromaleigh product and why.
† TO ENTER
Simply comment here or in the previous 3 posts with a link to where you spread the word. If your comment doesn’t show up, don’t worry – I will check my Spam regularly and approve your entries. Click here for the fine print.
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