Category Archive for Nightcrawling
Tokyo Goth Halloween parties, events, clubs! Gothic Midnight Mess, drag queen shows, LGBTQ nightclubs.
Can’t believe it is this time of year again… This is Halloween, this is Halloween! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to Japan for 2024 spooky season… But I have tons to share from last year’s All Hallow’s Eve, including a look at parties you can attend this weekend.
(On Saturday, Oct 26, Mistress Maya is having a Bizarre Halloween Night in Kamakura — details here, hope you can go and bring your friends! Read on to see what the amazing alt art space and event is like, and see my reel from last year for a preview.)
I did change up my hair for pumpkin season — so here’s my latest face card. My hair stylist is Katya at Kore Salon in Vancouver’s Gastown — love how she gave me big, chunky red highlights for a Y2K lewk.
These days, Shibuya is packed like sardines on Halloween night. To prevent crowding and shenanigans, you’ll see sights like this one outside Shibuya Station, which try to cancel Halloween.
Regardless, Goths and normies alike will be out and about every year on Halloween weekend. I recommend avoiding the heart of Shibuya if you dislike crowds — instead, head to Ni-Choome (the Shinjuku LGBTQ district) like we did last year on Oct 31.
If you’re looking for a magnificent Gothic event to hit up on Saturday, Oct 26… then head to Kamakura for Midnight Mess’ Bizarre Circus. My friends and I arrived in the afternoon (it’s about an hour by train from Tokyo to Kamakura) to salute the Great Buddha or Daibutsu.
Do you recognize my costume from last year? I dressed as Catsy or Koan, the most extreme of the Black Moon Clan sisters in Sailor Moon! Leave it to be to be a manga/anime villain.
Kōtoku-in temple is home to The Great Buddha of Kamakura, a bronze statue established in the 13th century. Everything about the meditating Buddha and peaceful temple grounds evokes “serenity, now.”
For a small fee, you can go inside the Buddha (there are open windows in his back, but prepared for a stuffy experience!)
Then, we took a taxi to Mistress Maya’s Halloween party, a “Strange and Beautiful Circus” (which is also happening Sat, Oct 26, 2024).
Here’s the map and address: 22 Juniso, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0001, Japan
The artistic, Gothic event takes place in Salon de Suigeikan, an otherworldly art space chock full of leather art by Masamichi Ishimaru. The space is now managed by his son Kazuto Ishimaru, who is also a sculptor.
The night unfolds like the mysterious occult masquerade of Eyes Wide Shut. Last year, we were swept away by the operatic countertenor of vocalist Suguru Hachidori, and other talented classical musicians. This year, my friend Kenichi Nishizawa is the featured performer — wish I could be there.
Guests can mingle and enjoy the face paint booth, natural wines and champagnes, food, and performances by DJs, musicians, and drag queens.
Mistress Maya always puts on an innovative rope show (kinbaku, or Japanese bondage). Last year, she did a dark fairytale performance with mermaids, dancers, and live violin / piano / guitar.
You’ve got to see my IG reel from last Halloween to see what this mermaid rope show was like, and to hear the improvised music.
And then, Nattmara (Yukiro Dravarious) dominated the stage with a drag show inspired by M3gan — the AI roboto horror queen!
I think this photo illustrates how much fun we had at Maya’s Bizarre Halloween party in Kamakura.
If you love oddities like giant leather animal sculptures, then you’ll adore Salon de Suigeikan — filled with Ishimaru-san’s fantastical art.
The giant gorilla, whale, and flesh-like elements everywhere were to die for. I hope you can make it to Maya’s party on Sat Oct 26, or another upcoming Midnight Mess Goth / cyberpunk / underground event! (See info about the next parties and events on her Instagram.)
Last year, we celebrated to the nines for Halloween… I feel I’m still recovering from it! My friends and I met up at a private apartment party in Shinjuku…
Of course, we brought the darkness — and ate all the food, muahaha.
When Sailor Jupiter runs into Koan… there’s down to be a tussle! Talk about literally fighting evil by moonlight.
Such fun to dress up and celebrate Halloween in Tokyo with my Goth crew.
Do you recognize Yukiro’s costume? She is Maetel, the mysterious tragic woman from Galaxy Express 999 manga and anime.
Can you tell we love Halloween? Dressing up and being scary means we’re in our element.
Onward to Ni-Choome, the LGBTQ district in Shinjuku. The real action happens at the 7-Eleven (if you know, you know).
Friends gather here to get conbini drinks and snacks. We always wind up seeing familiar faces in the crowd outside the Ni-Choome 7-11.
Then, karaoke at Eagle Blue Tokyo, a favorite bar for bears. The venue also hosts a variety of themed nights like drag queen shows and RuPaul screenings.
Tokyo’s Gothic music and club scene continues to flourish. Takmi Remnant held “Die Nacht Zwei” at Sakuradai Pool, where his band and others played.
Guests can shop for creepy. handmade oddities from local vendors, like these.
DJ Chihiro and DJ Sisen have been part of the keeping the scene undead ever since the earliest days of this blog! Always happy to reunite and dance to their dark sounds.
Check out Takmi Remnant’s IG page for his upcoming musical performances and Gothic events like this one.
Look who crept out of his coffin to perform…
Yukiro and Haus von Schwarz hit the stage… got to say, they’ve got guts!
Haus von Schwarz holds regular drag shows and performances year round, such as Casket of Horrors. Check out my reel of our haunted izakaya visit for a taste of their werk.
You can see upcoming Haus von Schwarz drag queen events on their IG.
Here’s what went down at last year’s Casket of Horrors. Elon Musk even showed up in one of the acts…
Watch clips of the performers from the Gothic/alt drag extravaganza Casket of Horrors here on my IG.
And my bestie Yukiro Dravarious is constantly performing drag all around Tokyo! You can always count on sensational serves like these.
There are drag king events too… This prop went transformed from an office chair into a motorcycle, in one of the Kings of Tokyo acts!
Triesste belted out a wide range of songs — a joy to see her strut the stage.
Yukiro is a creative force — he also performs with his band Denanoma. I put together this video tribute to his various Goth / drag / music / film activities in the underground world!
I hope you’ll get to check out these Goth / alt / drag events whenever you visit Tokyo, as my friends are hosting parties year-round.
I’m “gutted” that I won’t be there this Halloween… but I’ll be back in Japan next year for sure, and have other outrageous travels ahead! Keep your eyes on @LaCarmina IG to see where in the world I head next.
And don’t forget, I’m still selling most of my possessions… so if you’d like anything, reach out! See all my sale listings (clothes, accessories, toys, and more) at @LaCarmina Depop. But no need to use the app, you can email me (gothiccarmina attt gmail. dotcomm) and let me know what you’d like.
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Koenji Tokyo Yokai Parade: Japanese spirits folk masks festival! Rick Owens rave, Akabane Reien haunted ghost pub.
Boo! Ready for more spooky Tokyo, Japan stories? Yukiro and I are delighted to fright you all year round!
My Koenji yokai parade video went viral on @LaCarmina Instagram, and many of you asked for details like — when and where the Tokyo yokai parade takes place next, for Halloween 2024.
Read on for the scoop on Tokyo’s otherworldly Koenji Yokai Parade, featuring handmade costumes of Japanese folklore spirits like kappa and oni. I’ll also take you inside Akabane Reien haunted horror ghost izakaya (here’s video of the spooky pub), and the Rick Owens Tokyo fashion rave!
And don’t forget that I’m selling almost everything I own… so if you dig my Gothic fashion / accessories, come see my clearout @LaCarmina Depop and reach out if I can send you anything. (I’m offering free shipping within Canada in Oct!)
And watch out… Tokyo’s most terrifying drag queens are back for Halloween! My friends Haus von Schwarz are vogueing through The Collapse at “Apocalypstick,” their next Casket of Horrors drag show (10/12 at Shinjuku Heist). Japan’s most elite drag performers are strutting the stage, along with Seileen and DJs.
Tickets and more info here! You may recall I went to this Japan drag queen fiesta last year and had a blast — here’s a video of what went down.
Many of you were enthralled by my Insta reel of the Tokyo Yokai Parade, which takes place during the daytime just before Halloween each year in Koenji. In 2024, the Koenji yokai festival will take place the afternoon of Saturday, Oct 26, 2024. The event is free to attend, so no tickets required — you can just show up to see spirits strolling down Shinkoenji-dori shopping street. Address: 3 Chome-36-15 Koenjiminami, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0003, Japan
Last year, the Koenji Yokai Parade was everything! The participants put such detail and effort into their handmade costumes and masks, which represent ghostly and magic creatures from Japanese folk legends, like the kitsune fox.
The procession included Kōenji Awa Odori dancers or ren, wearing yukata and straw hats. They performed choreographed hand and dance movements down Shin-koenji Doori street (just show up there in the afternoon and you’ll catch them.)
Musicians played traditional matsuri instrumental songs (using the shamisen stringed instrument, drums, flutes and cymbals). I spot an oni, or demonic ogre / troll.
Love the creativity of traditional folk yokai, or tricksters, monsters, demons, and other supernatural spirits.
The basket-headed flute player is komuso, or Buddhist warriors (a non-monk) that wore straw basket hats that covered their faces. They play the shakuhachi bamboo flute or suizen, and were deadly characters in the Lone Wolf and Cub series!
Here are women in hannya masks (used in Noh theater) to depict jealous ladies. They represent waka onna, or young ladies.
Some of the yokai parade characters are from the folk tradition, while some are newly created characters.
Anyone can join the procession if they pay a small fee at the start. Or just watch from the sidelines, and cheer them on while taking photos and videos.
The paraders truly embodied their characters, moving and acting as if they were possessed.
The Koenji Yokai Parade had everything from horned cyber demons to mecha-samurai.
I was wowed by the imagination and artistry that went into the masks, props and costumes.
This devilish cat got a lot of attention from onlookers!
Please watch my viral Koenji yokai parade video to see the festivities in action. Catch the procession again this year (on Shinkoenji shopping street, afternoon of Sat October 26 — add @lacarmina Instagram for info and announcements so you won’t miss it).
Also on Oct 26 – Maya of Midnight Mess is having a party again at Suigeikan Kamakura, and Territory (Taiki-san’s legacy) is spinning all night at Black Veil in Osaka. Check my IG for all the details.
My favorite time of year to be in Tokyo is October-November because of the great weather and all the Halloween / Goth parties. Last season, Yukiro and I started our all-night rager at a queer horror film event in Shimokitazawa.
We found an eerily lit hall near the station, which was perfect for our cybergoth outfits.
Then, we took the train to Shin-Kiba station for a private fashion party held by edgy fashion designer Rick Owens, to celebrate the launch of his photo book with Danielle Levitt.
Please watch my reel of the Rick Owens rave to see loads of Japanese Goth avantgarde fashion!
The “who’s who” of the Tokyo Goth underworld was at the Rick Owens rave, dressed to the nines…
… and look who played a DJ set — Fecal Matter, or Matieres Fecales! The design duo from Montreal is known for their avantgarde dark styling.
We ran into friends from all Japanese subcultures at the Rick Owens all night party — from alternative designers to latex-wearing fetish folk.
You know it’s a good club night when half-naked Japanese boys are giving out free bottles of yuzu.
Much like the Koenji yokai parade, the partygoers went all out with handcrafted outerspace couture. Only in Japan do you see such creative nightlife dressing.
Pink Harajuku alien style, yesss.
Of course, Yukiro stood out with his height and neon locks.
Watch my Instagram reel of the Rick Owens warehouse rave to see these sumo dancers and Fecal Matter in motion.
Some hater commented “This is absolutely disgusting, barf” on the video… so I pinned it as the top comment! (They’re not wrong…)
Last but not least, Yukiro organized a gathering of his drag Haus of Schwarz at Akabane Reien — a haunted / ghost / horror themed izakaya, which none of us had been to before! As you can tell from the decor and our funny voguing video, it was a frightful delight. (Photos by Alejandro Morales Rama.)
Akabane Reien is an izakaya (small homestyle Japanese pub) with one guy running the show.
We crammed into the seats to share homey food, and sing karaoke (the random group in the back got quite rowdy!)
Akabane Reien is one of Tokyo’s many strange theme restaurants. It celebrates all things creepy and spooky like skulls, cobwebs, horror icons…
And when you least expect it… Someone (like the disembodied hand) falls towards you with a bang! I screamed as if I were in a haunted house.
We sang our favorite 80s songs surrounded by corpse limbs and Japanese lanterns (only in Tokyo)…
I spy Jason, the Scream masks, and more. Watch our video on @LaCarmina IG to see footage of Akabane Reien.
We had to order this disgusting meat dish… the seaweed and cream make it extra horrific! Hot tip: don’t order the sausage and ham flaps here.
Enjoy our video about visiting Akabane Reien Halloween-themed restaurant. Be sure to catch Haus von Schwarz – Tokyo’s Goth drag house – at their next Casket of Horrors performance: Sat Oct 12 at Shinjuku Heist! Info and advance tickets are here.
And thanks to the 1.5 million people that enjoyed my Koenji yokai parade vid! You can add me @lacarmina Instagram for more offbeat and Gothic Tokyo adventures like these.
PS: don’t forget, I’m unloading pretty much all my worldly possessions. Reach out of you want anything from my sale — I’m offering free shipping for Canadians in Oct. I have loads of Goth Harajuku alt punk clothes, jewelry, kawaii toys and much more… come see my listings @LaCarmina Depop. (But no need to use the app, just email me gothiccarmina @ gmail. dotcom and let me know what you’d like!)
LA CARMINA
