Category Archive for Nightcrawling
SHINJUKU HOST CLUBS. AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL TV SHOW VISITS GOLDEN GAI, PUNK ROCK & VISUAL KEI BARS KABUKO-CHO.
Right! Ready for some bonzer photos from the Australian TV shoot? I met the Aussie travel hosts at Don Quixote in Shinjuku. I strive to always mix it up; never repeat your looks. So I wore something Candy Spooky Theater inspired…
Cyber Wa dress: Ozz On, from Closet Child. Such a unique design; it mixes a traditional Japanese print with gauze and lacing. The corset top is hooked onto the skirt. I wore a black lace lingerie tank top under.
Flower hair clips: from Daiso, the 100 yen store
Ring: a gift from a while back.
Cute fat cat necklace: gifted from Cheeky Jezebel, creators of adorable jewelry. I also wear their accessories in this outfit post.
Makeup: I did a cat eye with black liquid eyeliner, and put long spider-like eyelashes on my bottom lids.
I was the Tokyo guide for The Two Tims: a pair from Australia (both named Tim). They’re currently on a trip around the world, capturing material for their upcoming TV show produced by Sony Australia. I’ll let you know when the Tokyo episode airs (probably next year).
The Tims wanted me to show them Tokyo’s underground scene. After some “establishing shots” and an intro, I took them to Bar Zin, the Visual Kei bar in Kabuki-cho. The Nazi uniform on the wall was quite the shocker to them! I explained that in Japan, fashion and imagery are (for the most part) purely Visual and have no socio-political significance… remember Gackt’s Nazi-like uniform at his recent concert?
This evil lair serves absinthe, and is covered in skulls and Jrock memorabilia. You can see more of Bar Zin in our video tour.
I decided that this joint wasn’t extreme enough. So I took the Australians to Guinea Pig, a fetish bloody horror bar… I’ll have a full post of photos coming up! As you can see from the camera shots, there was a thrilling moment with a live snake.
TV filming can be exhausting because we’re always “on” and moving from place to place. Next, we met shibari (rope tying) artist Hajime Kinoko. The Tims had never been to Tokyo and were mesmerized. Bright lights, big city.
We went to a few little Golden Gai bars (the famous traditional Shinjuku drinking district, near Hanazono Shrine). Met up with The Fashionate Traveller at a rip-roaring punk bar run by a Japanese “Mr T.”
I have more photos and stories from the travel TV shoot coming up… stay tuned for the Japan Cosplay Festival and Seileen’s record release party!
LA friends: you have exciting events ahead of you!
† Friday, Oct 15: New Noir presents Tokyo Social Club, a party at Royal/T maid cafe. Ping-Pong, DJs, a special “Num Num” menu, and cake. (Tickets are 20% off with discount code PINKO, and Naomi will be there!)
† Friday, Oct 15: celebrate the 14th anniversary of Das Bunker, LA’s terrific Industrial dance club. Tactical Sekt will be performing. See nightcrawling photos here.
† Thursday, Oct 28: Tune in Tokyo has its 2nd Anniversary Jrock Live, featuring Mari Iijima, Dig Jelly, Stephanie Yanez and Po Lo, Do Not Feed the DJ, and Asuka & Alee. Here’s info and photos from the Purikura party I hosted.
Absolute last chance to win a gold, customized Pirate necklace! You and I will be the only people on the planet with the Jolly Roger jewelry… so please enter in this post (it only takes a moment).
Finally, may I ask for a 1-second favor? Could you please vote for my blog in the Canadian Weblog Awards? Just click here. In return, I’ll get these host boys to sing you a love song!
Japanese Word of the Day: Iikagen = Irresponsible
Song of the Day: MUCC – Rojiura boku to kimi e
SHARE & COMMENT
X JAPAN TOUR HITS VANCOUVER, 2010 NORTH AMERICA VISUAL KEI CONCERTS. CYBER GOTH DREADS FALLS, BUY CYBERLOX.
X Japan! X Japan! The Visual Kei megastars are in the midst of their very first US and Canadian tour. I had the good fortune to attend the Vancouver concert… prepare thyselves for a report and exclusive live photos.
This epic occasion warranted an epic headpiece. Vickilyn’s Closet kindly sent me these dazzling cyberlox. If you’re not familiar with cybergoth hair “falls,” they’re two bunches of sparkly tubing, tassels and other synthetic material. The designer sent me black/rainbow and red/black ones (I wore both). The lox are long, lightweight and got so many compliments! Vickilyn’s Closet also sells Goth Lolita Cyber Punk clothing and accessories; anything on her site can be made to order, so come take a look.
The jagged decal under my right eye is handmade by Takuya Angel. Excellent news — his store is not closing after all, but will reopen on October 10th in the very same Harajuku location (only now, you use the back door to enter).
Eye shadows: purple and magenta shades, gifted from Annabelle Cosmetics. They’re handy circle compacts that fit into a square case.
Fake eyelashes: Marrlliss brand, from a Tokyo 100 yen ($1) store
Lips: Outlined with dark purple eyeliner, then blended with red lipstick.
Who says you can’t mix Cyber Goth and Lolita? I arranged the dreads so that the red ones peek out on one side.
Dress: Alice and the Pirates, from Closet Child
Black Goth jacket: gifted from Gloomth (better photos here)
Spiky red bracelet: bought it years ago in Camden Market
Fishnets, socks and shoes: Old things
There was a large turnout of Japanese fans at the Vancouver show (held at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre). Guess which of these hardcore gals is also flying to Chicago and Toronto to see the Jrock band perform?
Many brought along cute Hide and Yoshikitty (Yoshiki x Hello Kitty) plush toys.
Thumbs up to the pink-haired Hide cosplayer and Doraemon kigirumi with… a fetish top and rocking horse shoes?
When the doors opened, everyone ran inside and swarmed the merchandise both. Instead of paying for a $30 official t-shirt, one economically-minded fan taped red duct tape on her top (in the shape of a giant X).
The two girls in the center brought roses and made this flag.
Avery and I were interviewed by X Japan’s videographers. We talked about how the rockers inspired us and how excited we were about their North American invasion. The band will later decide what to do with the footage (perhaps it will appear in a tour video).
The League of the Extraordinary Hair.
No matter what language you speak, X is the universal hand symbol among the group’s fans.
Inside, the energy was electric… we are X! Bookmark this blog — tomorrow, I’ll be posting live photos of Yoshiki, Toshi, Pata, Heath, Sugizo (and the ghost of Hide)!
Have you seen X Japan in concert yet? What were your impressions? Did they meet your expectations?
Japanese Word of the Day: Shinkou = Faith, belief
Song of the Day: X JAPAN – Forever Love (Last Live)
LA CARMINA
