Harajuku is just like my favorite movie, The Ten Commandments: each time you revisit it, you discover something new and amazing! The legendary Tokyo district may not the Fruits fashion heaven that people imagine it to be, but if you ask me, it’s still the best place around to shop and soak up colored-hair, pierced-faced, punk-booted inspiration. (Where else would a cute fetish polar bear make total sense?)

I’ve posted hundreds of Harajuku boutique photos, but neglected to put up pictures of rock star merchandise shops. Usually packed with teenage schoolgirls, these stores are plastered with J-pop and Visual Kei posters, photos, tour souvenirs…

Pop idols take up most of the racks, but you’ll find Hide, X Japan, Gackt, Mana and your other favorites in the mix. Most stores offer gachopon (lottery machines); insert 200 yen in this one and you’ll get a Nightmare trinket.

I leave you with a D’espairs Ray 10th anniversary poster from the music store inside Laforet, the Harajuku shopping complex. You can see more Visual Kei music store photos, as well as every Gothic Lolita Punk brand inside Lafore, on this page.

And here is my new CNNGo article: Asia WIN! A photo gallery of epic epicness. Hope it makes you chuckle. See you in costume at my LA book signings!

Song of the Day #247: Laura Branigan – Self Control (I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: 1984 was a very good year.)