Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
THE BIG NEWS: LA CARMINA TO CO-HOST TOKYO EPISODE OF ANDREW ZIMMERN’S BIZARRE WORLD TV SHOW ON TRAVEL CHANNEL!
So… I’ve been hinting at an out-of-this-world announcement, and I wasn’t pulling your leg. It’s such a doozy that I can’t believe it’s happening… but it is.
In October, I’m being flown to Tokyo… to be a guide and co-host for several outrageous segments… of Andrew Zimmern’s TV show on Travel Channel, Bizarre World!
It’s no secret that I’m a Travel Channel fanatic (remember our Goth recreation of Anthony Bourdain’s Tokyo episode?). Andrew Zimmern has one of the channel’s most popular programs, Bizarre Foods, in which he roams the globe to gulp down eyeballs and other strange meals. His new show, Bizarre World, is even cooler — because Andrew explores weird subcultures and cultural oddities in addition to food.
So how amazing is that I — and more importantly, my spooky friends (above) — get to be part of the action?
I can’t reveal everything we’ve planned… but will it involve decadent dress, cyber/Goth/fetish nightcrawling, takeovers of wild theme restaurants (like in my book), and feasting on the parts of a certain large beast? Ohhhhh yes!
If you want a preview of our ghoulish cross-dressing antics, you can watch our Death Cookbook, Mad Hatter, Midnight Mess, and Wizard of the Opera videos on my YouTube channel. Travel Channel was charmed by my book, Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants (none of this would have occurred if my publicist didn’t send them a copy — thank you!). It would be great if you could add my book to your wish-list, and I think you will enjoy the cute maid cafe photos too.
Life is insane right now… right after the Travel Channel adventure, I’m off to book signings and media appearances in several US cities (I will announce locations and dates soon). I hope to see you there — and I will dutifully report on all the Tokyo madness, promise. Thank you for all your support — without it, none of this would have been possible!
Song of the Day #205: Fukuda Saki – Goodbye My Love (a classic, gorgeous song — must listen.)
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JOSOU: JAPANESE DRAG, GROUPS FOR MEN DRESSING AS CUTE GIRLS 女装. CROSS-DRESSING, FANTASY COSPLAY, TOKYO SUBCULTURES.
Now here’s something that gets my two thumbs up. Many Japan universities now have josoo-circles (女装) or clubs where men dress up like girls!
YUKIRO: Its “oshare-status” to look good in woman clothing now in Japan. Its the new Boom <3<3. TV can’t even deny it anymore! Japanese are so gay !!!
CARMINA: They look great!
YUKIRO: I have a friend on Mixi who showed me these videos and told me about it. He also said that foreigners won’t understand this but the Japanese people are so tolerant due to the manga/anime culture.
CARMINA: YES, and a lot of people won’t understand that it’s not sexual or deviant.
YUKIRO: Yeah! It has nothing to to with that. As you can see in the video, one of them has a girlfriend who does his make-up and so on.
The Japanese TV report we’re referring to is on YouTube; here are Part 1 and Part 2. There are more photos of men dressed in Sweet Lolita and other female fashions in my Theme Restaurants book (I photograph the drag maid cafe where Yukiro works, Hibari-tei).
Back to work now… goodness, I’m up to my ears! I will reveal the amazing news tomorrow or the day after… it’s insane, trust me!
Song of the Day #202: Frank Mills – Music Box Dancer (reminds me of my early years.)