Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
BLACK SWAN MAKEUP: MOVIE STARRING NATALIE PORTMAN. BEST OSAKA SHOPPING DISTRICT: SHINSAIBASHI GOTH LOLITA JAPANESE PUNK SHOPS.
I was looking forward to the film Black Swan ever since I saw the poster of Natalie Portman in winged-eyed Gothic makeup. I went to the advance screening last night, and yes, the Oscar buzz is well deserved. Portman is terrifying as a perfectionist ballerina teetering towards insanity. Be prepared for to wince — nail cutting, scratching and peeling — as she falls to pieces. Darren Aronofsky (director of Pi) keeps it tense throughout, especially in the spiraling scenes where she dances to Swan Lake. Black Swan opens today… go see it. You may leave the theater perturbed, but you won’t be disappointed.
Tis the season for Christmas shopping — how have you been faring? If only we could transport ourselves to the Shinsaibashi district of Osaka. There’s a one-shop stop for your favorite Japanese Goth Punk and Lolita clothing.
The last time I visited, Sex Pot Revenge, Regulus and Busoh Sensen were on display. Can’t go wrong with neon electro graphic prints.
Iron Fist shoes are big in Japan. Do you remember the Zombie and blood-dripping shoes that Iron Fist sent me? These stompers are also sold in Tokyo’s Nude and Rude store (here is a full post with photos).
I rarely buy new clothes in Japan, but I love going into stores and examining the displays. I always come out with new ideas on how to coordinate outfits.
Many of you liked my Listen Flavor cat punk sweater. This playful alternative brand is a gem.
Listen Flavor’s cheeky characters and electric colors are a nice change from black-black-black.
This Osaka basement store also carries Hypercore.
Punk and New Wave are not dead. For Osaka shopping maps, photos and reports, please visit my Japan store guide.
What’s everyone doing this weekend? Perhaps some DIX-mas shopping, and watching Black Swan?
PS: I’ve decided! I’m adding a new color to my hair. Hmm, what do you think it will be….
Japanese Word of the Day: Kotonaru = Different
Song of the Day: Janne Da Arc – Hysteric Moon (Old school Visual Kei, suggested by my lovely Lemon)
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VEGETARIAN & VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN TOKYO, JAPAN. BROWN RICE CAFE & PURE ORGANIC FOODS IN OMOTESANDO, HARAJUKU.
Since Spookyville’s residents tend to be vegan or vegetarian, I’ve visited many meat-free establishments in Tokyo. In between our pirate duties, Naomi and I visited two veggie restaurants — Brown Rice Cafe and Cafe Pure — in Omotesando (a short walk from Harajuku station). Read on to see what we ate…
First, here’s what I wore to the Hangry & Angry fashion show. I’ll be posting exclusive photos and a video interview with designer Gashicon ASAP!
Spooky ghost top: Black Peace Now, from Closet Child Ikebukuro
Black Goth dress: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child
Turquoise long scarf: It’s actually a very long stocking, gifted from Sock Dreams
Fetish mask: from a Camden Market costume store
Makeup: The shimmery turquoise eyeshadow is my new favorite (gifted from Sugarpill Cosmetics by Shrinkle). I created an outline with black eyeliner and blended the edges with white. Glued fake eyelashes over the top for a “big eyed” effect. Pink lip gloss. Done.
Naomi and I finally got to meet Yaz for lunch at Brown Rice Cafe. She’s a hard-working rep for X Japan and h.NAOTO, with a long and well-respected career in the Japan/USA music industry. You can look forward to more collaborations between us!
Brown Rice Cafe takes pride in sourcing seasonal vegetables from trusted Japanese suppliers. Each dish has three “fundamental foods” — vegetables, brown rice and soy — and every bite is intense, fresh flavor. I loved my bento box of veggie delights.
After the fashion show, we met up with some of our favorite people outside another vegetarian eatery, Pure Cafe in Minami-Aoyama.
The indestructible “Sebastian Teamu”: Sebastiano Serafini and I Am Sebastian!
One is a vegan; one requires meat at every meal. Their interaction reminded me of manzai (Japanese traditional stand-up comedy). Can you can guess who’s the “clown” and who’s the “straight man”?
Pink is the new black.
It was around Halloween, so Cafe Pure was serving vegetarian meals that fit the theme… joy!
Kabocha soup, pumpkin sandwiches, organic wines.
I’ll eat anything pumpkin or shaped like a bat or ghost.
You can see more photos of Japanese Halloween foods in this post (including kabocha ice cream and pumpkin pizza).
Do you eat at vegetarian restaurants? Which are your favorites? I’ve been to most of the ones in NYC, LA and Vancouver…
Japanese Word of the Day: Shun = In peak season, ideal time
Song of the Day: David Bowie – Magic Dance. Many of you freaked out on my Twitter and Facebook because I hadn’t seen the David Bowie / Jim Henson film, Labyrinth. I immediately ran out the door to rent it. And it pleased me very much. Evil laughter, sissy fights, codpieces and masques. “David Bowie’s junk is hypnotizing” — indeed!
LA CARMINA
