Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
KAGRRA DISBANDS, VISUAL KEI BAND BREAKING UP IN MARCH: FINAL CONCERT TOUR & CD. HARAJUKU COSPLAY BRIDGE, HALLOWEEN COSTUMES & CRAZY STREET STYLE.
Oh SaTaN. Many of you sent me messages yesterday about Kagrra — the latest Visual Kei band to be pulling a Journey and going Separate Ways. After a ten year run, Kagrra is saying sayonara with a final album, Hyakkikenran, to be released February 2nd. Their final tour will start on February 13th and finish March 3rd at C.C. Lemon Hall in Tokyo.
Reader Shadowpal2 sighs, “Is this normal? I mean just looking in the year 2010…there has been countless disbandings and hiatuses…(hiati?)” Just this week, J-rock bands Valluna, nil delete heads, ALiBi, ZEST, Bi;shop and DISQLOC called it quits.
“Anyway… I call it something having to do with companies. This is just getting ridiculous. Honestly makes me want to buy a one way ticket to Japan and just head from the airport to the Ridiculous store.” What do you think?
On a happier and cuter note: Harajuku girls in Halloween costumes! After the Goth wedding, my spooky crew went to Jingubashi (the famous cosplayer bridge) in Harajuku to see and be seen.
As I mentioned before, the iconic Harajuku bridge is usually empty these days. Even on Sundays, you won’t find very many flamboyant cosplayers hanging out on Jingu-bashi (located to the right of the station).
However, on occasions such as Halloween, the ghouls come out to play…
Tourists swarmed us like paparazzi. We retaliated by shooting them back.
Also on the bridge: Heil Hitler? Not exactly. In Japan, the swastika is called manji and represents represents Dharma, universal harmony, balance.
The kawaii award goes to these two…
It’s fun spending October 31st in Harajuku. But for us spooky kids, every day is Halloween!
Thoughts on the latest round of Jrock band breakups? Who do you think is next? How about Harajuku cosplayer fashion — is it dying? I personally think it’s moved to the club scene…
Japanese Word of the Day: Housou = Broadcast
Song of the Day: Aion – Gasp For Breath (Forefathers of Visual Kei!)
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CUTE HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN FOOD! TOKYO KAWAII RECIPES, KABOCHA PIZZA & ICE CREAM CAKE, SEASONAL HOLIDAY MEALS IN JAPAN.
I love how in Japan, everything is seasonally themed to the max. I ate so much kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) around Halloween that my mother was genuinely concerned I’d turn orange!
Big hair bow barrette: gifted from And Devour
Lace Lolita bracelet: gifted from Broken Velcroe
Vampire cape: Black Peace Now
Purple and black dress: Algonquins, from Ragtag Harajuku. Got it used for 1500 yen!
Black tights with holes: a DIY project.
Shoes: John Fluevog
Here I am with my adored pumpkin pizza — only 200 yen from Sunpierrot. Yukiro and I were devastated when the Japanese bakery stopped offering our favorite snack. Thankfully, it’s come back as “Halloween pizza”.
Naomi convinced the Norway TV crew to pick up Halloween-themed breads and cakes for lunch. The cute ghost has cheesy custard inside; the pumpkin face is filled with anpan (red bean paste).
What other kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) delights did we devour? At the convenience store, we found Häagen-Dazs pumpkin ice cream with a jam swirl. G-suS tried the kabocha pizza for the first time and loved it.
Pasela Karaoke had a special Halloween menu. (Remember when we filmed karaoke singing for Dutch Pepsi TV?)
The offerings included a witch cocktail, kabocha pizza, and this ridiculous “toast cake” with an ice cream and candy witch.
If we hadn’t walked all over Tokyo for the Norway TV shoot, I’d have gained so much weight!
The restaurants in Lumine East Shinjuku offered kabocha pasta, among other goodies.
Godiva sold witchy boxes of chocolates. The restaurants near Meguro station had specials; there was a long lineup for the Halloween sushi.
Behold, my other love: yuzu (a small Japanese citrus)! I had a strong yuzu cocktail and kabocha appetizer at the new Samurai theme restaurant. (Video and photos from this restaurant coming up.)
Ohh, if only it were Halloween every day of the year…
Life would be so spooky and sweet!
For more about cute food and weird theme restaurants, please take a peek at my books.
Are you a fan of eating pumpkin? Out of the Halloween dishes above, which one would you ravage?
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Japanese Word of the Day: Ikumu = To strain
Song of the Day: Nightmare Before Christmas – This Is Halloween
LA CARMINA
