Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
TOKYO TRAVEL TV SHOOT HOSTING & ARRANGING: DUTCH PEPSI. SEGA GAME CENTER, HARAJUKU FASHION GUIDE.
The best place in the world to take outfit photos is in Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan. Here’s what I wore on the Dutch Pepsi TV shoot (I’ll post the video of the first episode in the next post!)
Hair accessories: I’m wearing my new (secondhand) Alice and the Pirates hat, from Closet Child Shinjuku. I added a gold chain to the side, a clip-on off-white flower from a fabric store sale, and a gifted Cutie Dynamite gold hair clip.
Makeup: Nothing too extreme. Black eyeliner, false eyelashes and gem stickers from Daiso, and a light pink Japanese lipstick with gloss.
Oversized pink heart ring: Studio Alta, Ikebukuro.
Lolita dress with cherry print and sailor collar: Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. From Closet Child.
Hole-y white tights: gifted from We Love Colors.
Goth coffin-shaped crucifix backpack: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Ikebukuro
Crucifix Mary Jane platform shoes: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Shinjuku. My latest purchase. Only 3000 yen ($30!)
I met the Netherlands TV host, Bo Jeuken, in front of Harajuku Station. We walked down Takeshita Doori; she interviewed me about my work and the various Japanese street style tribes. In front of Laforet department store, we stopped to take a photo with these kodomotachi.
It was the TV crew’s very first time in Japan. My friends and I were their guides to the spooky and electrifying underground culture here. Nightcrawling, Goth/fetish parties, weird theme restaurants… let’s go!
Cameraman Nick is stunned at the eclectic selection of goods at Don Quixote Shinjuku. Bo is a great sport, and dove into every activity we put in front of her. (And you’ll soon see how we brought out the torture equipment…)
In addition to on-camera TV hosting, I also do “fixing” (local production coordinating in Japan) with my team of pirates. We schedule appointments, translate and use our connections to bring television crews into our world. For example, you can’t just waltz into a Tokyo game center with a video camera; we need to fill out forms and navigate the company’s bureaucracy to get filming permissions.
Many restaurants and shops are leery of having cameras come in (since that might disturb customers). And they often demand hefty shooting fees. But the Sega gaming center folk are fantastic. They not only let us shoot the Shibuya branch, but also play video games and take purikura (sticker booth photos) for free!
We did a variety of activities for the cameras, including a drumming game battle. Are you excited to see our series of web episodes for Pepsi? I’ll embed the first one in the next blog post, so check back! (Also coming up… photos from the Australian TV shoot, including the h.NAOTO Goth fashion show.)
What do y’arr think of my pirate gear? Tighter than a knot in Blackbeard’s facial hair, or t’Davy Jones with it?
Japanese Word of the Day: Tsukarete imasu = Tired… cause I am, after 3 days straight of TV shoots…
Song of the Day: Velvet Underground – Venus in Furs (I am tired, I am weary. I could sleep for a thousand years).
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KENZO-A RITUALS FASHION SHOW: JAPANESE POLE DANCING, GOTH FETISH BDSM FASHION TOKYO.
Remember when Kenzo-A and I were spotlighted in a CNN International / CNNGo TV show? The camera crew also filmed his Rituals fashion show, a Gothic affair that involved DJ SiSEN and fetish pole dancers. Want to see? Keep scrolling…
The Rituals fashion show was part of a Tokyo Gothic all-night party at Warehouse 702 in Roppongi. Although Kenzo-A was busy with runway preparations, he found time to goof off with his friends in attendance. Hiderock designer Yokota Hideki (right) examines his friend’s latest designs.
Japanese spooks come out at night. I wonder, why are so many scary people Leos with birthdays in August? La Carmina, Kenzo-A, Yukiro Dravarious, Count de Sang, Lady Raisu…
My incompetent minion, Kanae, was among Kenzo-A’s models. The show also featured PureOne Corset Works (I’ll be interviewing the designer in an upcoming post).
Hello, cute Japanese Goth girls.
V-fingers and all-black contact lenses.
When the clock struck midnight, Kenzo-A’s fashion show began… with two sexy Goth/fetish pole dancers! Miyu (from Royal Cabaret) and ALK (from Tokyo Dolores) mesmerized us with their spins and acrobatics. I want the leather boots.
A model marched on the runway with the Rituals by KENZO-A flag spread between his arms. Followed by a procession of familiar faces from the Japanese underground — including DJ SiSen.
Undead Lolita, tattered skirts, deconstructed jackets, military fetish. How would you describe Kenzo-A’s latest collection?
The fashion show was great fun — a real family affair! CNN axed the footage due to space constraints, but…
… you can watch the entire experience above, in the video by Telemak Films.
Which Rituals ensemble would you most like to wear? Find Kenzo-A’s Gothic designs in various Tokyo locations (including Kera Shop Arena) or buy from his web store.
PS – Stranded overnight? No problem. In my new CNNGo article, I outline 13 ways to have fun when you missed the last train. Read and share!
Japanese Word of the Day: Mahou no chikara = Magic powers
Song of the Day: Numbed Again / KENZO-A (from Gabriel’s Stiletto) – the song featured in the above video.
LA CARMINA
