Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
MONOMANIA, WORLD WIDE LOVE, KYOYA TEDDY MONSTER IN LAFORET TOKYO. KAWAII CUTE JAPANESE JEWELRY, WOMEN'S CLOTHES, HAIR ACCESSORIES.
Exciting news — I’ll be hosting and fixing (scheduling) another TV show in Tokyo! This time, I’m working with two ebullient young Australians, both named Tim. They’re the creators of a new travel show with Sony Australia and Elsewhere Productions. I can’t wait to take them to my favorite Gothic / bizarre places in Japan — and I’ll be sure to put up clips for you to see. The other TV shoot, with Dutch Pepsi, is going insanely well… I’ll have photos and videos on this blog in a week or so!
There are a few new stores in the basement of Laforet Harajuku. Monomania has a light, upscale-casual collection. The cute animal prints and pastels are a bit reminiscent of Fairy Kei. (Search for “fairy kei” in the box on the sidebar, to see photos.)
Monomania isn’t really my style — not sufficiently alternative-flamboyant — but I think the concept is well-conceived.
However, I am very fond of the new accessories and jewelry shop at the foot of the staircase. (I can’t recall the name…) You’ll find handmade, indie accessories here, including Kyoya Teddy Monster. Eyeballs and bloody teddy bears have never looked so enticing!
Everywhere you turn, there’s J-rock and Visual Kei inspiration… heaven in a department store. Coming up: Sweet Lolita brand boutiques in Laforet. For a full Gothic Lolita Punk shopping guide to Tokyo, please visit my shopping guide.
Bonus photo: Yukiro and I are obsessed with eating kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) pizza. Asia is known for strange pizza toppings, and pumpkin slices are no exception. But trust us — it’s scrumptious. Best of all, each wedge is only 200 yen ($2). It WAS being sold in the Sunpierrot bakery, located to the right when you enter Shinjuku Station east exit… but the pizza has now been discontinued. Sad face. (Is life worth living any more?)
Reader Angela and her friends created a school publication, A|WARE Magazine, and featured me in their article about blogging. (Thank you for the mention!) Their insight about blogging as self-reflection is well put: “Blogging forces an individual to face his or her feelings and sort them out. Being able to look back at previous posts is also very valuable — to reflect upon what has changed, what has stayed the same; to feel regret, happiness, nostalgia; and to put things into perspective.” (You can see the entire magazine here.)
Thank you also to Black-Mana (left) and RunawayCosplay (right) for the pretty drawings! I love seeing your La Carmina / Basil artwork; send me an email and I’m happy to feature your work on my blog.
PS: Drool or vomit over my new CNNGo article: Asia’s 10 most dangerously decadent desserts.
PPS: Don’t forget to enter my Dir en Grey contest: you can win one of FIVE PAIRS of tickets to the Club Nokia Los Angeles show, on Sept 8. Contest ends TOMORROW so hurry here (and tell all your LA friends!).
Japanese Word of the Day: Dousa = Action, movement
Song of the Day: Suzy Q – Computer Music (Oh 1985…)
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LAFORET HARAJUKU: GOTHIC LOLITA PUNK ALTERNATIVE BOUTIQUES, TOKYO CLOTHING STORES. ROCKING HORSE SHOES, BABY THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT.
At Laforet, the Harajuku department store that stocks your favorite alt brands, I was surprised to see a gaggle of Gothic Lolita and J-rock teens on the staircase.
Pirate eye patches, striped socks and Sweet Loli JSKs?
Laforet often holds special events in the two basement floors, such as Visual Kei band signings. (There’s a Heidi x h.NAOTO event on Saturday, August 21…)
If I went to high school in Tokyo, I’d skip class and be in line!
Minnie Mouse would wear this Metamorphose temp de Fille ensemble.
The Angelic Pretty shop is the sweetest, frilliest place on the planet.
Atelier Pierrot and Alice and the Pirates are more to my liking.
I couldn’t believe my eyes… this new Lolita dress, hanging in Atelier Pierrot, had a price tag of 14,175 yen. I had found almost the exact same dress — a Metamorphose version with the same fabric — for about half the price in Closet Child! (Photos here.)
Baby, the Stars Shine Bright always has cute stocking prints. Which one would you like to wear: the playing card symbols, strawberries, cherries, or Gloomy Bear in a basket?
Hello Kitty is everywhere. What do you think of this guro-version of Kitty, which puts her in bandages and surrounds her with skulls?
Hold onto your hats — I have many more Laforet Harajuku photos for you in the next few posts. You can see photos of basically every Gothic Lolita Punk store in Tokyo in my shopping guide.
PS: please tune in to my Twitter for up-to-the-second updates about Closet Child, Tokyo life and the Pepsi TV shoot!
Japanese Word of the Day: Okotaru = Goof around
Song of the Day: Patty Ryan – Love is the Name of the Game
LA CARMINA
