Category Archive for Tokyo + Japan
VIDEO: KAYA JROCK CONCERT, VISUAL KEI LIVE IN TOKYO. KALEIDOSCOPE BAND, ELEGANT GOTHIC ARISTOCRAT FASHION.
Kaya-sama… as a man? You better believe it! A new Tokyo Visual Kei concert video, for your consideration…
La Carmina and Yukiro report on Kaya’s live performance with his band Kaleidoscope at Ikebukuro Black Hole (with LIX, Keith and Thomas). See the Jrock performer’s Elegant Gothic Aristocrat “manly look” and hear new songs including “Night Circus.” Although there were only five songs, Kaya impressed us with his strong voice and jazz-influenced direction. No wonder he likens his songwriting to a many-colored rainbow.
We hope you enjoy the concert footage and review. You can see more photos of our makeup and outfits here. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel so you won’t miss the GPKISM and SaTaN videos coming up!
I’m devilishly delighted to be writing a monthly column called Global Gothic for Lip Service Webzine! My aim is to shine the spotlight on dark, alternative fashion in various parts of the world — starting with Osaka. You can read the first installment here. Let me know what you think.
Do you like Kaya’s “manly look” and new songs?
Japanese Word of the Day: Pari pari shita = Crunchy
Song of the Day: Kaya singing and charming us at his Ikebukuro concert.
SHARE & COMMENT
KAYA VISUAL KEI MAKEUP TUTORIAL, H.NAOTO FRILL DRESS AT IKEBUKURO BLACK HOLE. HOW TO BUY JROCK VISUAL KEI CONCERT TICKETS IN JAPAN.
How does one buy J-rock and Visual Kei concert tickets in Japan? The system is insanely complicated: fan club members often get the first batch, and instead of a Tickermaster-like site, one must brave the frustrating Japanese-only ticket vending machines at the Lawson convenience store…
Once you have the tickets in your hand, there’s still the matter of finding the venue. We circled all over Ikebukuro before being sucked into Black Hole, where Kaya’s band Kaleidoscope was headlining.
Dress: h.NAOTO Frill, from Closet Child
Green “belt”: actually a very long stocking, gifted from Sock Dreams
Crucifix headband: actually a cloth choker, gifted from Limebarb (do you sense a theme here?)
Yellow boots: John Fluevog
Rings: from various little Japanese stores
My makeup is inspired by Kaya’s “Last Snow” album cover. Whenever I need inspiration, I find it helpful to look at Visual Kei faces and try out some of their techniques.
I experimented with a rounder lip shape and filled it in with little green and purple eye liner pencils. Like Kaya, I extended the eyeshadow past the inner crease of my eye. I added magenta at the top outer corner to make the colors pop.
Yukiro can’t remember where he got his clothes, but they fit him like a glove! (I’ll post a video tomorrow with our usual “what am I wearing” segment.”)
Visual Kei bands Lix, Keith and Thomas were also on the bill, but Kaya’s band Kaleidoscope tore down the live house. There will be concert footage in the next post, so you can see Kaya’s manly look and hear his glorious voice!
Like at many J-rock concert venues, the stage is on the lower level, and the staircase is lined with pretty Visual Kei posters.
We traded in our drink ticket and flipped through the Visual Kei flyers and magazines, and waited for the former Schwarz Stein vocalist to take the stage… Come back tomorrow for a full review and VIDEO footage of Kaya live!
Are you a Kaya fan? Did you see him perform during his North American tour?
PS: last chance to enter my giveaway contest for a swanky cat scratcher and chair! Simply comment in this blog post to win the grand prize.
Japanese Word of the Day: Jime jime = Damp
Song of the Day: Kaya – Last Snow
LA CARMINA
