J-NEWS #3: HELLO KITTY IPHONE, MANA'S MOI DIX MOIS @ LA ANIME EXPO, NEW VISUAL KEI BANDS @ HEARJAPAN, PHOENIX WRIGHT MUSICAL.
Time for a long overdue round-up of Lolita/Visual Kei/J-pop news! If you want to receive J-news in real time, you’re welcome to follow me on Twitter. Whenever I receive press releases, store specials, invites etc, I immediately share the news on Twitter.
† Hello Kitty iPhone application launched! You can dress her in Gothic Lolita & Harajuku fashions, and there are more Sanrio wallpapers and skins on the way.
† Mana-sama is coming to Los Angeles! His Visual Kei project, Moi dix Mois, will perform at the July 2-5 Anime Expo at the LA Convention Center. Will any of you be there?
† Poketo, designer of cute limited-edition art products and accessories, is camping out at Royal/T Maid Cafe in LA from June 27 to July 18. You’re invited to the Pop-Up Shop opening and a Karaoke Dance Party on July 10.
† Japan’s three “cute ambassadors”, which you may remember from this post, are raising some eyebrows among Japanese Diet members. What do you think – could there be “unwarranted criticism against overseas tours by ‘pretty ambassadors’ wearing very short skirts”?
† Digital music label HearJapan now has over forty Visual Kei artists under its umbrella! These include Deathgaze, Dolly, Ghost, Otokage, Angelique, Hizaki’s solo project, Versailles…
† Japan & Anime event promoter Sakura Syndrome recently had two successful parties in Greece, and will be announcing more soon. Their featured band for June is DARKSIDE MIRRORS – check them out!
† Lady GaGa wears Sweet Lolita dresses while on tour in Japan. What do you think – does she pull it off? Video here.
Finally, here are some funny “only in Japan” tidbits that I found on the Net…
† How to hide from the Yakuza? By flipping your skirt over your head and laying your bag on the ground. The criminals will think you’re a vending machine and mistake your purse for a pothole!
† I wish I saw this in Tokyo… a takarazuka production of Phoenix Wright. Yes, the DS video game… with singing and dancing and an all-female cast! Check out the video; “character designs and characters and music and settings all faithfully reproduced… pretty spectacular” according to Ronan.
† Above: the Happy Phantom meets Lolita Princess Mihoko and Goth Princess Zoe. Featured films include: Satan’s Bed, Scare Their Pants Off, The Best of Burlesque! (all by ‘Something Weird Video’) and even The Beatles ‘HELP!’
† And finally, in La Carmina news… if it fancies you, my Theme Restaurants book can be pre-ordered online (it comes out in July). You’re welcome to browse my garage sale for neat clothes ($10-20). And I just got exciting news about a potential appearance… on a major TV show… with someone hardcore… cross your fingers for me!
Did I leave out any exciting J-news? Comment below or Twitter me – I promise to reply!
Song of the Day #137: Max Him – Japanese Girls
SHARE & COMMENT
NEW MARUI ONE SHINJUKU STORE PHOTOS: FRUITS SHOP, HELLO KITTY CUTE STATIONERY & ACCESSORIES, KAWAII SOUVENIRS.
Pulsing lights, clustered crosswalks… you gotta love Tokyo! Here’s what the brand new 0101 department store, Marui One Shinjuku, looks like on the approach. Right inside is Quolomo, a t-shirt/casualwear brand that collaborates with Hello Kitty, Play Set Products, and Studio Pierrot (above right).
Further down, you’ll find Hello Kitty and her friends, including bags and toys from the h.NAOTO collaboration. Funky Street Star (below) is another addictive stop for kawaii souvenirs.
The FRUiTS MiX is on the second floor, and I wasn’t too impressed by the selection. Overpriced vintage (eg: faded Nintendo leggings), a few funky indie designer pieces, and a stack of magazines… it reminded me of the old saying, “style can’t be bought.” I did enjoy Spank’s cuddly pastel corner, where I picked up my black velvet “Goth Alice” headband for $15. I also liked the high-contrast art panels between each floor.
Over the next few days, we’ll keep going up the escalator to gawk at Blythe dolls, Jesus Diamante shoes, Lolita dresses, and more! Have you been to the new Marui One Shinjuku? Do you prefer it to the old one?
Okay, Marilyn Manson contest time! We had over 100 entries – thanks so much! Using random number generator, I narrowed the 3-word descriptions of Manson down to fifteen:
Unique Villain Model — aggressively fantastic dick — sexy little devil — ENIGMATIC CLEVER PERSONA! — UNABASHED WRITHING EVIL — 1-art 2-dark & 3-wow — Ghoulish Idea Monger — sweetest creep ever — Sadomasochistic aural bliss — Devil’s Beautiful Vampire — Ghoul-Eyed Guy — God’s Freak Show — Lucifer’s Eccentric Iniquity :) — gods private joke — “Indivisually Infinated Inspiry”
Then, the almighty Committee (Ronan, Basil Farrow and I) picked our favorite.
RONAN: Maybe UNABASHED WRITHING EVIL or Sadomasochistic aural bliss.
CARMINA: I kinda like the funny ones, like God’s private joke, Ghoul-Eyed Guy. Hm… or we can let Basil decide somehow.
RONAN: Yeah, I don’t have strong feelings. Let Basil pick.
CARMINA: Right side or left side of his face? I’ll count the whiskers and that’s the number.
RONAN: Left.
CARMINA: I only counted the long, thick ones. He has 13! So the winner is Lucifer’s Eccentric Iniquity :)
RONAN: Ahahah, I like that one! Basil is never wrong.
CARMINA: NEVER.
So congrats to Yana K (who also purchased something from my Online Garage Sale)! You’ll soon receive a 7-inch vinyl signed by Marilyn Manson and his band!
Song of the Day #135: Holly Valance – State Of Mind (The Committee loves this artist…)
LA CARMINA
