NUDE AND RUDE: TOKYO EMO GOTH PUNK ALTERNATIVE CLOTHING STORE, KOENJI ZOMBIE HORROR BOUTIQUE.
I’ve photographed pretty much all the Gothic Lolita Punk stores in Tokyo (all the posts are in my Shopping Guide) — but I’d never gotten around to Nude n’ Rude in Koenji. Til now. The boutique is an anomaly in Japan: the brands are American and British, and the clothing style can best be described as Emo / Scene / American Alternative.
Kana and I braved the rain to try on cute kitty bags and Iron Fist shoes. (Coming up on this blog — a zombie promo with the shoe brand!)
Nude and Rude carries neon Western alt/punk labels such as Kreepsville, Charles of London, and Jessica Louise.
Isn’t it funny how people want what they can’t have? We covet Goth and Lolita brands sold only in Japan… while the Japanese come to Nude n’ Rude for Western clothes they consider “special and rare.”
Kana picked up two bat hair clips. Raisu and Satsuki have the skeleton hands necklace on display.
Kana tried on several Shrine dresses (again, a US Goth brand that’s hard to find in Japan).
Whcih one do you like best on her? I’m a fan of the bat print.
Casual hoodies and cut-up band t-shirts. Sex Pistols, Bauhaus, Siouxsie.
The boutique was filled with old photos of Jeffree Star, Audrey Kitching and Raquel Reed.
You could pick up the latest issue of Girls with Corpses Magazine. Or a zombie eye bag.
I didn’t buy anything since (as a North American) I can find these Western brands everywhere I turn. However, I urge you to visit Nude n’ Rude, a unique indie store that sometimes throws colorful parties.
Just don’t be too cute… or you might get knifed!
For address and directions to Nude and Rude in Koenji, visit the store blog. You can see full reports about Tokyo’s best indie/alt/Goth/Punk fashion in my Shopping Guide.
Finally… unveiling our La Carmina & The Pirates business card! Our coolhunting / Japan TV arranging / promoting company is starting out superbly, so we decided to print full-color sticker business cards. (Who wants one?) Don’t you love the Pirate Basil design Naomi created?
What are your thoughts on “scene” and “emo” style? It often gets derided… However, I think these Japanese girls pulled it off relatively well.
Japanese Word of the Day: Kimokawaii = Creepy-cute
Song of the Day: NoGoD – Ring-a Ring-o
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GUNDAM CAFE IN AKIHABARA: BANDAI ROBOT THEME RESTAURANT TOKYO. ANIME MANGA JAPANESE TOYS.
“Gundam, ikimasu!” La Carmina and friends visit the new Gundam theme restaurant in the Akihabara district of Tokyo, Japan. Everything here has a mecha (giant robot) theme — even the delicious Gun-Pla-Yaki (Gundam plastic taiyaki) we’re about to devour.
Akihabara is the hangout of otaku (who love anime, manga and character models) — so it’s no surprise that there was a two hour wait outside the new Gundam theme restaurant. However, since we were here on “official business” — making a video for your amusement — we were able to bypass the line…
Wouldn’t you like a personal tour inside Gundam’s lair, with me and Count de Sang? Just click to watch our new video above and here.
The sleek, futuristic white lines remind me of a Gundam’s mobile suit.
Diners can watch Bandai anime on the big screens.
On the wall: an autograph by Yoshiyuki Tomino, creator of the series.
Rare figures in glass cases. Gundams make up about 90% of the character plastic model business in Japan.
Aww, the lattes are decorated to look like Gundam’s Lacus pet companion, Haro! The food is topped with carrots cut in the shape of the famous insignia.
“In the fictional Mobile Suit Gundam metaverse, Jaburo is the headquarters of the Earth Federal Forces during the One Year War and the years after.” Hence the name of the coffee.
If you’re a Gundam fan and don’t mind queuing, you should visit Tokyo’s hottest new theme cafe. It’s located near the Electric Town exit of Akihabara station; full info on the website.
What do you think of our Gundam Cafe tour video? Want more photos and stories from Japan’s weirdest maid cafes and eateries? Please take a look at my Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants book.
Japanese Word of the Day: Kichijitsu = Lucky day
Song of the Day: Zeta Gundam theme song
LA CARMINA
