SHINJUKU HOST CLUBS. AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL TV SHOW VISITS GOLDEN GAI, PUNK ROCK & VISUAL KEI BARS KABUKO-CHO.
Right! Ready for some bonzer photos from the Australian TV shoot? I met the Aussie travel hosts at Don Quixote in Shinjuku. I strive to always mix it up; never repeat your looks. So I wore something Candy Spooky Theater inspired…
Cyber Wa dress: Ozz On, from Closet Child. Such a unique design; it mixes a traditional Japanese print with gauze and lacing. The corset top is hooked onto the skirt. I wore a black lace lingerie tank top under.
Flower hair clips: from Daiso, the 100 yen store
Ring: a gift from a while back.
Cute fat cat necklace: gifted from Cheeky Jezebel, creators of adorable jewelry. I also wear their accessories in this outfit post.
Makeup: I did a cat eye with black liquid eyeliner, and put long spider-like eyelashes on my bottom lids.
I was the Tokyo guide for The Two Tims: a pair from Australia (both named Tim). They’re currently on a trip around the world, capturing material for their upcoming TV show produced by Sony Australia. I’ll let you know when the Tokyo episode airs (probably next year).
The Tims wanted me to show them Tokyo’s underground scene. After some “establishing shots” and an intro, I took them to Bar Zin, the Visual Kei bar in Kabuki-cho. The Nazi uniform on the wall was quite the shocker to them! I explained that in Japan, fashion and imagery are (for the most part) purely Visual and have no socio-political significance… remember Gackt’s Nazi-like uniform at his recent concert?
This evil lair serves absinthe, and is covered in skulls and Jrock memorabilia. You can see more of Bar Zin in our video tour.
I decided that this joint wasn’t extreme enough. So I took the Australians to Guinea Pig, a fetish bloody horror bar… I’ll have a full post of photos coming up! As you can see from the camera shots, there was a thrilling moment with a live snake.
TV filming can be exhausting because we’re always “on” and moving from place to place. Next, we met shibari (rope tying) artist Hajime Kinoko. The Tims had never been to Tokyo and were mesmerized. Bright lights, big city.
We went to a few little Golden Gai bars (the famous traditional Shinjuku drinking district, near Hanazono Shrine). Met up with The Fashionate Traveller at a rip-roaring punk bar run by a Japanese “Mr T.”
I have more photos and stories from the travel TV shoot coming up… stay tuned for the Japan Cosplay Festival and Seileen’s record release party!
LA friends: you have exciting events ahead of you!
† Friday, Oct 15: New Noir presents Tokyo Social Club, a party at Royal/T maid cafe. Ping-Pong, DJs, a special “Num Num” menu, and cake. (Tickets are 20% off with discount code PINKO, and Naomi will be there!)
† Friday, Oct 15: celebrate the 14th anniversary of Das Bunker, LA’s terrific Industrial dance club. Tactical Sekt will be performing. See nightcrawling photos here.
† Thursday, Oct 28: Tune in Tokyo has its 2nd Anniversary Jrock Live, featuring Mari Iijima, Dig Jelly, Stephanie Yanez and Po Lo, Do Not Feed the DJ, and Asuka & Alee. Here’s info and photos from the Purikura party I hosted.
Absolute last chance to win a gold, customized Pirate necklace! You and I will be the only people on the planet with the Jolly Roger jewelry… so please enter in this post (it only takes a moment).
Finally, may I ask for a 1-second favor? Could you please vote for my blog in the Canadian Weblog Awards? Just click here. In return, I’ll get these host boys to sing you a love song!
Japanese Word of the Day: Iikagen = Irresponsible
Song of the Day: MUCC – Rojiura boku to kimi e
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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
LA CARMINA
