LA CARMINA TV REEL: CNN INTERVIEW SEGMENT WITH DESIGNER KENZO-A, ANDREW ZIMMERN QUOTES, BIZARRE FOODS TOKYO ON TRAVEL CHANNEL DISCOVERY.
I’ve been a busy bee! “The wheels are in motion,” as Seinfeld would say. Why don’t we catch up on press and talk about the controversy over novelty “circle contact lenses”? Let’s do it!
I can’t say enough nice words about Andrew Zimmern, host of the Bizarre Foods TV show on Travel Channel / Discovery. You may recall that I was his guide to weird theme restaurants in the Tokyo episode. I was amazed to see that in his Chow and Again blog for Mpls St. Paul Magazine, Andrew Zimmern gives me a shout-out: “My friend Carmina (her friends get to drop the La when addressing her royal hipsterness) pimps us out on her blog and if you don’t subscribe to this woman’s Facebook, blog, and Twitter feeds you are really missing out, kids.”
And then he takes the niceness even further in his Travel Channel blog! Andrew discusses the Tokyo episode and says it’s too bad the show changed its focus from strange subcultures — “exotic alternative lifestyles like La Carmina and her posse” — back to bizarre foods. As a result, the episode had to be re-tooled a lot of our footage was cut.
Andrew Zimmern laments: “I wish you could have seen the original program in all its glory. For example, the theme restaurant act was not originally about the restaurants, it was about the people that I dined with. Cross dressing, fetish party going, club crazy, hipster chic and phenomenally great company, La Carmina and her friends adore Tokyo because it’s the world’s trend setting capital, a city where you can be whatever you want.”
Speaking of eccentric fashion and theme restaurants… I did an interview with Hong Kong food website Asian Palate. I talk about how I became a foodie, and the oddest Tokyo theme restaurants such as “bonsai-shaped cake delivered by ninjas.” You can read the full interview here and after the jump. (And there’s more about my Theme Restaurants book on this page.)
I uploaded a recent TV segment on YouTube: “La Carmina interviews Rituals Gothic designer Kenzo-A about the evolution of Harajuku fashion for CNN. They shop along Takeshita Doori and visit Takuya Angel’s store to try on clothes. This segment appeared on the Tokyo episode of CNNGo TV and aired on CNN International.”
If you like the episode and want to see more, please subscribe to my YouTube channel — many more on the way. You can see photos and the entire CNN TV show in this post.
Now for some controversy… or not. Are novelty “circle” contact lenses from Japan — which give the appearance of big cute eyes — dangerous to consumers? The FDA has not approved them because of concerns that the lenses could harm the eyes.
Some of you on Twitter said it’s nothing but media hype. Others shared stories of eye damage from colored lenses. And the rest of you suggest common caution: as with normal contacts, don’t wear them for long and care for them properly.
What’s your opinion on “circle” wide eyed contact lenses like Geo? Have you tried them? I personally have never worn novelty lenses because my eyesight is horrid and I must be very careful with my eyes…
Japanese Word of the Day: Kanzen = Perfection
Song of the Day: GO!GO!7188 – Kinkyori Renai (The band that performs the song in our CNN segment.)
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STEAMPUNK IN JAPAN! KENNY CREATION: GOTH PUNK 19TH CENTURY ARISTOCRAT FASHION, HARAJUKU MENS CLOTHING.
Several of you have asked me… what’s the steampunk scene like in Tokyo? Can you post more photos of alternative Japanese male fashion? Your wishes are granted! Introducing my electric-haired friend Kenny Creation, who you’ll always see at Tokyo’s Goth/Industrial club nights wearing the most sublime steampunk clothing. Read on…
Kenny Creation says, “I’m so into mechanical stuff — engines, machines, blabla — because of my job (engineer). Beautiful machinery made by brass; the gears and how they work. And I’m so moved by beautiful 19th century outfit and style. The two points mixed up become steampunk!” (Above, Kenny at Tokyo Decadance with Count de Sang. Yukiro and I ran into him while shopping at Marui One Shinjuku.)
“It’s a little hard to explain… it’s a world of retrospective taste. Ardent British to steam architect. So my style is steampunk, with a theme of the chaotic and experimentation.” (Above, with G-suS and DJ SiSEN)
“I’m glad that I am an engineer and can build up some mechanical stuff,” says Kenny. Let me add that Kenny also sings in a band and is an excellent dancer; he is very talented!
Here’s the sad news: according to Kenny Creation, the steampunk scene in Japan is non-existent. “When I went to Wave Gothik Treffen 2009, I saw a lot of people wearing steampunk! I’m just stunned. I cannot find a lot of steampunk supplies in Tokyo, so I would like to extend more steampunk culture in Japan.” (Above: with Ken, Luke Chaos and Hungry Ghost)
Kenny’s DIY steampunk outfits are divine, but it’s not the only look that he rocks. Here he is with candy apple red hair and punk/electro clothing.
Tattoos, gas masks, 19th century holsters, classic silver jewelry.
Above, with friends DJ SiSEN and Mistress Maya. No matter where he is or what he wears, Kenny Creation is always full of great energy! If you visit Tokyo, come to our favorite Goth EBM Cyber Industrial club nights and say hi to him on the dance floor.
Are you fond of Steampunk fashion? Which of Kenny’s outfits do you like best?
Japanese Word of the Day: Musu = To steam (food)
Song of the Day: Tool – Vicarious (piano cover – favorited on Kenny’s YouTube channel)
LA CARMINA
