(Ms.) Tomo Kimura's Translation/Tokyo Notes

NANA 13

Administrator — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:46:34 +0000

Is out as well.

Skip Beat 15

Administrator — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:45:02 +0000

Is already out.

Volume 21 is scheduled to come out next February here.

Vampire Knight 9

Administrator — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:50:22 +0000

This volume is back to containing five chapters, so the final chapter is the one that was published in the November issue of LaLa (which was out in September). No side stories in this one.

The ad in the tankobon says Vol. 10 will be out next summer.

H&A Band

Administrator — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:14:25 +0000

The Hangry & Angry band is back with a second set of girls, new songs, and a mini-album will be released in Japan and the US on Nov. 19th.

VK Anime Update

Administrator — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:25:54 +0000

Rido - Shingaki Tarusuke
Haruka - Nojima Hirofumi
Juri - Kouda Mariko

Playlist for Vampire Knight, Vol. 5

Administrator — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:54:06 +0000

刺四 - 灯 (The devouring scene)
“If I disintegrated and was eaten by you, it’s like us becoming one,
and I thought that would be fine too.”

刺四 is another one of my favorite bands. They’re on myspace, so you can listen to some tracks there.

Mount Kongrong

Administrator — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:37:52 +0000

I happened to be reading an article on feng shui and it mentioned that northwest is the direction that rules work fortune. An example of “power stone” layout mentioned was to to put a stone that symbolizes “mountain” in that direction, because the mountain on the northwest symbolizes Mount Kongrong, and powerful living energies flow from that direction.

Shojo Beat, November Issue

Administrator — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:56:57 +0000

The shop manager of 6%Dokidoki invited me to visit their store before I saw the show. She showed me around the store, and showed me some of their popular items.

This candy necklace had sold out after Shokotan (the idol Nakagawa Shoko) had mentioned it on her blog:

These candy clips had appeared in KERA:

These ribbon clips were items made for the Visual Show:

And a photo of one of the shop girls who was working that day:

You can see more photos of the show from here. Click on the “アルバムバージョンはこちら” to see larger photos.

Alice Deco

Administrator — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 13:31:48 +0000

I bought a copy of this magazine after seeing a big poster announcing its first issue at the bookstore. It’s out as an “extra issue” of nadesico, which is a street fashion magazine.

There are lolita-related features, such as fashion coordinates featuring lolita items, a guide to the Laforet basement floor, a Japan expo report with reader snaps and Baby tea party photos, and a catalogue of Alice goods.

What’s different from, say, a typical issue of the G&L Bible or Kera are that the cover model is a popular TV/centerfold idol, none of the reader models are regulars who appear in the G&L Bible or Kera (Kokusyokusumire does appear in an article featururing blouses.), reader snaps are girls wearing street fashion, and hair&makeup features look like something you’d find in other teen magazines.

A lot of the coordinates using lolita items are casual/dressed-down.
So for example, you have a model wearing a Baby dress + a sweat parka + lace leggings + silver metallic sneakers.

The impression I got was that the magazines is targeted at girls who might be curious about lolita fashion and its items, but are hesitant to suddenly go for the full look.

On the back it says the next issue will be out in January, but it doesn’t say whether the magazine will be published regularly.

Tokyo Alice fetinism

Administrator — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:04:33 +0000

I was at Studio Cube 326 yesterday for this event, yesterday being a national holiday here. The concept of this event is: “Tokyo Alice, an avant-garde state by Tokyo girls for Tokyo girls. A choice cult program which reflects the reality of girls in Tokyo, and fired at this chaotic, difficult-to-live world. A romantic and homey Tokyo Girls’ State provided for girls who have nowhere to go.”

I was there for the second half, so I saw two lives. Zombie Lolita was a death metal band where girls wear lolita clothes and paint their face like zombies. And shout. Urbangarde started out sounding somewhat like Pizzicato Five, but in the next song, the male vocalist started throwing packets of condoms into the audience, shouting “Protect your virginity!” (@_@)

In between was a burlesque show where the dancer ended up in just her purple bra and thong (and you could see a big butterfly tattoo just above the thong on the back). She was one sexy lady (^^)

Together with the DJ time, the event was an interesting mix of various performances.