The countdown to Tokyo Decadance caused me undue anxiety – what on Earth was I to wear? After much hewing and hemming, I ran to trusty Daiso, the 100-yen store that is every club kid’s best friend (it’s where I got Xmas garland and bows for my Tokyo Dark Castle hairdo). For Decadance, I picked up several garlands of fake roses and a glittery diamond decal – which, to my great relief, did not leave a mark when I peeled it off my forehead.

While in Harajuku, I picked up a sheer puff skirt with strawberries from AC/DC ($29). The leather lace-up demi-corset is from a Goth shop in Seattle’s Capitol Hill. But I’m sure your eyes are on my shiny red boots…. which are indeed Metamorphose temps de fille! Vintage but in perfect condition, and a shopping steal ($100 from Closet Child Shinjuku).

Last Saturday, hundreds of costumed club kids stormed Christon Cafe Shinjuku (the Jesus-themed restaurant featured in my upcoming book). ‘Twas quite amusing to witness candy-ravers poking the Virgin Mary with light sabers. Organizer Adrien (with the blue hair) spent the entire night either dancing on the platform or running around like a maniac.

Tokyo Decadance attracts fetish, cyber, and decora types in addition to Goths and Lolitas. Since it was a special Halloween/3rd anniversary event, the handmade costumes were wilder than the norm.

Quite a few guests were experts at special effects monster makeup.

In the back (as at all these parties), you could receive a crystal ball reading or buy club accessories. I got long fake eyelashes with blue stars attached to them.

From 10pm to dawn, the entertainment alternated between cyber/electro/rave DJs (including Sisen) and musical performances. I arrived just in time for Kokusyoku Sumire (center, right); the girls wore pumpkins on their heads and captivated the crowd with strong voices and violin virtuosity. A forgettable rock band called The Tokyo Cramps and France’s The Dead Sexy Inc (left) also played.

Nagata Yoichi set up a portrait studio and took photos through a ring of light, resulting in a painterly effect.

I rolled out at 7am, half-blind (literally – one of my contacts fell out) and delirious from the lack of sleep and too many whiskey/sodas. In the subway, I met friends who chose Midnight Mess over Decadance. It was a hard choice – Skinny Puppy was the special performer at Midnight Mess – it’s unfortunate that every year, the parties are on the same night! Jim won the costume contest, and deservedly so; he dressed as The Joker from the infamous hospital blow-up scene…