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BAR MIDIAN IN OSAKA, OWNED BY FU-KI OF VISUAL KEI BAND BLOOD. HARD ROCK HEAVY METAL GOTHIC BARS IN JAPAN.


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Are you a fan of BLOOD, the deathrock/Goth/Visual Kei band that disbanded last year? (Do I even need to ask?) Dravarious and I heard that vocalist Fu-ki opened up a rock bar in Osaka — so we went on a treasure hunt to find Bar Midian. It was quite the adventure, with scandalous boy-on-boy action along the way

I’m wearing an Alice and the Pirates jacket and Algonquins skirt. I found my cute Takoyaki-chan in an Umeda convenience store (he has a smiling octopus on his forehead!). As for my shirt… it has special significance. Read on for the story…

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Listen up, my little vampires: you will get LOST looking for Bar Midian. Even with this map, Doyamacho is mad confusing — we back-tracked and detoured for 40 minutes. So before you set out to hang with Fu-ki, study these photos and instructions carefully…

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How to get to Bar Midian
† Walk east from Umeda station. Head towards the Hep Five shopping mall with the red ferris wheel.
† When you see the yellow Tsutaya bookstore sign, you’re getting close.
† Go to that side of street. When you see the red Big Echo and Drug store signs, turn left.
† Welcome to a maze of side-streets and gay bars. When you spot the magic dragon (ahah), you’re going the right way.
† Keep going until you see the BINGO sign on the left, and the red fish sign on the right. You’re almost there. Turn left…

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† … and look up at this mess of signs. Do you see 2F, Bar Midian?
† Walk up to the skull entrance. Congrats, you’ve reached the goal!

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As soon as I entered the small red room, I knew I’d found my new favorite watering hole. Skulls, axes and dragons… an undead heavy metal wet dream!

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Who was behind the bar, mixing drinks and ominously hacking blocks of ice with a pick? None other than Fu-ki himself!

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Visual Kei bands are notorious for abusing makeup and Photoshop to look pretty (Blood was no exception). But in real life, vocalist Fu-ki is a looker with long black hair.

You’ll be glad to hear that he’s in great spirits. Fu-ki was smiling and having fun all night, mixing drinks and rocking out to 1980s heavy metal.

The cocktails have names such as Black Rose and Satan. Fu-ki made me special one, which was so strong and citrus-delicious that I ordered another. He’s friendly and chatty; when he heard this was our first time in Osaka, he insisted that the round of drinks was on the house!

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The TV screen blasted metal music videos (Poison, Def Leppard). I freaked out when he put on a Black Sabbath tape from the early 1970s — I happed to be wearing a vintage Sabbath shirt that day.

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There were about 10 other people on the barstools — tattooed and pierced rocker-types who entertained us with their yaoi antics. Let’s just say in any situation, boy-on-boy action is always a welcome addition.

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Although BLOOD disbanded, Fu-ki is still very involved with music. He has an entire wall of CDs and DVDs (left photo) and sings in an Osaka-based Motley Crue cover band. Bar Midian was the perfect enterprise: Fu-ki gets to blast music and hang out with fellow metal-heads every night.

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If you’re ever in Osaka, you must visit Fu-ki’s bar. Follow our treasure hunt instructions carefully, and give him the devil-horns from us!

Bar Midian
大阪市北区堂山町10-16 叶第一レジャービル2F
2F, 10-16 Kanai First Leisure building, Doyamacho, Umeda, Osaka
Tel: 06-6312-8281

Are you surprised and pleased to see what Fu-ki’s been up to?

Japanese Word of the Day: Itazura = Playful, mischief
Song of the Day: BLOOD – I Remember You (Because none of us will forget his amazing band.)

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74 Comments

  1. Yukiro Dravarious
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 11:37 am | Permalink

    Giant Dragon, Boy on boy action and a goth bar! what else can you ask for in a day <3<3

  2. shadowpal2
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 2:48 pm | Permalink

    Ah…BLOOD…used to listen to them here and there – the rhythm was great…but the solos were kind of ……”suppressed” here and there and you couldn’t hear them for the beautiful composition they were.

    But wow…vocalist opened his own bar huh? Maybe the songs he were playing there where were he got his inspiration from. To me…the only greatest time for rock in the U.S were the ’80s. I mean………..it just PLAIN ROCKED. These days….eh – I don’t want to get into it.

    Nice shirts – the both of YOU!

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:26 pm | Permalink

      Fu-ki is a huge fan of 1970-90s American metal. He and Mana love their Motley Crue!

  3. EleganBlack
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 3:23 pm | Permalink

    I want to go too ! >w< This bar looks awesome, I wish I was there.

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

      Coming up: photos and video from a Tokyo Visual Kei bar! And a fetish bar too!

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

      Coming up: photos and video from a Tokyo Visual Kei bar! And a fetish bar too!

      • EleganBlack
        Posted June 11, 2010 at 9:34 am | Permalink

        I want to see that too ! But that’s so mean ! Playing with my pain and suffering at being just an observer to all this awesomeness. >w<

  4. Yukiro Dravarious
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 11:37 am | Permalink

    Giant Dragon, Boy on boy action and a goth bar! what else can you ask for in a day <3<3

  5. MoonMaiden90
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 6:20 pm | Permalink

    2-1 I would most definately get lost! even with the most elaborate of instructions! lol that’s just how I am I guess…
    I REALLY like the sounds of this place though!
    & those are ummm…some pretty interesting scandolous pics. lol

  6. Flip
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 6:30 pm | Permalink

    ohhh fuki! <3

    ahahahaha love it!

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:28 pm | Permalink

      He is my soulmate, as you’ll see in an upcoming post… !

  7. shadowpal2
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 2:48 pm | Permalink

    Ah…BLOOD…used to listen to them here and there – the rhythm was great…but the solos were kind of ……”suppressed” here and there and you couldn't hear them for the beautiful composition they were.

    But wow…vocalist opened his own bar huh? Maybe the songs he were playing there where were he got his inspiration from. To me…the only greatest time for rock in the U.S were the '80s. I mean………..it just PLAIN ROCKED. These days….eh – I don't want to get into it.

    Nice shirts – the both of YOU!

  8. Valentino Brown
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    wesome! is really nice to see him alive, there’re lots of musician that dissapear from the planet, and he’s not so far from music world. some day i’ll visit Midian bar :) *seeing my Chain single*

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:28 pm | Permalink

      He’s doing so well!! I’m really happy to see that.

  9. EleganBlack
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 3:23 pm | Permalink

    I want to go too ! >w< This bar looks awesome, I wish I was there.

  10. Riff
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 8:38 pm | Permalink

    Kind of related, but I went and looked for this most ridiculous of comments on a Blood video that I saw some time ago, “Sweetest Desire” – wait for it…

    “There is no such thing as a asian GOTH.
    Goth is a cultural thing, in asia there are no original cristians in the first place, so there was no inquisition or medieval age as there was in europe, so they can dress goth a like and even listen to goth music, but since goth does only exist in europe, there are no asian goths. suck on that.”

    I love how the poster thinks Gothic architecture, Gothic art and literature, and modern gothic music/aesthetic all originate from the same thing.
    I was just like, seriously? Not to mention, VK/J-rock has its own defined style in addition to its gothic influences. Sigh.
    Just thought you’d enjoy that comment since you’re an Asian goth yourself, hahaha!

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

      Yeah… when I see comments like that, I don’t even try to argue with them… not worth the energy! :P
      xox

  11. LadyAri
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:11 pm | Permalink

    o
    m
    g
    that is epic!

  12. AveryF
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

    Blood pretty rawesome

  13. Aubri
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

    fkn love it

  14. LadyAri
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:21 pm | Permalink

    how cool is it that hes able to do this. I know Ill visit if I make it over there. I just wonder tho how hes not mobbed by fans

    • lacarmina
      Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

      Ah, the sad truth is that Visual Kei is a very small scene in Japan… you’ll often see the band members giving out flyers themselves….

  15. RoseSaga
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:17 pm | Permalink

    This bar sounds like so much fun! And Black Rose is such a nice name for a cocktail… I wonder what it’s like :D

  16. Amanda
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:52 pm | Permalink

    i miss BLOOD :( i wish I could go to Osaka!!

  17. Jason
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 11:01 pm | Permalink

    That sounds so awesome. I was part of BLOOD’s American street team for a while, it would be so cool to go to his bar. I’ll hit it up next time I am in Osaka : p

  18. MoonMaiden90
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 6:20 pm | Permalink

    2-1 I would most definately get lost! even with the most elaborate of instructions! lol that's just how I am I guess…
    I REALLY like the sounds of this place though!
    & those are ummm…some pretty interesting scandolous pics. lol

  19. Flip
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 6:30 pm | Permalink

    ohhh fuki! <3

    ahahahaha love it!

  20. Valentino Brown
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    wesome! is really nice to see him alive, there're lots of musician that dissapear from the planet, and he's not so far from music world. some day i'll visit Midian bar :) *seeing my Chain single*

  21. LadyAri
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:11 pm | Permalink

    o
    m
    g
    that is epic!

  22. AveryF
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

    Blood pretty rawesome

  23. Aubri
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

    fkn love it

  24. LadyAri
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 9:21 pm | Permalink

    how cool is it that hes able to do this. I know Ill visit if I make it over there. I just wonder tho how hes not mobbed by fans

  25. RoseSaga
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:17 pm | Permalink

    This bar sounds like so much fun! And Black Rose is such a nice name for a cocktail… I wonder what it's like :D

  26. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

    Ah, the sad truth is that Visual Kei is a very small scene in Japan… you'll often see the band members giving out flyers themselves….

  27. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

    The drink would be perfect for you!! <3

  28. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:26 pm | Permalink

    Fu-fu-fu-fu-fuki!

  29. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:26 pm | Permalink

    Fu-ki is a huge fan of 1970-90s American metal. He and Mana love their Motley Crue!

  30. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

    Coming up: photos and video from a Tokyo Visual Kei bar! And a fetish bar too!

  31. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

    Coming up: photos and video from a Tokyo Visual Kei bar! And a fetish bar too!

  32. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

    The nipple licking and crotch grabbing… D: !!

  33. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:28 pm | Permalink

    He is my soulmate, as you'll see in an upcoming post… !

  34. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:28 pm | Permalink

    He's doing so well!! I'm really happy to see that.

  35. lacarmina
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    Yeah… when I see comments like that, I don't even try to argue with them… not worth the energy! :P
    xox

  36. Amanda
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 10:52 pm | Permalink

    i miss BLOOD :( i wish I could go to Osaka!!

  37. Jason
    Posted June 10, 2010 at 11:01 pm | Permalink

    That sounds so awesome. I was part of BLOOD's American street team for a while, it would be so cool to go to his bar. I'll hit it up next time I am in Osaka : p

  38. EleganBlack
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 9:34 am | Permalink

    I want to see that too ! But that's so mean ! Playing with my pain and suffering at being just an observer to all this awesomeness. >w<

  39. Yukiro Dravarious
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 11:05 am | Permalink

    sadly the name said more than the taste, >_< , I really liked the original cocktail you had though

  40. Kenny
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 7:22 pm | Permalink

    what a totally cool guyz you are!!<3

  41. TabithasCobra
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

    I knew he’d opened a bar, but I’m glad he’s doing well! If I ever get to japan I’ll definitely have to find hisbar! XD thanks!!

  42. Kenny
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 7:22 pm | Permalink

    what a totally cool guyz you are!!<3

  43. lacarmina
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 8:21 pm | Permalink

    Wahhh as my cat would say :)

  44. lacarmina
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 8:21 pm | Permalink

    Wahhh as my cat would say :)

  45. lacarmina
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 8:21 pm | Permalink

    Yes, mine was gooooooodd

  46. TabithasCobra
    Posted June 11, 2010 at 9:20 pm | Permalink

    I knew he'd opened a bar, but I'm glad he's doing well! If I ever get to japan I'll definitely have to find hisbar! XD thanks!!

  47. Special K
    Posted June 12, 2010 at 3:41 am | Permalink

    Thanx for this! I am a huge fan of BLOOD. I really want to see his bar someday when I go to Japan. *dreams*

  48. Special K
    Posted June 12, 2010 at 3:41 am | Permalink

    Thanx for this! I am a huge fan of BLOOD. I really want to see his bar someday when I go to Japan. *dreams*

  49. lacarmina
    Posted June 12, 2010 at 9:09 pm | Permalink

    Dreams come true! :D

  50. trashtastika
    Posted June 14, 2010 at 6:32 am | Permalink

    Awesome!! Really helpful directions too – I even get lost just going to the Live Inn Rosa in Ikebukyro!

  51. Anonymous
    Posted June 14, 2010 at 8:56 am | Permalink

    Fu-ki is hot…

  52. trashtastika
    Posted June 14, 2010 at 6:32 am | Permalink

    Awesome!! Really helpful directions too – I even get lost just going to the Live Inn Rosa in Ikebukyro!

  53. mariesfbayarea
    Posted June 14, 2010 at 8:56 am | Permalink

    Fu-ki is hot…

  54. wedding invitations
    Posted May 19, 2011 at 8:55 am | Permalink

    There is no such thing as a asian GOTH.Goth is a cultural thing, in
    asia there are no original cristians in the first place, so there was no
    inquisition or medieval age as there was in europe, so they can dress
    goth a like and even listen to goth music, but since goth does only
    exist in europe, there are no asian goths.

  55. Mitternacht Stein
    Posted August 26, 2012 at 11:50 pm | Permalink

    NANI MO???? fu-ki!

  56. MLvS
    Posted January 3, 2015 at 8:01 am | Permalink

    Hello, I am going to Osaka very soon and would be interested to know if this bar still exists?

  57. Moon
    Posted April 20, 2017 at 11:23 pm | Permalink

    Omg thank you so muchos for this, Blood was muy first concert and i used to love FuKi, so muchos memories

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