Summertime, and the living is… hard for Goths who want to shield their porcelain skin from the sun! My favorite methods are flamboyant hats, parasols and scarves. My current favorite is this pretty Katie Crinkle Scarf, gifted from Affordable Scarves. The fabric is light-weight and runched, making it easy to carry around in a purse. And it can be worn in a variety of ways: around your neck, on your waist, or as a translucent veil.

Corset: Dolce and Gabbanna. Got it for a steal, at a Paramount Pictures movie wardrobe sale.
Black lace “apron”: It came with a Peace Now tank top I got from Closet Child Shinjuku.
Vertical striped skirt: Algonquins, from the shop across Marui One Shinjuku.
Rose-patterned tights: I’ve had these tights for years.
Grey fabric ankle boots: gifted from London Underground Shoes. There’s a close-up in the first photo.

While doing my nails, I spilled black nail polish on my bedspread and ruined it. On the bright side, I think my nail art turned out rather well. Using fine-tipped Daiso nail art polish, I painted each nail half white, half black along the diagonal. Then, I swept across a contrasting stripe and finished with a clear top coat.

Rainbow clip-on hair extensions: I’ll have better photos of these in an upcoming post.
Yellow eyeshadow: gifted from Annabelle Cosmetics
Zebra band silver ring: gifted from Silver Treats (you can get it here.) The sleek sterling silver ring is handmade in Bali.
Crucifix ring: Guess
Purple flower ring: Closet Child
Kawaii dim sum bracelet: gifted from Komodokat (check out their cute jewelry and accessories for sale.)

For once, I’m dressed appropriately to be inside a church. Or perhaps not?

Do you wear scarves? What are your favorite scarf styles?

Japanese Word of the Day: Morumotto = Guinea pig
Song of the Day: Cowboy Bebop – Piano Black (All bow down to Yoko Kanno.)

Remember when CSN Stores sent my Scottish Fold fat cat a giant parcel? What on Earth could be inside? Only the most epic pet product in existence… a Kittywalk Systems Sport cat stroller!

For our inaugural stroll, I dressed like a crazy cat lady. Half hippie, half bag woman. My clothes match Basil Farrow’s fur color.

Big blue circular sunglasses: from Halloweentown in Burbank, CA.
Fitted jacket with corset back: I got it ages ago in Hong Kong.
Baggy knee high socks: Also an old thing from the streets of Hong Kong.
Fuzzy dreadlock scarf: a DIY project.
Smiling kitty backpack: gifted from Limebarb. It increases the kawaii quotient of any coordinate!

Basil is not afraid of anything (except tin foil and belly dancers), so he enjoyed being rolled around outdoors in his personal carriage. Check out the top right photo — what a good little boy.

The removable “cage” has soft netting over the front, so your cat can look outside (with a cute squishy-face). This stroller comes in pink as well, but I thought blue would be the more manly choice.

The Kittywalk Systems Sport pet stroller is constructed as well as a human one: there are cup holders, spaces to store items, and levers to lock the wheels in place.

Looks like this kitten is ready for another walk! Many thanks to CSN Stores for the fabulous pet stroller. Come see more of Basil Farrow’s sideways-feet on his blog, Facebook and YouTube videos.

PS: My latest Global Gothic column for Lip Service Webzine is up. “The original Goths weren’t the members of Joy Division (haha) but the Visigoths and Ostrogoths – the East German tribes who invaded and ultimately decimated the Roman Empire. Today, Deutschland remains a Gothic hotspot, albeit in the black-lipstick-wearing, subcultural sense.” I interview my friends about Germany’s dark fashion trends and Schillerndes Dunkel, a new reference book on Goth culture. Come read it here!

Do you spoil your pet? What’s the most ridiculous item you’ve gotten for your baby?

Japanese Word of the Day: Moonbeam = Gekko
Song of the Day: Moon Kana – Hebi Ichigo

Sad news, my friends… the iconic Takuya Angel shop in Harajuku will be closing soon.

Wait, don’t start bawling! Takuya Angel will no longer have a boutique by Takeshita Doori, but you can still buy his cute cyber designs via his online shop.

Takuya Angel can now concentrate on designing and selling internationally. My friends Kynt and Vyxsin modeled in his US fashion show, so they asked us to deliver a gift: a decorated a Lip Service calendar.

It’s sad, however, that we can no longer stop by the Takuya Angel shop to say hi. I’ll miss seeing the latest designs up close, such as this gorgeous silk crane jacket, made from vintage kimono fabric.

The neon decor and friendly staff always put a smile on my face. And the eyelashes are out of this world.

Yukiro modeled in Takuya’s fashion shows alongside DJ Chihiro, SiSEN and others. He says, “It’s been an honor to work with him, and I’m very sad that the store is closing down.”

If you’re in Tokyo, stop by the iconic Takuya Angel Harajuku store before it’s gone forever.

Smile, my little panda bears… you can continue to buy Takuya Angel’s designs online, so please support him!

I leave you with a video of Takuya Angel Fashion Show #18 at Tokyo Dark Castle here. Can you spot Yukiro among the models?

Have you ever visited Takuya Angel’s store? Got any fond memories of the boutique?

Japanese Word of the Day: Tsume yasuri = Nail file
Song of the Day: Françoise Hardy – Comment Te Dire Adieu (the song in the video of the last Takuya Angel fashion show)

I often receive the question: where does the name La Carmina come from? Voila the tale of my name’s blood and glitter-splattered origins. (Photo by Kousuke at Midnight Mess. My biceps are straining under the elephantine weight of my incompetent minion, Kanae.)

The name “La Carmina” was bestowed upon me in 2007 by Basil Farrow’s father. It’s a spin on La Camilla, the lead singer of Italo Disco Swedish glam camp band, Army of Lovers. When you watch the disco-Rococo Crucified music video, you’ll see why the name fits.

But there are other “La Ca___” in history, and they tend to be decadent diva types. You probably know of La Carlotta, the prima donna in Phantom of the Opera. She storms around the opera house in tiered dresses and too-tight corsets, shattering eardrums and slapping her minions with a giant feathered fan.

And then there’s La Casati (Marchesa Casati Stampa di Soncino), whose morbid eccentricity and spend-thrift ways scandalized Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The Italian heiress lived in a Gothic Art Deco manor where peacocks and monkeys roamed freely. She threw opulent soirees that would put Queen’s Freddy Mercury to shame. Once, La Casati wore a dress of white feathers, streaked with fresh blood – yes! Another time, she draped live snakes around her neck and led two cheetahs on a leash, while being waited upon by male slaves wearing nothing but gold leaf – double yes!

Erte, Jean Cocteau, Picasso and Man Ray called the dark lady their muse. But she frittered away her inheritance and ended up living as a crazy bag lady in London. Rumor has it that La Casati would rummage through garbage bins to find feathers for her hair, and scraps of fabric for her moth-eaten coats.

I leave you with two quotes from Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary (HIGHLY recommended): “Lives full of drama, masked balls, orgiastic revels…” / “In the city, with the noises of the streets, the hum of the theaters, and the bright lights of the balls, they were leading lives where the heart had space to expand, the senses to blossom.“

Huge hug for 13-year-old Caitlyn Banfield, who sent me these adorable drawings. My Scottish Fold cat is dressed as a ghost and says “Wahh, mama is so kawaii!” I’m happy to feature your artwork / fanart on my site; just send me an email. I try to reply to as many comments as I can, so don’t be scared to leave one.

Finally, I compiled a reel of my travel TV hosting work, which you can see above and on YouTube. It includes CNN, Travel Channel Bizarre Foods, NHK, Today Show. I have more TV / hosting gigs in the works — very excited! If you’d like me to work with me in any capacity, shoot me an email.

Do you have a nickname? If so, how did the name affix itself to you?

Japanese Word of the Day: Ryoko = Travel
Song of the Day: I can’t stop listening to this New Beat / Industrial / EBM music stream. SO good, especially halfway through when the song goes “Lix! Erandeauch! Lungband!” You can hear more at Endurance club night, every second Saturday at London’s Club Alibi (more info here.)

My Twitter dilemma of the week was… what should I wear to a Steampunk event? One should always avoid the predictable uniform; brown tones and bronze clockwork, in this case. It’s more fun to put your own spin on things and stand out…

Purple silk dress: People’s Market. The scowling flapper girl detail is glorious.
Black lace top: Moi-meme-Moitie, from Closet Child. I pinned a little gold heart over the chest.
Fishnet stockings: old ones with a large cross-hatch. I cut more holes into them.
Leather ankle boots with buckles: gifted from London Underground Shoes (buy them here).
Crucifix coffin purse: h.NAOTO, from Closet Child Ikebukuro.
Victorian tulip cameo bracelet: gifted from Yifat Aharoni.

I made a couple of items for this outfit…

Veiled Victorian bowler hat: I had the hat since I was about 15 years old. I pinned black net fabric above the brim, using concealed safety pins. On top, I pinned a purple flower decoration that came with a different dress. That’s it. I think the Queen Mother would be proud.
Gold bead bracelet: I found some gold beads at a dollar store and strung them together, using thick, stretchy thread. The beads come in two sizes; I arranged them irregularly for a disjointed effect.

Hair: This is my first attempt at a fishtail braid, also called a herringbone or fishbone braiding. I gathered my hair to one side and divided it in two. Take one small piece from one side and combine it with the other; keep doing this, using different strands each time. It’s not as hard as it sounds.
Eye makeup: I lined the inner corners of my eyes with lime green eyeliner, gifted from Annabelle Cosmetics. Filled in the eyebrows, and swept two shades of burnt rose / brown eyeshadow (gifted from Aromaleigh) up to the browline. With a Japanese liquid eyeliner, I lined the bottom lid and drew downward streaks. Finally, I applied small bottom false eyelashes and mis-matching ones on top: purple ones gifted from Cuberry and blue/black ones from a Japanese dollar store.
Lips: I drew the outline with purple eyeliner. (I wouldn’t worry about it being toxic; the eyes are more sensitive than the stomach, right?) I blended it with a vivid fuschia lipstick from a drugstore.

Rose wore a black and white Gothic Lolita dress, lace-up boots, and a lacy wristband with a silver skull. Her DIY headband got a lot of attention. Rose built it from a dead white mouse (who died of natural causes in a petstore), which she taxidermied on her own. Best of all, the rodent has glittered ears, red gems for eyes, and a crystal heart over his butt!

Rose washed the black dyed section of her hair over the blond, and it changed the color to Lady Gaga blue-grey. A happy accident, I’d say.

The mini-convention was organized by VSteam, a group for the Steampunks of Vancouver. We marveled at the hand-made feathered hats, brass clockwork jewelry, Penthouse high heels and leather corsets.

Rose coveted the hat; I wanted the sci-fi gun. (Does anyone recognize the bunny tattooed on her back?)

Neo-Victorians and Steampunks, young and old, gathered outside Barclay Manor. We watched Victorian swordfighting demo and listened to a singer/guitarist croon about robot love.

There were etiquette and leather-making lessons inside, and tea brewed in a brass kettle. We ended the day with a chu-hi from the Japanese convenience store on Robson Street, and browsed our favorite magazines (Kera, Gothic Lolita Bible, Shoxx, Cure) at Book Off. No need to be in England or Japan to enjoy your favorite neo-Victorian subcultures!

Have you ever attended a Steampunk event? What are your favorite aspects of the culture? (Too bad that there’s very little Steampunk in Japan, as reported by Kenny Creation.)

PS: Surf over to CNNGo to read my latest article, 20 products that could use an eco-friendly facelift. Individually-wrapped Asian pears and double-bottled water… ridiculous.

Japanese Word of the Day: Zoo = Elephant
Song of the Day: D – Hourglass (For those who asked, “PV” stands for “promotional video.” It’s the term used in Japan for music videos.)

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)

Happy Fourth of July! May you have a bloody scandalous weekend. Basil Farrow has dual citizenship (he was born in Connecticut but flew to Vancouver), so he’s waving a flag from Canada Day, which was on July 1st.

If you have a few days off and are feeling bored, my Scottish Fold has some suggestions for passing the time. Basil is a fan of reading; at least, he likes to sit on newspapers and books! Sunday is a great day to catch up on news, revisit your favorite novels, or dive into the La Carmina blog archives. (Perhaps you missed my previous Tokyo adventures or how-to tutorials.)

Everyone deserve to be pampered once in a while (or, in the case of my cat, every 30 minutes). No need to shell out money to visit a spa. I love to relax by taking a long bath, putting on a facial mask, and painting my nails.

And finally… catch up on sleep! That’s my foldy-eared kitty’s secret for staying forever cute. If you want to see more of my kawaii Scottish Fold, I just added new photos to Basil Farrow’s Facebook (add him to see).

Independence Day is also a time for clothing sales… and I’m having one right here. I’ve listed tons of new and barely-worn designer women’s clothing and accessories, including a vintage cage dress, a red Lolita dress, and a Theory ladies suit jacket and pants for $160.

Many items are under $20-25, such as this Sex Pistols T-shirt and yes… Tim Burton Corpse Bride 5-inch character figurines! They’re limited edition vinyl figures from Japan, featuring Victor and the Bride.

Items will sell out fast, so please check out my Sale Listings and contact me ASAP (gothiccarmina {at} gmail) if you’re interested in anything — I’m happy to answer your questions. The link to the store is: http://picasaweb.google.com/lacarminasale/GarageSale

Kampai! How are you celebrating or relaxing this weekend?

Japanese Word of the Day: Kyonshi = Zombie or Living Dead)
Song of the Day: The GazettE – Shiver (The new PV in black and white. Rock out!)

Twilight. What do we make of this beast of blood? I haven’t read the Twilight books or seen the movies, and have no interest in doing either. However, I’m kind of obsessed with the Teen Werewolf Pack that haunts the malls and high schools of San Antonio, Texas (remember this news report?). Slightly drooling after the 15-year-old boy leader, Deikitsen Wolfram Lupus. So here’s an outfit post to make his hair stand on end…

Makeup: Werewolves have brown fur (right?) so I used brown and pink-brown eyeshadows gifted from Aromaleigh (part of the new Victoria’s Revenge collection). I added some of these tones to my light pink lipstick to match, and finished with gloss. I filled in my eyebrows with grey, and applied false lashes with interwoven gold (from a Japanese dollar store).
Hair: I swept the front part to the side and tied it. Swept the back to the side and tied it. Added a braid and clipped it with a bow barrette.

I studied the Teen Werewolves video carefully, and the pack seems to wear “mall Goth/emo” clothes. I did a (hopefully) more stylish version…

Dead teddy bear T-shirt: gifted from Akina. Designer Lang Leav just had a solo show at Sydney’s Kinokuniya, and a copy of her art book Charlie’s Widow was presented to director Tim Burton who was “very impressed.” Go girl! (Remember my tour of Tim Burton’s retrospective?)
Ruffled wrist cuff: Spider, a Hong Kong Lolita brand.
Skirt: Spider.
Red checkered punk tie: gift from Closet Child
Stockings: gifted from We Love Colors. I love diamond print tights, but have only seen them in black and white. However, We Love Colors carries these in 51 colors and a variety of sizes!

The werewolf transformation isn’t complete without a tail. I’ve seen many people wearing fox tails such as this one that sell for $10-20. Why not do something unique, cheaper and more symbolic? Make your own tail! I used a faux fur trim remnant from the fabric store.

It’s important to “know thy enemy,” so here’s a vampire look for you too. Canadian company Annabelle Cosmetics kindly sent me a box of bright, luminous makeup to try out. Many of you have asked me for step-by-step makeup tutorials, so I will do my best…

† Start with a clean face. Lightly apply foundation with a sponge. It’s good to invest in a quality brand; I like Make Up Forever HD invisible cover foundation.
† Choose a rich red lipstick (this is “Adrenaline” by Annabelle). Use a lip brush to outline your lips, sticking to your natural shape.
† Then fill in your lips, making sure the coat is opaque. Take your time.
† Let’s make bloody drips! Run the lipstick straight down from your lower lips. Vary the length of the drips, and taper them to a point.
† Pick a dark purple or blue lip color (I used MAC Cyber). Apply it to the center of your lips and blend it out.
† Finally, slather your lips and drops with clear gloss: I like the DuWop Lip Venom that my friend gave me. Make it look like you’ve just sucked the life out of a victim.

Since the lips are ultra-dramatic, I kept the eye makeup relatively simple.
† Fill in the eyebrows with a natural-looking shade; I used a grey shadow.
† I swept Annabelle Studio Pigment eyeshadow in Karma (a metallic lavender-blue) over and under my eyes with Annabelle’s Small Shader Brush. Sweep up from the outer corners for a vampish look.
† I glued on thick, fake eyelashes from Hong Kong.
† Get out your black eyepencil: Annabelle Cosmetics sent me a sharpener and Ohmygoth Smudgeliner, which goes on smooth and clean. Draw a straight line under your lower lids.

† Finish with powder. Again, it’s good to invest in the good stuff; I’m a fan of Make Up For Ever HD microfinish powder. Compare these photos to the previous ones, and you’ll see it gives me a matte, pale, pore-less surface.
† My nail polish is a combination of three shades: dark grey at the bottom, orange-red on top, and sparkles at the tips. The graduation of colors makes your nails seem longer.

Now you’re ready to watch Twilight: Eclipse or (if you’re me) bite new victims at a Goth club!

What do you think of the whole Twilight thing? Are you Team Werewolf or Team Vampire? And would you like to see more step-by-step tutorials?

Japanese Word of the Day: Kamu = Bite
Song of the Day: X Japan performing Born to be Free, yesterday at LA’s Club Nokia. My friends Kynt and Vyxsin were in the music video. Kynt writes: “We had a scene where we were making out, and then a girl Vampire came in and killed me (she was looking for Yoshiki haha)!”

I have a question for you… how do you build your outfits? I don’t usually plan everything out in advance; inspiration often hits at the last moment, such as my KISS makeup for the Osaka Black Veil ball. In Fruits magazine, the Japanese are asked what is their outfit’s “point of fashion” (meaning the overall theme or main focal point of the ensemble). I suppose I’d describe this ensemble as Gothic Aristocrat meets Japanese Schoolgirl.

Victorian girl top: gifted from Akina by Lang Leav. Check out her adorable new hand-bound book, Charlie’s Widow.
Skirt: Algonquins, from the store across from Marui One Shinjuku.
Knee high stockings: gifted from We Love Colors. These sheer knee socks come in 51 colors! I chose pale green and pale blue, for a subtle mis-match.
Silver Mary Janes: Yosuke, from EST in Osaka.

Long, sheer black coat with corset lacing: Ozz Croce, from Closet Child Shinjuku. Love the scoop back with the ruffled bottom.
Hair accessory: gifted from Cutie Dynamite (check out her gorgeous handmade hair decorations).
Eye makeup: Purples and browns from the new Aromaleigh collection, “Victoria’s Revenge.” I put false eyelashes in the outer corners of my eyes.
Lips: Lined with a purple eye pencil and filled with Aromaleigh lip creme “Sweet Tart.”

Funny story… when I met my friend for dinner, she looked at me oddly. “Did you do something new to your look?” I reflected. “No, my hair is the same from when I last saw you.” As we ate, my friend kept stealing glances at me. Finally, she stammered: “Did you… draw a MOLE on your face?” I ROTFMAO-ed so hard!

I’m preferring gold over silver these days — it matches my hair better. I like how my hair dye has stayed orange, but faded from the original brightness. Which version of my hair color do you like better?

I painted half of my nails orange, then carefully painted the other half dark purple. Finally, I added a white swoosh across, using a fine-tipped “nail art” polish from Daiso.

A happy announcement! Starting June 30th, I’ll be writing a monthly “La Carmina: Global Gothic” column for Lip Service’s webzine! It’ll be about Goth fashion and culture in every part of the world.

I’m honored and excited to be working with Lip Service, one of my favorite American Goth/alternative clothing brands. (Remember my beloved spiky faux fur jacket?) Lip Service’s latest Lolita and Steampunk-inspired clothes and accessories are wonderful; I can’t wait to coordinate them in upcoming outfit posts. For updates, you can check out my Twitter and Facebook group.

Are you a Lip Service fan? Which dark parts of the world should I cover for my column?

Japanese Word of the Day: Kuchi beni = Lipstick
Song of the Day: Sex Gang Children – Sebastiane (yay 1983)

We met Miyavi! The Visual Shock J-rocker electrified our eyes and melted our hearts at his June 17th concert (at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom). Let’s start from the start…

Miyavi’s North American tour is called “Neo Samurai,” and he’s beloved for his vivid makeup and ever-morphing style. So I thought it appropriate to dress as a Glam Rock Samurai.

My makeup is inspired by 1970s David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust. I contoured my eyes with green eyeshadows gifted by Aromaleigh (the latest Victoria’s Revenge collection is possibly the best yet). “The real gold” is gifted from Sugarpill, and the stickers are from Daiso. The photos don’t do the look justice; in real life, the effect is iridescent.

Gold sequins and feather headpiece: gifted by Cutie Dynamite. I love her handmade hair accessories, which go perfectly with Victorian, Steampunk and Lolita outfits. This one matches my hair and clips on easily with a large hair comb. You simply must visit Cutie Dynamite’s Etsy store for more gorgeous designs.
Samurai wrap top: by Dalegare. One of the most unusual pieces I own — it has long samurai sleeves and wraps around the chest and waist. I found it in London’s Camden Market years ago.
Pants: by Lululemon. Very comfortable.
Owl ring: Juicy Couture
DIY nail art: inspired by Miyavi.

I arrived about an hour before the doors opened, and encountered a snaking lineup of devoted J-rock fans. Some had even camped out overnight!

My friend Rose was sixth from the front, looking lovely in Sex Pot Revenge. She did her multi-colored leopard hair and all her piercings herself.

Rose: Part of why I like to get there early is to meet awesome new people, who share my interests. Even though I was teeth-chattering-freezing for eleven hours straight, it was still great fun!

Asta had newly-dyed aqua-colored hair as well. We were on the guest list, so we ducked into a nearby bar for red absinthe cut with egg whites. Yes, I’m obsessed with absinthe. (Remember these photos from absinthe bars in Ebisu and outside Tokyo…)

Thanks to everyone who entered the Miyavi ticket giveaway — it was lovely to meet you at the show! (I kind of look like a Hare Krishna, hence the psychedelic Photoshop…)

I was among the eight individuals who got to watch Miyavi’s soundcheck. He was dressed all in black and wore sunglasses — but that didn’t hold him back from tapping and coaxing his guitar as if he were performing for an audience of thousands. Miyavi ran through several songs that weren’t on the setlist, apologizing in advance for mistakes (“I haven’t played these in a while.”) A needless apology — it was wonderful to hear his voice ring out in a bare room, backed only by drums and keyboards.

At 7:30pm, the doors opened and the fans rushed to the stage. At 9pm, Miyavi walked on and gave a big wave. (Photo from Miyavi’s management.)

Rose: From that second, I was totally captivated by his cute, charming and energetic stage presence! He seemed to be enjoying himself so much — I couldnt help but have a stupid smile plastered on my face the whole time. I was right up front, pressed against the stage… I had to be so I could have a close up view of his cuteness the whole time!

Carmina: Now THIS is a rock star. Everyone went nuts when Miyavi lifted his guitar behind his neck and shredded it. His English is quite good, and it was fun to yell along to his call-and-responses, like “Funky Monkey” and “What’s my name, what’s my f***ing name.” When he spoke about becoming a new father — “Already, my daughter is this tall, running around. They grow up so fast don’t they? You have to savor it…” — oh, a few tears were shed.

Rose: He seemed so happy to interact with the crowd, getting us going with his silly sexy gestures. It was so cute when he jumped up on the speaker to play up there — and did the splits, in tight jeans! I am very flexible and I can’t do that!

Carmina: Miyavi had microphone stands all over the stage, so he moved around and got close to everyone. Drummer Ryo Yamagata, with his years of jazz training, brought the heat to a boil.

Rose: I was excited to hear the two new songs he played, “Torture” and “Gravity.” I liked them very much. Now I can’t wait for his new album!

Carmina: Miyavi did an encore, squirting water from his bottle onto the crowd. When the lights went up, Rose and I went to the side of the stage… because we were two of the eight lucky people who got to meet Miyavi himself!

Rose: I always appreciate when musicians are willing to meet fans after a show. I know if I just did a live with so much craziness, I definitely wouldn’t feel up to meeting anyone. I don’t know how he has so much energy!

Carmina: As you’d expect, Miyavi was charming and gorgeous in person. He spoke English well, with endearing “hep cat” turns of phrase. Miyavi graciously signed a tour postcard and gave us a sticker.

Need I say it was an unforgettable live? I’ll soon be posting GPKISM, Kaya and SaTaN reviews, so please bookmark my blog and come back soon. For a report on the San Francisco show, check out Kirsty Evan’s article in East Bay Express.

Have you seen Miyavi in concert? What did you love best about his performance?

PS: I added more designer items to my wardrobe clearance extravaganza, including a red and black velvet Lolita dress for only $86. The Japanese clothes and accessories are disappearing fast, so come browse my Online Garage Sale before everything’s gone!

Japanese Word of the Day: Erande kudasai = Please browse
Song of the Day: Miyavi – Aishiteru kara hajimeyou (live in concert, 2009)