One of my favorite TV hosting jobs was with Sony Australia / National Geographic Adventure. I was the Tokyo subcultures guide for the Two Tims, who are absolute sweethearts. Their travel show, Roam, is good-humored and action-packed — as you can see from my Japan episode.

In these TV clips, I take the Aussies to Japan’s biggest cosplay festival, underground punk dives in Golden Gai, Tokyo Decadance bar, and shopping in Harajuku (check out the Sweet Lolita and Decora girls). I hope you smile at the video above and on YouTube.

Alright. Now, I’m going to give chocolate cookies and ice cream to everyone who adds my Google+ page!

Simply click.

My rotund Scottish Fold cat is on Google Plus Pages too. Add him for a cuddle?

The cutest cat in the universe is on Facebook too.

Finally, a press round-up. Thank you to Eyestrane for interviewing me for Asiance Magazine. And to Lee Jay at Modern Tokyo Times, for writing about my work in alternative fashion, subcultures and Gothic style. (You can read more interviews on my Press page.)

Were you awed by the crazy fashion and nightlife in my Australia TV episode? All my hosting clips are in my Bio section.

Song of the Day: Schwefelgelb – Wie Ich Heiss (thanks G-suS!)

My hair’s been purple since September, but I haven’t posted very many photos yet. (Yes, my blog is months behind… patience!)

During my grueling Food Network TV shoot, I found a sliver of free time to attend Walpurgis Night, a Goth live event at Shinjuku Jam.

Leopard print slip: from Hong Kong
Black Gothic jacket: Metamorphose temps de Fille, from Closet Child.
Pirate necklace: gifted from Ghostlove (more photos here)

My spooks and I usually meet in the streets of Kabukicho for a pre-drink from the convenience store, or absinthe at Decabar.

A nightcrawl isn’t complete without… Swedish crackers?

First Mate Naomi and I were reunited with Nekoi (from cyber-industrial band Psydoll), and Arina from Paris.

Walpurgis Night is a Gothic live music event that occurs every month or so. This New Romantic ghoul sums up the vibe.

Taizo spins 1980s Goth tracks that got us dancing.

The always-cheery Naohiro, frontman of the band 13th Moon, turns the room into a Nightmare Before Christmas dance scene.

Seminal Japanese post-punk band, Madame Edwarda, is as strong on stage as ever.

Austrian band Lolita Komplex got us headbanging with their metal riffs and girl-guy vocals. A long time ago, I featured Sweet Lolita Nana on my blog, as Gothloli of the Week.

In one of the night’s best moments, Zin-François Angelique joins Lolita Komplex on stage.

He has a Marilyn Manson vibe, don’t you think?

As morning approaches, Taizo dances. Butoh-influenced, grotesque and glamorous.

For more, check out my complete guide to Tokyo Goth clubs and events.

How did you first get into Goth fashion and culture? What draws you to the dark lifestyle, music and aesthetics? Share your story in the comments; I’ll write back.

Song of the Day: Madame Edwarda – Héliogabale

Halloween is days away! Have you got sweets for trick-or-treaters yet? I’ve got something cute up my sleeve.

Flash back to Hong Kong, when Seba and I visited Sticky, a specialty candy shop.

Remember my cousin, who runs a cute cooking school where we made panda bread? She collaborates with Sticky, confectioner of handmade, rock-style lollies.

The colorful, cute designs are irresistible. A frog, an elephant!

How on Earth do you make these intricate bon-bons by hand?

If you visit the Tsum Tsa Shui store, you can see the skilled process in action. Seba even suited up and joined them behind the counter!

First, the candymakers spread a hot colored sugar-water mixture, and make abstract shapes. Once it firms up, the slab is sectioned by color.

Seba learned that candy can weigh a lot. He stretched out the orange portion with a hook, to change the color and texture.

The various colored sections are assembled and rolled together, to form a giant happy face.

Then, the boys stretched it to a thin and fragile point.

Seba chopped the strand into dime-size pieces. Behold: each one has a cross-eyed happy face on it! We personalized our bag with a custom label: “By La Carmina + Seba.”

We had so much fun at Sticky, and the owner is a sweetheart. I hope you’ll swing by for a free sample! (Shop B201, B2F, K11 Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong)

Sticky also has locations in Singapore, Malaysia and Sydney.

Later on, we went out for a Hong Kong nightcrawl with my friend Heidi, who has visited me in Tokyo. I’m wearing a cat-eared top by Spider (lots of HK Gothic clothes are available in my Garage Sale!)

There’s not much of an alternative/Gothic party scene here. However, we found our types of people at Le Boudoir, a French burlesque/cocktail bar in Soho. (BF, 65 Wyndham St, Central, HK.)

Inside, there were chaises under chandeliers. We tried a Versailles cocktail, but preferred the spicy honey one.

All of my Hong Kong and Macau posts are in this category — including info on Gothic Lolita Kawaii shopping. Give it a gander.

Do you have a sweet tooth? What are your favorite candies?

Song of the Day: Zola Jesus – Night (Have you heard of this Gothic-artsy musician yet?)

I recently appeared on Strangers in Danger, a new travel-thrill program airing on Fuel TV, Discovery and National Geographic. We Pirates fixed (location-scouted and arranged) the Japan episode, and I’m on-screen as the subculture guide — a.k.a. “Hot Goth.”

You can see the video on my YouTube, but first, read on for astonishing photos!

Rooftop (Mike Escamilla) was a fan of my tiny sailor costume, gifted from Lip Service. (You may recognize him as Kat von D’s roommate on LA Ink.)

Goofing off with Catfish (Zach Yankush). Both of the guys are BMX (bicycle motorcross/extreme biking) stars and very chill in person.

In this segment, they took part in an extreme body modification. Since my Pirates company is well-connected with the Japanese underground, we were able to arrange this scene.

Extreme body mods include implants underneath the skin. One has a painful-looking “split” in a male body part that I dare not mention…

The guys got one of the most bizarre procedures: forehead inflation! A saline drip through a needle creates a bulge, and the center is pushed in to create a donut shape. Catfish also pumped up his lip, which made him look like a dolphin.

Watch the eerie process (featuring me) above and on YouTube.

The bulge lasts about 10 hours. You can see more photos of saline head inflation from my French TV show shoot.

I took Catfish and Rooftop to Decadance Bar, where they fit in among the space aliens.

Adrien le Danois feels the squishy donut.

Naomi, “I am Sebastian” and I fixed (arranged) the entire Japan episode of Strangers in Danger, which involved various crazy activities. The Tokyo drifting scene was a riot.

Drifters are an intriguing subculture as well.

They also learned Sumo fighting, and battled with the big guy.

Come see a wild clip of my scenes. Special shout-outs to Naomi and Sebastian for their incredible Pirate work on this mission.

Have you heard of donut-head inflation? What do you think of extreme body modifications such as this? Would you try?

Notice anything different about my blog? I have a new banner (look up!), designed by my ultra-talented friend Alice and the Cat.

Last month, Seba and I presented a party at Roppongi nightclub New Lex, where Alice exhibited her artwork.

When I’m in Tokyo, I get “hair sets” at Kabukicho hair salons (which cater to hostesses and gyaru). If you’re connected, prices are as low as $20 per style. The hairdressers use a ton of hairspray and are unbelievably fast-fingered — this up-do took less than 20 minutes.

Cyber Wa dress: Ozz On, from Closet Child.
Mary Jane shoes: Leche by Yosuke, from Marui One Shinjuku

Mistress Maya and I went to the party together. She’s hot in pink, and brought along a little riding crop to dole out punishment.

With the artist, Alice. A giant poster of her work hung outside the club.

She also designed my new landing page, found at www.lacarmina.com. Don’t you love how she drew my Scottish Fold cat Basil Farrow?

I love the energy of her Japanese manga-style drawings, especially the girls’ flowing hair and sparkling eyes.

Alice is from Milan but currently based in Tokyo. She’s open to projects and commissions; contact her if you have ideas!

Perhaps you remember these illustrations inspired by Seba and La Carmina.

With the lovely ImagePlay DJs, and New Lex owner Masuda.

New Lex is always busy and filled with models. It’s one of the most exclusive clubs in Roppongi.

We had a crazy time in the VIP section… can’t tell you exactly what happened, but boy-blood was shed.

Have you ever gone clubbing in Roppongi? What do you think of my new blog banner and landing page graphic? You can see more of Alice’s artwork on her website.

PS: Thanks Zagat for naming my Death Cookbook goth cooking show one of the best on YouTube. And to Anime.com for reviewing my cookbook Cute Yummy Time.

Song of the Day: Cher – Strong Enough (Why didn’t they have this song when we went to karaoke?)