17 posts tagged “visual kei”
I just woke up and remembered the wonderful dream I was in the middle of, I was hanging out with Atsushi Sakurai (Buck-Tick vocalist)! It might have to do with listening to Buck-Tick while I was reading yesterday evening. He is so great, I love him. So let me take this opportunity to overload you with his image.
It took me long enough to post about this... I heard from Heather that Miyavi was coming to Seattle, so I made plans to buy tickets. I am not a huge Miyavi fan, but I know he is really popular among J-rock fans. I think he is cute and I like his tattoos/image, but only a few of his songs. He is a skilled guitarist, and really entertaining as a one-man show, from what I can tell from his videos.
Anyway, after a bunch of drama trying to order tickets over the phone, I went downtown and bought three tickets for Heather, Shu (that girly Japanese guy), and myself. The show is on the 25th of October at the Paramount Theatre, a proper theater with fancy halls and chandeliers... not exactly a rock concert kind of place, I'd say! I am really looking forward to it, only a couple weeks from now, it is his first US tour.
In other news, the guy I mentioned in the previous post is also in my SIS class and discussion section. I will be seeing a lot of him this quarter.
I should be getting my new computer today! Hopefully, if my brother manages to intercept the UPS man. I had the computer shipped to my brother because I was not sure where I would be living. Now it is really inconvenient because my brother has to drive all the way to Seattle. Oh well, it gives me a excuse to see him!
I went to Uwajimaya yesterday and stocked up on zaru soba and chuka soba noodles. I want to make yakisoba for my brother tonight (if he shows up). I practiced yesterday and it turned out pretty good, I think he will like it. I feel like soba and udon are the only things I know how to cook. No complaints though, I could eat soba everyday!
Saturday was probably one of the most enjoyable days in my life. I don't want to use the word best, because I am sure I have had lots of other good nights and the word is quite vague, but it has been a while since I have taken a whole day out for myself and was able to pursue my own interests entirely.
I got home from the happening bar in Shibuya saturday morning around 06:00 (I walked home) and went to bed, tired and drunk. I got woken up by a phonecall from the travel agent in Shinjuku at 12:09 telling me that I could pick up my tickets to Hanoi. I needed to do that!
I got dressed for the Gazette live, nothing special like I did for the Buck-Tick concert, just sorta plain like I always dress. I didn't have time to visual-kei out, despite having lots of clothes here. I had to figure out which lines to take to get to the Saitama Super Arena... I had no idea where I was going. It was very hot and I walked all the way to Roppongi station under the burning sun (it is not really that far, it only feels far in dry hot weather). I took the Oedo line to Shinjuku, then I went quickly to Kabukicho to get my airplane tickets. Then it was back to the JR station.
At the station, I could see Gazette fans dressed up. It was clear! Cosplaying members of the band, etc. It was cool, and especially obvious on the train, we were all headed to the same place, 20,000 of us! The trains were full of visual kei fashion and dyed, ironed hair. It was awesome!
The arena was impressive, its size and design, and so many of the concert-goers outside were very cool looking, rivaling the artists themselves! I bought some merchandise (T-shirt and stickers) and got to my seat (it was not bad). I was getting so excited! The show started about 10 minutes after 17:00.
All in all, the concert was awesome. It was the tour final, so the crowd was loud and excited. The band seemed to be having a good time, and in turn everyone else did too. Japanese people are weird at concerts and all do the same movements at the same time with their arms. How do they know how to do that? I just prefer to watch and listen. The Gazette are pretty cool on stage.
I don't want to compare them to Buck-Tick because they aren't really comparable in my mind, but I must say that the fact that I am obsessed with Sakurai Atsushi (Buck-Tick vocalist) made me a lot more excited to see their live in July. The Gazette's main appeal to me is their music, not so much a fan-girl for any of the members. But yeah, they really, really rock! They are truly the best visual kei band today. Wow, I was really impressed. I have seen some videos of their live performances, and I was not really expecting much. But they were amazing! There were fireworks and awesome visuals, so much sound, I loved the entire thing.
I had emailed the guy I mentioned in my last post, who is familiar with happening bars before the concert and he told me he was glad I had emailed him. He was trying to decide whether to go to Ageha (there was an SM exhibition that night) or to this other happening bar that he told me about. I told him to let me know if he wanted to meet and we could go together. After the Gazette ended, I took the train back to Shinjuku and met him at studio ALTA at about 22:25.
He decided to go to the happening bar. He described it as a nicer club compared to the Shibuya place we met at the night before. Naturally, it was in Kabuki-cho, completely underground. The sign on the door was simple, silver metal, with one word only, SILK. He spoke into a speaker and then we were allowed to enter. This club was very classy! They did not hassle me at all, and simply asked my name and his (he is a member). The first floor appeared as normal as can be, dark with low seats like hostess clubs. Customers spoke quietly and were relaxed. Everything appeared totally normal. He told me he would show me the downstairs later. We had a drink.
After a while I noticed costumes and SM gear in one corner of the room. Then soon after I heard a girl moaning from somewhere out of sight. He told me that most people stay on this level to drink, but of course, anything was allowed. He and I talked. Despite having come fully intending to sleep with him, I was interested in getting to know him a little bit beforehand. His English was quite good so I joked with him, Are you educated or something?
He kinda laughed. You could say that. I work with many American companies, so I always have to use English. I didn't ask anything else. He asked me about why I could speak some Japanese and I told him I studied in university and that yes I am still a student. I told him I studied at Waseda for a bit and he said he graduated from there, graduate school, his undergraduate degree was from Todai. Okay, I guess he is quite well-educated.
After the drink and a bit of chatting, he took me downstairs to show me the play rooms. They were comfortable looking but empty. It was still early. I was kinda sticky from running around in the sun all day, so I took a shower and by his suggestion put on a costume. I picked the high school girl sailor uniform. We continued to drink as more customers filled the club.
To be honest, I was quite impressed by him. He has done a lot of independent travel starting at a young age. He has done all sorts of drugs and is inspired by LSD, he told me about taking acid and sitting on the Yamanote line for hours, about smoking marijuana at the beach and and how the sound of waves makes him feel. He traveled and stayed in Africa as a college student, he has spent a lot of time in Eastern Europe, he has been everywhere! He studied physics at university and is a little obsessed with it. He has been going to sex clubs for ten years.
We watched quite a few people have sex but did not enter the rooms. Sooner or later though, after I drank a bit more, we did. Lots of people were watching us. I could see some of the voyeurs masturbating but it didn't bother me. It was hot, I had a good time. We went out and showered, then watched a few more couples. One girl whose arms were tied up was a total masochist, she kept telling her partner in Japanese to forgive her. We watched the end of their session before going in again. Now I wore handcuffs and a blind fold.
The second time was really exciting actually, not being able to see who was touching me, though I am pretty sure it was only him. I felt another hand at one point touching my legs and tickling my feet, but with handcuffs on, I could not do much, I just let things happen, it felt nice! I enjoyed hearing the sound of the handcuffs when my hands tried to move.
In addition to having a healing itchy tattoo on my back, I have two huge mosquito bites on both my lower legs. Someone shoot me! At least I can scratch the bites.
Last night was ridiculous. WH and I trailed behind stupid Fuckwater for ages. We at one point sat in the lobby of the Imperial Hotel in Hibiya as drunken Fuckwater decided to leave. Though I got a little bit of cash for a taxi (did not spend it), it was a complete waste of time, and I felt bad because WH had an appointment in the morning... and I dragged her along... for nothing!
Yusuke bought airplane tickets to Viet Nam (among other places, he is also visiting Thailand and Singapore while I stay in Viet Nam). I dunno how I feel about that. He will only meet me for a few days, but it feels strange having a man follow me around. Maybe he likes me more than I thought? I think it is a little strange that he calls me everyday, but maybe it is what normal people do?
My professors from UW have started emailing me with book information already. I still have over a month before classes begin, but still, fall quarter is approaching!
Edit~
Forgot to mention that my dear friend Kaoru emailed me. He wants to meet for dinner next week. I have been waiting for him to get back to me. Also, I recieved my tickets to see the Gazette! The concert is next Saturday, I can’t wait to see them live! The tickets aren’t bad at all (the seat seems better than the one I had for Buck-Tick) and I might be able to see their faces! The concert is at the Saitama Super Arena, very huge place. Should be awesome!
Last night, Matsuda did not call me. I figured he did not wanna deal with me anymore after sort of ditching him Saturday. Takahashi called instead and we went out for yakitori and drinks at Roppongi Hills. Same old chatting. He told me, though, that if I can introduce him to a girl and he manages to kiss her, he will give me 50,000 yen. More, if he manages to sleep with her, he will give me 100,000 yen. And! If the relationship lasts more than 3 days, he will give me 200,000 yen. He was serious! I told him I would try my best. Any takers?
Today I slept in. Matsuda called me in the morning and we made plans to meet at 17:30 and have dinner. (It is funny to me how often I make plans while still in bed, half asleep. People call me in the mornings, I arbitrarily select an evening time to meet them, then fall back asleep).
I have to admit I was a little afraid to meet him. All these paranoid thoughts were racing through my imagination, I half-expected a hundred police cars to be waiting outside my building, but I met him. He was innocently waiting smoking a cigarette at the crossing. We went to Shibuya. We went to a nice restaurant and had a small meal. Seafood salad and some cold pasta, wine and cheese.
I was wearing long-sleeves. It is normal for me to wear long sleeves even in the hottest weather, but he commented on it and told me that I needed to buy summer clothes. I acted surprised but I could tell he wanted to take me shopping in Shibuya. I bought a couple shirts from 109 and OIOI. The shops were closing and he gave me the change. It added up to about 13,000 yen, he told me to spend the rest of it tomorrow. Yeah right. I will save it for my living!
He wanted to go to an izakaya. We went to a fancy-ish one in Shibuya where he had me sample different types of shochu, he ordered a glass of several different kinds (they all tasted almost the same to me). We had sushi and tsukune and miso soup. Afterward he asked me where I wanted to go, a club? Karaoke? Home? He did not want me to go home, so we went to karaoke. All the karaoke places in Shibuya were full so we went to Roppongi, but not before he bought me the new Gazette album, the Limited Edition CD&DVD (which came with a complimentary pencil board with a photo of the band printed on it!) and Gazette wristband at HMV. Yay! They are my favorite current visual kei band!
We went to the same karaoke place that Shinya and the Israeli girls took me to last year, near my old club. We drank and sang (mostly my songs). We had another few drinks in Roppongi, then he let me go home...
In short, today was a success. Listening to my new CD now!
Oh My GOD! I just was looking through the CD and the lyrics booklet and inside was an invitation to get tickets for the Gazette tour final show!! Ticket sales just opened along with the CD release, and I just reserved my tickets. I have to go pay for them at Lawson, but I got them, in my name! Lucky!!! I will have to have them mail the tickets to Waseda dorms though maybe...
Of course I bought some things... including a DVD (has been almost impossible for me to obtain) of my favorite concert of theirs in 1998. Also bought a cool shirt and bag. I am very happy with my purchases. After the show, I walked home and then listened to more of their music, with a renewed magical sense that came from seeing them live.
I feel like I am floating! I am not thinking or something. I am about to go see my favorite band in the world Buck-Tick live in my favorite city on earth. During my forced days off, I have been spending time with people out of my own volition, guys who interest me and whose company I enjoy. It is much better than work, which I will return to tomorrow.
I hung out with Ryujiro last night; he is growing on me. He wanted to go to Crossover (where Daisuke, the charming bartender works) and we went. I felt sort of bad because Ryujiro and I were alone together. I told Daisuke last week that I had no boyfriend. He asked if he was my boyfriend. I said, no no, I am just teaching this guy English. I like them both, but Daisuke never made any direct move so Ryujiro is ahead in the game, I guess. And has more free time. Also, he knows who Noam Chomsky is, that is... +500 points, at least.
Ryujiro and I, after drinking several shots and mixed drinks, got kicked out of the bar at closing, then went to sit together under some eaves to protect from the rain. It was kind of romantic, and it was quiet in Roppongi, Tuesday night. He asked me what I wanted to do. I told him he should go catch his train, he has school in the morning. He said he did not care, he asked me, do you want me to leave?
I told him no, but he should not miss his train. He said I had two choices, he could leave and go home or we could stay up all night until the first trains. I said sure, we can stay up (I was up til 6 the night before so I was not sleepy). Then he told me he wanted to come to my house. I told him, I did not know him, and if he wanted to sleep, he should go home.
He smiled. He told me, okay then, I will see you this weekend. It was very hard to tell him to leave! He is charming even though he is only one year older than me and kind of silly.
Anyway! Who cares. Right now, I am ridiculously excited to see Buck-Tick tonight. I will see Atsushi Sakurai and Imai and everyone else in the band in real life!!!!!! I am ecstatic. I am trying to visual-kei up, clothes and makeup while listening to memento mori!
Yesterday I woke up early to get dressed for Sakura Con. I did not plan too much for it, just wore some clothes I had picked out the day before, not so different than my everyday attire except I wore thigh-high stockings rather than covering my legs with tights or leggings. I did iron my hair extra straight and made sure it was really shiny, but I did not go all out as far as cosplay goes. Several people (male and female) asked to take my photo.
The first thing I did was get two things signed by voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi, who does the voice for many popular anime characters, including my favorite, L. Lawliet!
Then my friends Heather and Kaho (from Hong Kong) showed up. You might recognise Kaho from the band I saw at JSA's Matsuri. He plays guitar and he is Heather's slave apparently. Man, don't ask me why, but he follows her around, wears a collar, does what she tells him to, and asks her permission for everything. It's kind of weird but whatever, it's cool with me, whatever floats his boat. Heather has a boyfriend (not Kaho) so I dunno. They're silly. We got in line for the concert.
Then, what I had been waiting for came about... Girugamesh! I saw Nii, the guitarist come on stage before the rest of the band and mess with microphones. Even though it was dark and he was wearing a hood, one does not mistake his hair. Anyway, I took a bunch of photos until we were told to stop using cameras. I even got a video. They were so cool. I was so amazed, they looked cooler than their photos and sounded better in real life than recorded... such an awesome experience, I never wanted it to end.
A few developments about the Waseda seminar have me more excited, but also more worried that I will not be selected!
Only three students from each of the 8 universities will be selected. Only three! I really hope I am one of them... I asked about the accommodations they are offering and one of the program coordinators said they would be near the Waseda campus... still don't know if they will be dorms or what. Either way, free accommodation sure beats paying for the inevitably ghetto place I would be staying in. She also told me that after two weeks at Waseda, participants will go on a week-long retreat at Shonan Village Center near Sagami Bay. Looks cool! 行きたい！
I really want to be selected! I have requested my letters of recommendation and finished my resume. I just need to pick the best example of my recent writing and write a letter "stating why you would like to participate in the Global Honors College in Japan, and what experiences and skills make you qualified for this program." Application deadline is May 1st.
Meeting that dude Jordan (from my last entry) tomorrow. Probably a waste of time.
Long-awaited Girugamesh concert is this Friday at Sakura-con! My fellow visual kei fan girl friend and I plan to drive down to the convention center together after school and hope to get good spots. We considered skipping class and being bums waiting in line, but convention staff are kind of controlling and do not allow that kind of behavior, they broke lines up last year. We will still arrive early and make our way to the stage for the first performances. Girugamesh will be here at least overnight... I want to hang out with them...
If we don't manage to get their attention during the concert, I am going to say something very provocative to them during the signing session. Hehe, we will see. It will be fun.
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