This quick portrait of Tokyo-based illustrator Adrian Hogan found him at work animating a dancing pig. I am in awe of his drawing skill, and inspired by his adorable pig.
No animal is more moe than the gorgeous pig
dancing
Back to prettier people, did you see the pole dancing outside Advocates on their 10th anniversary?
A free-standing sidewalk pole for dancing seemed like the best idea of the century. This big girl certainly looks festive!
Please don’t dance, says Tokyo to its residents and visitors
Starting last summer, Tokyo police have cracked down on the dangerous custom of bars allowing patrons to dance. Citing an obscure law from 1948, the police have put on notice all the dance clubs in Nichome, and presumably smaller straight dance clubs. The original ordinance insists that dancing leads to prostitution. Whereas Japan has no shortage of real prostitutes and media simulations, allowing people to dance would be far too dangerous, disreputable, and contaminating. Oh, Japan, wake up. We’re in the 21st century!
Pyschedlic senior ladies dance in public
Occasionally, I feel bad knowing how interested some of my readers are in Tokyo ladies, and how little I offer these readers. At this Nakano festivity, I was mesmerized by the psychedelic swirl of these dancing seniors.
Dancing ladies ready to sell product, president, and dreams
Meant for each other? Or just another Hollywood lesbian fashion dream?
Lady Gaga: “Judas is the demon I cling to”
Wow! Lady Gaga creates video drama like no one since Madonna. I love how in the new Judas video she imagines herself as the Jesus leader of an LA bike gang. Big hair, leather, skin, and of course lots of dancing. Her hunky Judas, wearing a crown, is clearly irresistible. Given the ever increasing militarism in the US, it’s lovely to see her whip out a gold gun armed with lipstick. I feel the passion!
Can Japan resist allure of K-pop ikemen?!
Shinee (샤이니, pronounced “shiny”) is a Korean boy band that will be making its Japan debut in June, 2011.
There’s always seems to be yet another K-pop boy band whose dancing, fan service, and fashion exceed anything Japan’s Johnny has ever imagined. If it weren’t for the Japanese husband, I wonder if maybe I shouldn’t be studying Korean. Well, in Tokyo, at least we have Shin Okubo to enjoy a bit of Korea without getting on a plane.
Kirsten Dunst “Turning Japanese”
Super fun video of Kirsten Dunst vamping through Akihabara singing “Turning Japanese.” She’s in full cosplay outfit, dancing, greeting and flirting with maids, salarymen, and cute youth. Thanks Christophe for sharing this!
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/music/watch/v19838048wrs3Dgdy
Baseball madness
That glazed expression is the result of two beers before dinner. And those tiny plastic umbrellas? No, it is not raining. It is a fan tribute for a home run at the Swallows baseball game in Jingu Stadium. Anyone who knows me could be surprised seeing me at a ball game, but I was invited and, well, it’s Japan, so why not?
My pal encouraged me to sit in the cheap seat bleachers to fully enjoy the rowdy fans. It was a packed night because the opponents were the very popular Hanshin Tigers from Osaka. The stadium is divided right to left for each team’s fans, and we sat in the Swallows section. Although the rules are the same, the atmosphere is very different.
On our side, there were many plastic bats rhythmically beating, team jerseys and towels, general chants and player-specific chants (including a version of “Oh Canada” for one foreign player, and “ikemen” for one of the Japanese players), a few horns, some very large flags, and beer vendors in neon clothes with kegs strapped to their backs. While the Swallows fans have their plastic mini-umbrellas, the Tigers have large yellow balloons which they release into the sky at the 7th inning. A Japanese fan in the Swallows stands complained that it produces a lot of trash.
This fan in front of us was very friendly, proud of his team and their foreign players, and eager to lend us his dancing umbrella. Despite his super-butch appearance, I liked how he explained his “ikemen” chant (“because he’s sexy”), and that he came to the game with his buddy and the hugest pink and white sports bag I have ever seen.
Tokyo Moe 