Kabuki-cho! Pachinko, Putas, and Puke.

2007©janneserojas,
"Cool Dude", Kabuki-cho, Tokyo
Kabuki-cho is kinda like the red-light district but with panchinko
(gambling) palors, puking teenagers, and high-priced crappy eateries,
besides the sex and "host" clubs. Don't get me wrong it's actually a
lot of fun just to take a walk around and be a voyer of the chaos just
as the crowds get started and when the crowds start dashing for the
last trains home. It's great to see the stragglers who were just to
wasted to make it a few blocks to the train station for their last
train. After 11pm it's kinda surreal because it's still all flashing
lights but really dead, except for the foreigners from Africa trying to
lure customers (especially other foreigners) into their seedy little
clubs. We had a couple of them follow us for a couple of blocks and
tried to invite themselves back to our hotel and "give us happy times",
eeewwww! If you go before midnight it's quite safe and just
overwhelming with lights and sounds, lotta fun.

Here's a little taste of a walk through Kabuki-cho


All Images Copyrighted 2007
"Hostess" Club
Pachinko, Gaming, and Spa!
Panchinko, Everything's gonna be fine.
Gateway to Kabuki-cho
Kabuki-cho flashing lights
Kabuki-cho after the crowds
strange all-night puppy store with van to go
Heading into Kabuki-cho

Murakami exhibit was brilliant!

I will post some pics later but this is a video that was on exhibit, it's freakin' funny.

April 5th! Murakami! and Japanese festival at the Brooklyn Museum!

Just want to give everyone a heads up, if you are in Brooklyn this Saturday it is Target free Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum which means it's a free all night long. The only thing that is not free is the Murakami show, but that's $10, well worth it. Here's the schedule:

April 5, 2008

Japanimated! Arts and Cultures of Japan

5:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m. Cosplay Photo Contest
Rubin Lobby and Hall of the Americas, 1st Floor

Come dressed as your favorite anime or manga character, and get your picture taken for a chance to win a © MURAKAMI catalogue!

5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Music
Hall of the Americas, 1st Floor

Taiko drumming group Taikoza performs traditional Japanese music and dance.

6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Poetry
Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Forum, 4th Floor

Kimiko Hahn reads from her book The Narrow Road to the Interior. A Q & A follows. Free tickets (30) are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.

6:00 p.m. Film
Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor

See the anime classic Kiki's Delivery Service (Hayao Miyazaki, 1989, 103 min., G) about a young witch in training. Free tickets (330) are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.

6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Hands-On Art
Education Division, 1st Floor

Draw a cartoon alter ego. Free timed tickets (380) are available at the Visitor Center at 5:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m. Curator Talk
Meet at the entrance to Utagawa, 1st Floor

Join Curator Laura Mueller as she gives a gallery talk in Utagawa: Masters of the Japanese Print, 1770–1900. The talk is Sign Language–interpreted. Free tickets (30) are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.

8:00 p.m. Young Voices Gallery Talk
Meet at the entrance to Utagawa, 1st Floor

Student Guides Kimberly Macron and Judith Barnes discuss the prints of the Utagawa school and popular culture.

8:00 p.m. Film
Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Forum, 4th Floor

The documentary Smoke and Mirrors: A Geisha Story (Artemis Willis, 2004, 63 min., NR) chronicles the relationship between an elderly ex-geisha and a young Brooklyn filmmaker. Free tickets (30) are available at the Visitor Center at 7 p.m.

8:30 p.m. Film
Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor

Journey into outer space with the classic anime film Space Battleship Yamato: The New Voyage (Toshio Masuda and Takeshi Shirado, 1979, 95 min., NR) ) from the series that inspired Takashi Murakami. Free tickets are available (330) at the Visitor Center at 7 p.m.

9:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. Music
Hall of the Americas, 1st Floor

The Brooklyn-based Japanese bands Love Etc. and Sakura Madams perform their blend of pop and rock music.

9:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m. Dance Party
Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor

Japan's top DJ, Muro aka King of Diggin', spins his legendary mix of hip-hop, funk, and soul.