Sketchtastic Week in Review

Hey Art Monkeys,

It's only been a week since the 1st Annual Dr. Sketchy's Exhibition Party and it feels like a lifetime ago.
The lights.
The glitz.
The glam.
It's a story told best with pictures.
Enjoy.








Photos by: Gianfranco Chicco
www.drsketchytokyo.com

Party of my Life

This is it!
This is what all the hard work has lead to.
This day!
It's not Christmas or my birthday and I'm soo excited I can hardly sit still.

I haven't slept or eaten properly in days and yet I'm on a natural high. I have no idea how it's all going to turn out but I am filled with such joy and pride and lust for life even if it all falls on my head I have had such an amazing time on this journey. I have worked with my very best friends and made a few more. It has been a labor of pure love for sure and there are no words that can truly express the appreciation I feel for all those involved in making the Dr. Sketchy's Exhibition Party a reality. You've made all these tiny thoughts into jeweled realities and I am truly moved.

To all the artists, models, dancers, staff, volunteers and supporters of Dr. Sketchy's Tokyo THANK YOU!

Lady Elle

Dr. Sketchy's, Tokyo Exhibition Party

Only 5 more sleeps until the big Dr. Sketchy's Exhibition Party and I can't hardly wait. Visions of dancing feathered ladies and Sketchtastic eye candy swim round my head and the excitement is best expressed through song! Check out this vid from the Dazzle Dancers that pretty much sums up the mood on Saturday night!


Saturday November 22nd
La Boheme on Kotto Dori
21:00-2:00
￥2500 +1 Drink (RSVP)
￥3500 +1 Drink at the door
rsvp@drsketchytokyo.com

Keith Olberman...

Gives it to you straight with no chaser.
Right On!

Hoop Video of the Day...AGAIN!

I was pleased as punch to learn that I was hoop video of the day again on hooping.org. Mostly because this time I wasn't trying so hard. Hooping at Glitterball this year was truly a dream come true. It was on my vision board and everything! There is something about this moment in history that makes me feel like anything and everything is possible.


It's ALL HAPPENING.

Sketchy Drink Names

If you were a cocktail at sizzling hot burlesque exhibition party what would your name be?

Dr. Sketchy's, Tokyo is now holding court and taking your suggestions.
Be clever.
Be creative.
Be down right crass.

The chosen few will win bragging rights for a Sketch-ternity.

Debauchery is the name of the drinking game!

The winners will be on the menu at
Dr. Sketchy's GRAND EXHIBITION PARTY

in Aoyama at La Boheme on Kotto Dori on
November 22nd
Time 9p-2a
¥2500 +1 Drink w/flyer or reservation rsvp@drsketchytokyo.com
¥3500 +1 Drink @ door
more details here.


photo by: Martine Cotton

YES WE DID!

Re-inventing self

Move over Madonna.
Usually the meglomaniac in me only uses this site for my own self-indulgent admittedly mastabatory personal pursuits but I just HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO share these photos of one of my very dearest friends Deanne "SuperStar" Tonking of Hooplovers.com

Recently she modeled for a variety of fashion photographers in a shoot that is the equivalent of a photographic jam sessions and the end result is a hooping portfolio worthy of any album cover this side of the Tachikawa! Truly breathtaking, stunning and unequivocally GORGEOUS. Deanne, this past year I have watched you radiate energy like a phoenix and you haven't even hit your zenith yet! All I can say is that I love it and I want more of it!

Photos by: Rampant Gian

Glitterball

Last week was one for the history books! Deanne Tonking of Hooplovers.com rallied her hooping minions together for a hooping light show that delighted thousands on all Hallow's Eve at Womb in Shibuya! Every year the good folks over at Metropolis Magazine host the now infamous Glitterball and the mischief and mayhem of the evening is legendary. Wish we were able to get better angels but as I was standing on podium (1x1 square meters) with over 2000 revelers we were lucky to capture the moment at all! Move over Mika this is a video for the girls!

Glitterball 2008 from Lady Elle on Vimeo.

Metropolis Modeling Debut

This week I had the opportunity to stretch some modeling muscles that I didn't even know I had. I can now check off yet another thing on the list of things to do before I hit the big 3-0.

This spread was a labor of love and a personal favor to my friends over at The Metropolis Magazine as they launch the new and improved Body & Soul section of the magazine which is a refreshing fashion forward segment dedicated to showcasing interesting and trendy areas all around Tokyo. This week spotlights Daikanyama. To read the full article go here.

Dr. Sketchy's Tokyo on the Metpod

The Tokyo Metpod is the podcast version of The Metropolis Magazine, Tokyo’s #1 weekly English Language Magazine. This week Dr. Sketchy’s is mentioned as one of the hottest art events going down! Check it out here!

Mika Mondays

Oh Dear!
We knew this day would come. This is the day where I completely miss the deadline and with DAMN good reason!
I'm on the road.
I'm in the traveling kid's production that pays my bread and butter and this just so happens to be a three day weekend here in Japan which means extra shows for me!
That's five, trampoline jumping, High kick swingin, back flip springin, explosive dance moving, high note belting energy charged shows!
FIVE SHOWS!
THREE DAYS!
With 10 minutes to check out from my hotel, this photo from fellow castmate IQ JANE of me hooping on the Shinkansen (bullet train) platform in the first city on this 3 city tour weekend is all I could manage for Mika Mondays.
May it please the court to know that I am currently listening to Grace Kelly by Mika as I type this and not for nothing a video has been recorded for this week to be released next Monday!

Murder Mystery

The Tokyo Comedy Store was absolutely delighted when The Tyler Foundation approached us to be the entertainment for their annual fundraiser at the Hilton this year. The cast of Spontaneous Confusion joined forces with actors Donna Burke, Martin Burns, Lenne Hardt and Andrew Martinez to put on a Murder Mystery of Cluedo proportions. Check out what you missed!

Eye Opener

Annie Leonard knows her Stuff!
Hers is basically a more digestable version of the message in Fight Club.
It's nothing you haven't heard before but totally worth the Reading Rainbow reminder.

Allow 20 minutes to watch.

Mika Mondays (Flea Market Hooping)

Hey there Mika fans. This weekend beat the band. I went caving and kayaking organized a flea market for Dr. Sketchy's, learned how to make konyaku a Japanese gelatinous dish which truly is not worth the effort and celebrated the end of a colossal effort to bring a Murder Mystery to life for the Tyler Foundation...oh and I swallowed a sharp fish bone which still seems to be lodged in my throat but miraculously doesn't seem to be choking me.
The last 72 hours have been anything but boring and I'd be lying if the thought hadn't crossed my mind to skip out on you guys. To say to hell with Mika Mondays. To be perfectly honest getting out of bed this Monday was harder than all the events of this past weekend and the very LAST thing I wanted to do was spend hours editing footage...BUT I just couldn't do it.
I couldn't NOT do Mika Mondays! It was the weirdest thing. I've blown off plenty of other (arguably more significant) obligations in my day with relative ease but I actually felt BAD for even THINKING about not following through with Mika Mondays. So here I am, with literally minutes left until Monday is over here in Japan, Vimeo is still uploading and I'm not so sure I'll make the deadline but the beauty of living in Japan is that it's still the past somewhere else in the world since we see the present first! What a gift!
So for those of you out in GMT -5 this one is for you babe!

Mika Mondays 7 (Flea Market Hoop) from Lady Elle on Vimeo.

Special thanks to my best friend Akiko for the hoop battle, Dr. Sketchy's February model, Diana for helping with the Flea Market and Stuart for the great camera work. I couldn't have done any of it without you guys! If you missed the Dr. Sketchy's Flea Market, pics are here and if you missed September's Dr. Sketchy's pics are here.

Song: Relax, Take it Easy
By:Mika

PS. Yes Diana the hoop has a way of making every butt bootilicious.

PSS. If you happen to live overseas and your cable provider supports NHK WORLD you can check out the TV Show Tokyo Eye that features me caving, kayaking and cooking! Airs Thursday 15:15 JST October 16th. The last month I was featured in the chopsticks segment all details here.

Dr. Sketchy's Flea Market

Dr. Sketchy’s is currently in the process of doing some major fund raising to host our very first gallery opening next month. We’ve teamed up with our March model, Dirty Dancing Diana to share a booth and sell Dr. Sketchy’s very own brand named sinfully sexy stockings and tights that would make any Harajuku girl squeal with delight! Come on out and support this Saturday as we sell in the name of art. Lady Elle will bring her hoops and dance for attention while Dirty Diana laughs without abandon.

Don’t miss the Dr. Sketchy’s sale happening at the
Flea Market in Shinjuku Chuo Koen (park) just in front of the fountain.

Saturday October 4th

11:00-16:00

Oedo Line to Tochomae (Shinjuku Chuo Koen exit)

Fartin' around

I thought Spring time was hay fever season but apparently it can knock you down in the fall as well. While I've had issues with my actual plumbing my nose seems to run eternal lately. If only I could bathe in that translucent stream...ok that's gross even by my standards.
Moving on. All this sneezing has left me in a dazed itchy eyed, sweatshirt wearing, tea drinking, internet prowling stupor. This vid is the product of my red eyed perusing.

Animator vs. Animation II by *alanbecker on deviantART
It's enough to make anyone's eyes water.
Hilarious!

Mika Mondays

My good friend Mishal edited my first performance with Hooplovers thus giving me my first edit free pass on the Mika Mondays ride!

Thanks Mish!

*I'm the one with the white furry leg warmers.

Here's what I did with my Sunday night instead of prepping Mika Mondays. I made my flat go from fratboy clubhouse,

to functioning oasis


Cause after an action packed week of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Tokyo,


Tyler Foundation Fundraising,


and high octane trampoline fueled children's entertainment


Life could use a little cool down.

Special thanks to IQ Jane for her backstage photo. Jane has done a wonderful job documenting life on the road with the English Carnival! If you wanna see more check out her flickr here.

Tokyo Hoop Stars

Tokyo's main Hoop Guru, Deanne Tonking just left the island to train with the big dogs in San Francisco at an intensive hoop camp/retreat . Oh the jealousy in my heart knows no bounds, but in lieu of her delightful presence I leave you with a hoop video made by Hooplovers that highlights the hoop joy that she spread.

Tokyo Hoop Stars from hooplovers on Vimeo.
Come back soon Obi wan, we miss you already!

PS. If you watch till the end, I nearly take out someone with my hoop. Sorry good people of Shinjuku!

Mika Mondays Episode 5

Hey there Hoop Groupies, this is the entry that almost never was. I was in the midst of dotting the (I)s and crossing the (T)s when my poor computer crashed and took with it all the editing I had done for the last 5 HOURS!
Tears were seriously shed as it was 2 in the morning and exhaustion was burning the back of my eyeballs.
BUT
All is not lost because even though we're already more than half way through Monday in Tokyo it's still Monday all over the world and there are plenty of hours still left in the day to enjoy the music and the hoop.
Today I bring you Mika Mondays in two segments.
The first is of course the video of me hooping to the music of a band I just recently discovered last week called FatBlueMan they are based out of Kansai in the Aichi Prefecture in the city of Nagoya which gets its reputation as basically being the Detroit of Japan but has oh so much more to offer than just cars. Front man John Janzen invited me to sit in on a jam session and they absolutely rocked my socks off.
So check out the LED hoop action as I rock out to their song Which Road Takes Me Home

Mika Mondays Episode 5 Part 1 from Lady Elle on Vimeo.

Next up are your FAQs and Comments. Since starting Mika Mondays the love has been pouring from all sides, thanks for all your wonderful questions and comments your energy is what kept me going last night so thanks for all of your amazing support!

Mika Mondays Episode 5 Part 2 from Lady Elle on Vimeo.

FatBlueMan

While on tour this weekend with my own show I serendipitously was able to meet up with some of TokyoCooney's fans who I met while doing The TokyoCooney BlogTV show last week. It was shear coincidence that I was in Nagoya a day eariler than my show date and FatBlueMan invited me to come sit in on a jam session. The whole experience was a lot more interactive than I thought it would be. Gone are the days when groupies simply shook tambourines and swayed to the beat; now we're full on roadies who are responsible for documenting the journey. I had a great time filming this video for them. Can't wait to go back and see them live in concert. If you're ever in Nagoya, FatBlueMan should be on your list of things to do.

OMG I'm on Hooping.org

OMG OMG OMG OMG!
Mika Mondays episode 4 got a shout out on Hooping.org. I am now for the next few hours the Hoop video of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm absolutely OVER THE MOON!
That's at least 5 minutes of my 15 minutes of fame allotment.


And today I just got this email from Holly the Hoop angel who let me know about it.

"Hey Leila! I'm a hooper from San Diego Ca and saw your video on hooping.org. It's video of the day if you didn't know already, you should check it out! I just wanted to say I think it's awesome what you are doing to try and get into a Mika video, Honestly I don't really know who that is. Maybe he is more popular in Japan, that tends to happen musically as opposed to groups here in the US. But I wish you the best of luck with your journey and hope to someday see you in a MIKA video! Keep Hooping! Peace and Hoopiness ~Holly"

Did you read that!!!
She doesn't even know who Mika is!!!!
Is that even possible in this day and age??
Did I just introduce someone to the yummy lovey goodness of Mika!?!

Oh Happy Day indeed.

Internet Neutrality

I have no idea if this is true, but these guys sound convincing enough for me to share this disturbing youtube video (Techy, hipster, European accents always sound more convincing than dodgy American ones) Internet Neutrality seems to be under siege according to them. If this is true major telecommunications corporations are now working together to create a network of uniting ISP addresses so that the world wide web as we know it will work more like cable TV and we the consumer will begin to pay for a package of "channels" (sites) that we can visit. I don't know about you but that sounds pretty blog worthy.
Please allow 12 minutes to watch.

On the other hand, upon searching for this video, I found it originated on a youtube channel called AtheneWins, a soft porn site started by the host of this segment, Tania.

Not saying porn stars can't be activists...
...but do more research before you take action.
If all of this is true than it's time that we BE the change we seek!
Cause as you can see:
The revolution will not be televised!
The revolution is HERE!

Tokyo Cooney

It's always nice to work with friends and today is no exception. Today one of the city's most beloved stand-up comedians Kevin Cooney is launching a new web TV show live on blogTV.com inspired by his insanely popular youtube series TokyoCooney He will be broadcasting live with armed with nothing but his webcam, a microphone and a dream and he has invited me to be his first guest! I'm super excited about the opportunity be apart of this grand experiement and wish him nothing but the best ratings the internet has to offer. So tune in to Tokyo Cooney later today!

Wow my first talk show!
Seriously hope you can catch it!

Sayoonara Chief Auntie Km

My Auntie Kim just got pinned today!
No not laid.
PINNED!

As in promoted! To CHIEF!
(and I got to do the honors)
ALL HAIL CHIEF PETTY OFFICER AUNTIE KIM!
My Aunt and I grew up like sisters. We're only one year apart and so I say Auntie rather cheekily but I couldn't be more proud of her!
This day is monumental for oh sooo many reasons!

My Grandpa, may he rest in peace, was a Navy Seal and made it as far as E6 (Enlisted 6 = Petty Officer) and his daughter just surpassed him after vowing to do so just month's before he passed. She was promoted after just 11 years of service while it takes some Naval guys their entire careers to make Chief! We always knew she had the right stuff.
The moment was bitter sweet for me as this was also the day I had to say good-bye to her. She's somewhere over the Pacific in route to her next duty station so Auntie Kim if you paid the extra 10 bucks for internet access on the plane and you're reading this, I just wanted to say thank you for coming to Japan and supporting me while I worked to make my dreams come true. It was an honor to be with you while you realized yours.

You made it Auntie!
Grandpa is smiling down on you honey!
Congratulations!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS. Special thanks to the McGinnis family pictured here. You were the perfect surrogate family. Destiny, Lydia, Jade I will NEVER forget you!

Mika Mondays #4 - Tochomae

Hello Mika,
Happy Monday! In this week's installment of Mika Mondays (the weekly segment dedicated to auditioning for one of your music videos) I went to The Tokyo Tocho (Government building) as it is virtually my backyard. I love this area of Tokyo because it's got wide open spaces which are absolutely ideal for hooping. When I first moved into the neighborhood I absolutely fell in love with the round sculpture and fountain in the courtyard and I knew that I was destined to hoop there. So this week's Mika offering is extra special because I've captured two visions with one wish.
MM 4 - Tochomae from Lady Elle on Vimeo.

Location: Tokyo Tocho
Music: Sweet Dreams By: Mika

Special thanks this week to Graig Russell for being my awesome cameraman and Daniel "Danz" Perez, Fashion photographer who gave me a few tips on the technical end of things.

Enjoy
And don't forget to spread the word!

Ohashi, Podcasting and Charity oh my...

Making a TV show about ohashi (chopsticks) is almost like making a Mika music video...

kind of...in a way...

not all.

But it was still loads of fun. This week I got the not so unique opportunity to be a featured broadcaster on a show called Tokyo Eye in which I not only got to visit an authentic chopstick shop in Omotesando but I spent the afternoon playing Santa's little helper with a wooden toy maker in Kichijoji where I crafted a pair of the wonkiest chopsticks this side of The Tachikawa. The episode will air in one week on NHK World, which is the cable news portion of the broadcasting giant so if you live overseas and subscribe to NHK World or just so happen to be in a hotel in Honk Kong, Dubai or Mumbai check it out!

Meanwhile back on the ranch...
The Tokyo Metpod is getting record hits due to it's rockin new ad in the back of The Metropolis. If you look closely you can see that I'm featured in a thumbnail photo about the size of a bee's dick in the far right column.


I'm also ecstatic to announce that The Tyler Foundation Benefit dinner is now sold out! The Murder Mystery that The Comedy Store gang has been lovingly slaving away it will have the packed house it deserves and we are all pleased as punch.

Save the children through Murder Mystery Musicals!...
(It's a catch phrase in progress)

Oh Charlie

This oldie but goodie was on my mind today. I have 3 brothers all born in September and I can't remember a single birthday but I think about them always and I love to watch these little boys whenever I get particularly busy because they really do put it all in perspective.
Poor Harry goes through the entire history and gamut of human emotion, love, trust, fear, joy, angst, forgiveness etc in about 30 seconds and comes out relatively unscathed, a little bit wiser and still generally happy with life and his little brother.

Thanks Charlie!
Happy Birthday Omar, Yusef and Eric!

MM #3 Utter Exhaustion

Some days living the dream is a little more exhausting than others. Last week was soooo full on that while I had time to shoot some cool footage around the city, I kinda fell down in the editing department. So I cheated.
I used some old footage from the cutting room floor of a previous entry.
It's short and sweet and still chalked full of yummy pipe dream goodness.


Mika Mondays #3 from Lady Elle on Vimeo.

Location: Shibuya Crossing (Think Lost in Translation)
Music: Lollipop By: Mika
Yay! Mika Mondays survived another week!
SPREAD THE WORD!

Dr. Sketchy's Facelift

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Tokyo is BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!
And with a brand new website.
Which I designed myself, with a palette full of new features.
We've got Tokyo's hottest Burlesque performers with inspiration oozing out of every orafice. The Dr. Sketchy's fall line-up is one you don't want to miss. Stay tuned every 4th Wednesday of the month for more details. So come for the sketching and stay for the outrageous new contests, sexy models and hilarious hosts.


The next Dr. Sketchy's will be
Wednesday September 24th
Exclusively at The Pink Cow.
Doors open at 6p
Sketching begins at 7p
www.drsketchytokyo.com

Broke and Fulfilled

Yes that's right. I'm broke. Not in the destitute, nearly homeless and starving kind of way but rather in the no parties and extracurricular activities sort of way. Outside of the bare necessities, food, bills, taxes (yuck) I'm grounded by my own undoing until OCTOBER. YIKES! And this is not a complaint or a plea for charity but just an observation about the life of a freelancer and my own state of being because while I have absolutely no disposable income to speak of, I can honestly say that I can't remember a time when I was more happy. What's that about? In July when my accounts were knee deep in the black I was utterly miserable and now I'm experiencing an absolute creative boon as they creep closer into the red!


Dr. Sketchy's is gaining unprecedented momentum. I have managed to gather a team of vibrant, colorful and remarkably creative people who are dedicated to all things artistic and I couldn't be more ecstatic to dive into the latest session.
Mika Mondays has gotten such wonderful responses that I am filled with renewed energy everyday when I go to the park to practice and now wish everyday was MONDAY! (How many people with straight jobs can say that!)
Then there is the charity work. Ever since Inspiration Jason introduced me to my cookie factory friends I can't stop the machine and now I'm involved in a Murder Mystery Play for a charity benefit for The Tyler Foundation which is dedicated to children's cancer research.


So while I'm not displeased with my current situation, this is just another ebb within the flow of a freelancing lifestyle, I'm left feeling a little apprehensive about my earning potential. I wonder if I am able to sustain such creative energy when the money train finally does pull in. Struggle seems to be the secret ingredient to creative success. I have found there is grace in struggling the mind really does open up when challenges abound and the experience so far it has been exhilarating. Money seems to be the antithesis of struggle. Isn't the old adage "The rich have it easy." And don't we all secretly want to know the feeling? My social life can weather this financial storm but I imagine it will get old eventually and then what?!

Only time will tell I suppose. I'll let you know how creative I feel in October!

Blossomed Dream

My friend Conor over at The Pillow Blog has just dotted the I(s) and crossed all the T(s) in a draft of his new upcoming book! And judging by the first chapter which he allowed me to sneak peak, I predict it will be a best seller. The pride and excitement I feel for him couldn't be greater if it were my own and the achievement of such a feat is worthy of praise unto itself. The blank page is the most treacherous terrain I have ever had to endure and I have failed many times so kudos to you Conor for following your path and sticking to your ever blossoming dreams. You give me hope baby! Eat your heart out Random House!

Mika Mondays episode 2

Welcome to another installment of Mika Mondays. For those of you who don't know, Mondays on Leilachan is dedicated to my inner teenager; the one I didn't listen to enough 10 years ago and who is finally getting a voice in the form of a series of online auditions to be in a Mika music video. I consider this the last of my MTV exploits before I magically become adult-like upon my 30th birthday. It's my lingering pipe dream, one which I'm giving my all to and should my efforts actually payoff I've got 10 more pipe dreams waiting for their chance to make it. So here's to you Mika and all the other groupies over 25 may the party never end!


Mika Mondays #2 from Lady Elle on Vimeo.

Music: Ne-yo -Closer (Stonebridge Remix) brought to you by Hooping.org
Remember to help spread the word!
Bloggers unite for Mika!...and me

Light Show

Usually I don't dane to talk about the weather in my blog but it has rained in Tokyo for over a week now and today takes the cake. Right now as I type there is a thunderstorm of Forrest Gump proportions going on outside my window. The kind of storm you turn off the lights and unplug the appliances for. The kind of storm where you just stare out your window cause it feels like God in concert and you've got front row tickets. I just cycled through it on my way home from work and as the lightening struck and the thunder sounded so loud that I could feel it through my tires I can honestly say I don't remember a moment when I felt more alive.



This truly awesome display of nature just makes you BELIEVE!

Sketchy Male Models

Men always ask me if they can be models for Dr. Sketchy's and I usually turn them down but now I have decided to change my tune. After watching Dmitry Bulkin do this amazing Pole Dance I've decided that hey guys, if you've got the skills to move like this and a body sculpted by Russian gods, then yeah, you can be on my stage.

Watch closely, though the bar is verticle, it has most certainly been raised!

Mika Mondays

I love to Hoop.
I love to listen to Mika.
And ever since The Buggles broke the video barrier on MTV, I've wanted to be in a music video.
Today all my passions shall collide!



I have decided to devote Mondays on this blog to Mika audition videos like this one.
It's my virtual message in a bottle.
Help spread it to the world and put this whole 6 degrees theory to the ultimate test!

It's the perfect way to kick my own ass and practice everyday. I'm expecting you all to hold me accountable! Yikes!

This brilliant idea was brought to you by Ze Frank the foremost authority on brain crack.
Thanks Ze!

Stay tuned!

Sex and the City

So it's been much awaited here in Tokyo and FINALLY, the eagle has landed-
SEX AND THE CITY premieres TONIGHT in TOKYO!!!!!!!!

For about a month now I have been a contributor on the Metpod; the radio/podcast version of The Metropolis Magazine, Tokyo's #1 English language magazine. This week's episode is dedicated to the much awaited Tokyo debut of SATC. Go HERE to listen to me and the Metpod gang weigh in on Tokyo's favorite city chicks!

Summer fun

What a difference a week can make. Far away from my computer in a place where mobile reception was horrible at best, sand crept into the most sacred crevices and bugs the size of my big toe dined on my flesh with the kind of reckless abandon you only witness at Las Vegas all you can eat buffets and yet I loved every single minute of it!

My colleague turned close buddy Kai Neptune, invited a group of us to her hometown for Obon (a week long summer holiday in August where Japanese return to their hometown to pay homage to their ancestors (it's the closest thing they've got to Halloween minus the ghosts, goblins and costumes)) Kai is one of those rare gaijin who was actually born and raised in Japan. Her father is John Kaizan Neptune a Shakuhachi player/maker (Japanese Bamboo Flute) and until last week I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between a Shakuhachi and a basic recorder!

Kaizansan (Japanese for cool gaijin shakuhachi dude) was in the midst of making a NHK documentary in his mountain hideaway when we arrived but he was a fantastically gracious host amid the chaos and even took time to give us a few drum lessons on a bamboo drum called the Udubu that he invented!

Stepping foot into the Neptune's Pentagonal Dome house in the middle of the forests of the Japanese landscape is truly like visiting another planet. A peaceful, calming planet where monkeys tap your skylight as you sleep and spiderwebs act as natural mosquito netting. I must admit I spent much of the first half of the week getting over my fear of the bugs but surrendering to this slow life style was not at all difficult and time truly seemed to stand still on those mountains which is why I'm amazed and saddened that the week has ended so soon. Kai, if you're reading this honey, thanks for everything; I'm counting down the days till round 2!

Haven't seen enough of me and my pin-up friends. You can find more pics here.

That's Cabaret!

My alter ego Lady Elle of Dr. Sketchy's Tokyo hung up her cabaret shoes for the month of August but Leilachan still needed to do more research into the burlesque scene in Tokyo in order to recruit more models for the up coming fall season. And what a scene it is! Last month's Dr. Sketchy model, Cherry Typhoon invited me to a litany of Cabaret performances all over the Tokyo Metropolitan area and it has been quite the eye opening experience into the underground scene of cabaret. This weekend's series of shows was held at The Amazon Club a real old fashioned Speakeasy in Downtown Yokohama. Fronted as an old Barber shop, the back rooms of this old pub where General MacArthur himself hung out, are sultry cabaret performers with more spice than you can find on Wolfgang Puck's rack! Saturday evening began at The Puk Puppet Theater in Shinjuku with a fairytale cabaret performance by Cherry Typhoon and an amazing singer/musician whose name eludes me but whose voice captured my imagination. She sang like a songbird very ethereal and enchanting and not at all typical for a Japanese performer! Her agile fingers tickled a wide range of instruments showcasing her spectacular musicianship and rhythmic wit. Together they created a world where traditional fairytales like Cinderella and Snow White collided with themes from Alice and Wonderland and the Wizard Oz to create a Tim Burton-esque wildly exotic and at times phantasmogoric spectacle of cheeky humor and daring erotica. Then it was off to Yokohama for some good old fashioned debauchery. 6 hours and 267 photos later the sun rose over MacArthur's old stomping ground and I stumbled home amongst the early morning commuters convinced that my night was better than their day would be!

OMG

Watching Mona aka Shpongled Hoops totally made me question my sexuality but not my love of the HOOP!
I mean OMG!!
Is all I can really say to this performance.

I'm off to the park!
I've got some serious catching up to do!

Ze Frank on TED

Ze Frank has literally taken over huge chunks of mental real estate this month. In case you didn't know August is Live A Calmer Existence month and in an attempt to slow down and take it easy I have let my imagination co-pilot my life for awhile and the journey to discovering fresh ideas and new experiences has led me to one extraordinarily witty and poignant web toy designer Ze Frank. His TED talk which I've posted here is great but I appreciate him more in the short video format which he has perfected in a web series called The Show. Each webisode is chocked full of fast paced witticism, imagination and pure intelligence. There's a little somethin somethin for everyone! I can feel the creative juices flowing already!



Allow 20 minutes to view the TED Talk.

Hooping for Cookies!

My friend and colleague, who I like to call Inspiration Jason, recently invited me to come volunteer at a community center/cookie factory where he regularly spends his time with the mentally disabled in Sangenjaya over in Setagaya-ku.

The Shimouma Fukushi Center is dedicated to employing the mentally challenged as a means of incorporating them into the workforce and giving them a useful skill that enriches not only their lives but those of others in the community.
Walking into the community center is an experience unto iteslf. The sublimely nostalgic aroma of cookies from every part of your childhood permeates the floor where they are baked and your serotonin levels are involuntarily thrust into the stratosphere of pure elation as those big bright smiles greet you at the front door more happy to see you than Santa Claus HIMSELF!
These hard workers have earned the respect of the omiage (souvenir) making community. Their cookies have been rated #3 in Japan as the most preferred omiage to give away during the holiday season! And it's easy to see why; you can literally taste the love coming out every morsel. Their positive energy is infectious and by the end of my visit I was jumping around just as much as they were!

Working at a community center isn't all work an no play so at the end of their busy day in the factory they usually wind down with some fun organized activity. Jason shared his love of dance, teaching everything from Hula to disco while I was in charge of all things Hoop-tastic!

After a brief demonstration on the LED hoop my new baker friends were ready to give the hoop a whirl, albeit slightly hesitant at first.



It didn't take many trials to get it right and before I knew it I was competing to keep up with THEM!! The time just flew by and with it all their inhibitions. The joy in the room was palpable. I'll definitely be going back!


For more information about The Shimouma Fukushi Center go here.
or call this number 03 5712 5103*

*Neither the website or phone number is available in English BUT volunteers of ALL Nationalities and language abilities are welcome. Have a Japanese friend set up an appointment. You'll be glad you did!