Hammer Head

Skeletons from the closet of every corrupt politician and smack-addicted celeb litter the back streets of Nakano, waiting to be found by those who know how to ask the right questions. Interested parties should take their inquiries past the steel door and up the stairs to Hammerhead, a depository of Japan’s living urban legends.

Mogi, the proprietor, knows everything worth knowing. If he can't answer your questions about true crime and depravity he can point you towards someone who can. Working in the the import figure business helped him make truly bizarre connections. He's been waist-deep in horror since before most of us even threw down for our first vinyl figure. He was there when Nakano Broadway was built and saw firsthand Mandarake grow from a single shoebox of a store to the ubiquitous Masters of Time that they are today. He's run with Bosozoku legends like Black Emperor and his old acquaintances have brought him more juicy stories on VIPs than all the gossip rags combined.



The décor is everything you’d expect from a guy who made his livelihood from running horror memorabilia in the 80’s. Mogi knows his stuff and each item reflects his personal taste, which in my book counts a hundred times more than cluttering your joint with all kinds of unrelated trinkets for the sake of mass appeal.

If you’re reading this blog then you obviously want to know what kind of filth is growing underneath Japan’s toenails, so you have no excuse not to make a pit stop on the way home from Nakano Broadway and grill the master for information. Just remember—Some things are kept secret for a reason.

Return of the Mummies: Shinjuku Halloween Bash!

Thank you Rocking Jellybean and fortune!

Saturday October 31st at Shinjuku LOFT
10/31（土） 新宿ロフト

BACK FROM THE GRAVE 20th ANNIVERSARY!
HALLOWEEN BALL 09 "RETURN OF THE MuMMiES"

LOFT INFO 03-5272-0382
Open/Start 19:00 adv ¥3000 / door ¥3500

BAND：
THE MuMMiES（from USA)
THE 5,6,7,8'S
JACKIE & THE CEDRICS
JET BOYS
THE RAYDIOS
SUPERSNAZZ
HELL-RACER
THE GREAT MONGOOSE
荒馬車ブレイメン
THE TITANS
THE GO-DEVILS
LOS RIZLAZ
THE THUNDERROADS
SATURNS
THE MINNESOTA VOO DOO MEN
THE MIGHTY MOGULS
THE FADEAWAYS
THEEE BAT
STOMPIN' REFF RAFFS
THE FEMININE
ザ・シャロウズ (The Shallows)
etc...

Lawson ticket code: 71572

I would pay double just to see the four headliners! If you are in Tokyo, there is no excuse to not go to this party. The next day The Mummies are also playing with Guitar Wolf!


The Mummies- The Fly


The 5.6.7.8's- Motorcycle Go-Go-Go!


Jackie and the Cedrics- Medley


Jet Boys- I Want You

The Burlesque Show Must Go On!

Asakusa is a top tourist destination for its red Kaminari Gate that leads to Kanon Temple. However, Kanon takes on many forms, and few know of the city’s other Full-Breasted Kanon and her place of worship, Ginmaku Rock.

Pass through its doors and be teleported from the dim and dusty backstreets of the city to a shrouded canteen suspended between worlds. The airy flute and thumping hand drum playing in the background would suggest you have stumbled into a middle eastern cabaret, while the stark color scheme is absolutely bewildering—black and white paneled walls set against black and crimson tiles. In the back stands a deliberately gaudy red velvet stage framed with prismatic LEDs. Above, the chandelier casts warm yellow light over the illusionary scene, giving the feeling that you’re living in a faded photograph.

All that’s missing are the Mugwumps and backwards-speaking midgets.

Ginmaku Rock’s impenetrable atmosphere has made it a favorite hideaway of musicians and manga artists. Its walls are adorned with gems such as Umezu Kazuo’s signature, what appears to be a piece by Hara Tetsuo of Fist of the North Star fame, and signed art from Maruo Suehiro. Expect an eclectic customer base on any given night of cultural movers and shakers ranging from off-duty Geisha to male ballerinas.

And of course, there’s Safi.

Ginmaku Rock is part of Japan’s burlesque revival and regularly hosts shows with dancers and a rotating stable of musicians. On the 25th we were treated to Orso Bruno and their fusion of East European folk accordion accompanied with sax or flute. (Listen to them on MySpace.) They opened up with a pair of sultry tunes that teased the audience and set the stage for Safi, the Full-Breasted Kanon of Asakusa.



Called forth by Orso Bruno’s version of Misirlou, Safi sauntered her way to the stage, trailing lavender perfume through the crowd. The previously sedate audience blew up into a chaotic string of catcalls, whoops, and hand claps. Did I mention that most everyone there was female?

Safi’s show heated up but never boiled over, always giving us a brief repose before shedding another piece of her bombastic costume. For the finale she traipsed through the crowd, glamorous mammaries snapping up 1000-yen bills like a doughy bear trap.




After the show, Safi and Orso Bruno came off the stage to mingle with the audience. At the end of the day, even burlesque dancers and world musicians are normal people like anyone else. The female patrons absolutely adored Safi. Tonight was classy fun, a celebration of the female figure and sex. By comparison, try bragging to your co-workers that you blew a hundred dollars at a strip club.

Burlesque shows or otherwise, Ginmaku Rock is a truly unique bar and one of the few that has birthed a culture all its own. Beer aficionados, note that they carry all varieties of the elusive Coedo.