AVEX Concert

Here are more pictures from the annual AVEX Stockholder Concert that took place last Sunday at Saitama Super Arena (さいたまスーパーアリーナ) just north of Tokyo. AVEX Group (エイベックス) is a Japanese record giant and its shareholder-only concert was a star studded event, featuring several internationally known J pop artists.

After more than a decade, Namie Amuro (安室奈美恵), the girl who is credited with starting the contemporary Japanese fashion as we know today can still rock the stage

The humble looking Japanese diva Kumi Koda (倖田來未) performed gracefully while shedding some tears, no doubt reflecting on her “rotten womb” comment scandal from earlier this year

AVEX mega popular artist Ai Otsuka (大塚愛) looks cute no matter what she’s wearing, even in this pajama inspired outfit

Former Morning Musume Maki Goto (後藤真希) made her first official appearance as an AVEX Nation artist

Ethnic Tibetan alan (アラン, or 阿兰) was discovered recently when AVEX held an audition in China and was quickly signed to the label

Sleepy John In Japan, Part 2

Look what poster I ran into in the station upon my arrival? It’s Hello!Project’s new unit Milky Way advertising their new single “Anataboshi” (アナタボシ).

Hello!Project is still representing in full effect! Yu Kikkawa (L), Koharu Kusumi (C) and Sayaka Kitahara (R)

Front entrance to the legendary Shibuya 109 building…the center of Japanese fashion

A shot of the historic Nihonbashi at night. The structure above it is the Tokyo Metropolitan Highway, known to racers as “Shutoko” (首都高).

I thought this photo shows the clash of different Japanese cultures really well. On the left is the entrance to a traditional shrine and immediately to the right is a love hotel, where horny Japanese who can’t wait to get home go to do the nasty.