Sorry for the BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG gap from the last post. So here it goes…

WARNING: The next paragraph is Rated-18. May contain graphic violence and murderous thoughts.

I was too naïve to think that that moment would last because suddenly I got hit. I felt like I got hit by a bulldozer or something and my body was pressed against the metal divider. Yappari. Those three damned girls behind us before the concert started. They were so restless, they were shifting in their places like wriggly worms. They so desperately wanted to move up front and they did just that. I tried to push them with all my might, but what could I do against three crazy Gothic Lolitas with sumo wrestler bodies. I was just thinking, “Ok, the space will loosen up a bit sooner or later,” as my ribs were being whacked against the metal divider.

The crowd was shouting. Oooh! and Aaaaahs! everywhere. High-pitched screams of “Mana-sama!” now and then. Also there were low werewolf-like screams which went like, “Awwwooooo! Seth-san! Awwwwoooo!” I like to kill that sucker…

Ok, time to get a picture, I thought. But as I looked around no one seemed to be taking pictures or even holding a camera. But then I thought, “Maybe, they’ve taken too many pictures of Man-sama already.” And “Maybe they don’t like taking pictures.” So I held up my Canon TX1 camera and took a picture without flash, of course, because that would be really rude. Then somebody at the back screamed in Japanese, which I interpreted like, “Hey, you can’t take pictures in here!” So I put my camera back in my bag right away and thought, “Maybe, no one’s really allowed to take pictures.” No one told us. Even that guy whom we got our ticket from never said anything. A let out a sigh and then suddenly someone hit me, again. This time, it was a knock in the head. At that time I really wanted to scream a thousand curses at whoever that was. The problem was Mana-sama was too near to me, he could have heard me screaming. I mean, WHAT THE F*** WAS THAT!!! WHOEVER THAT WAS, I HOPE YOU’RE READING THIS. F*** YOU!!! And to think that Japanese people are supposed to be respectful.

Keep it cool, I said. Remember what you came here for. So I let out a sigh for the Nth time and focused on the concert. I did try to focus. But what can you do that if every five seconds the girl next to you headbangs and her hair extensions (Mind you, 99% of them wore hair extensions) whips your face again and again. Murderous thought were spilling from by brain to my blood and I just wanted to put their lights out.

And did I mention what happened to the old guy who was accompanying those 2 European girls whom I mentioned a while ago? The last thing I saw of him was that his head was being knocked on again and again by some Lolita who was doing this rock sign. And when she grew tired she rested her arm on his head. Haha! Pretty hilarious.

Anyway… it was a three hour concert. They played a whole lot of songs. Mana-sama went close to the audience so they could touch his guitar. But I didn’t touch his guitar. He threw flowers and guitar picks around. They all fell directly on top of my head, but I didn’t get any. Why? Because I was too awestruck to move, that’s why. Fine, call me puny or whatever, I don’t care. I can’t do anything. I was under a spell. There was a Q&A portion and they gave some stuff away. We sang happy birthday to Mana-sama and after that he blew his birthday candles. How cute!:) They played a few songs and at the finale, Mana-sama raised his white guitar. Amazing.

After the concert, my SO and I talked to some people, hoping to get a private audience with Mana-sama, unfortunately, only selected people get to see him. But there’s this personnel from Liquid Room who volunteered to give the gift to Mana-sama’s manager directly. Whoa, what a guy! J Oh yeah, and while waiting for a cab in front a Liquid Room, I caught a glimpse of K as he was loading some stuff in his jeep, without his make-up. He’s scary either way. Sorry K fans! :p

This was definitely the BEST and the WORST rock concert I have ever been to. Moi Dix Mois concert is hell. Forget that you’re even in Japan anymore. Get ready to get trampled by Gothic Lolitas. What can I say, LOVE THE BAND, HATE THE CROWD.

Oh yeah, and I wanna share to you THE pics that cost me shit.

The Moon’s Fifth Night, as Mana-sama fans know, is a celebration of Mana-sama’s birthday with his fans. Last March 22, I was in Liquid Room, Tokyo, to experience it all. It was also my first time to lay eyes on the very enchanting Mana-sama. And he was very enchanting indeed.

Like attending any other people’s birthday party, I make sure I bring a gift. So two weeks before the concert, I thought intently about what gift to give to the wonderful Mana-sama. I had quite a few in mind at that time, but I couldn’t decide which one was the best. Then, Manikako at the Podium happened. An inspiration struck me. What’s the best gift in the whole damned world that you could offer? (Well, aside from giving your whole being to somebody.) It’s something unique. A one of a kind. So I made him this.

Yaaaay! I really have to praise myself for accomplishing this. WAS NOT AN EASY TASK, I tell you. I was at this every night for a week and a half. Sucked my brain juices out, this little fellow. Oh, but it turned out to be so cute. I didn’t want to give it away… I miss you Mana doll.

The day of the concert came, got my tickets and waited at the lobby.

I brought my SO with me to the concert and, man, was he so out of place. We were really giggling about it while waiting. As expected, there were TONS of Lolitas running around. Some of them looked like normal Gothic Lolitas all in Moi-meme-Moitie garb. There are some freaky ones and some cheesy ones.

Then a guy from the venue started calling ticket numbers and lining people at the entrance. Lucky me for being a Mon Amour member, my ticket numbers are 7 and 8. I feel like being at first class all the way… Until the concert began…

It was unbelievable how close we were to the stage. We were standing at the front row near the middle. There was this metal divider at the front so we took the right side cause as we all know, in Moi dix Mois, Mana-sama’s always at the left side of the stage.

While we were waiting for the concert to start, this European girl in front of me noticed the bag that I was carrying (a very noticeable Totoro bag, that’s why. LOL! ) and started speaking to me in Japanese. But her Japanese wasn’t quite comprehendible so I just goggled at her. When she realized that I couldn’t understand her, she asked if I could speak English and offered me the space in front her where I could put my bag in. I declined gracefully and said thanks. Wow, how kind of her, I thought. What I never thought I would find out was that she was the only person there who was in a right state of mind.

There was this girl at my right and she was alone. While we stood there, she was clasping her Mon Amour Pendant like it’s the only thing that will save her life. And she was doing these weird arm gestures that looked like sentai stances or something. My comment: Peaceful weirdness.

Then the lights dimmed. Oh, we knew it. It has begun. The curtain was parted and Moi dix Mois was there in front of us at an arms reach. All of them were looking up and had their arms held up high. Ah, very classic…

My eyes were shimmering like an anime character in front of my idol. Haha! I never knew I could feel something like that. It was SOOOO COOL!

…Oooops! End of Moon’s Fifth Night Part 1. Will post part 2 in the coming week. More concert details and pics coming up!

Last December 28 to January 7 was the most exciting, fun-filled, and interesting 11 days of my life. I spent 6 unforgettable days in Osaka and 5 days in Tokyo, Japan with my SO.

January 2, my first shopping experience in Mana-sama’s boutique located in the 5th floor of Maruichi (0101) near the West Entrance of Shinjuku Station.

Was VERY EXCITED!!!!

When I got to the 5th floor, I was kinda disappointed because the space still looked like I was still in a department store as opposed to private enclosed spaces which boutiques ought to be. I was expecting that Mana-sama’s boutique was supposed to be wonderful. So I turned left from the escalator, I already saw h.Naoto, but still no sign of Moi-même-Moitié, but then, near the end of the hallway, there it was, an old European-fortress-inspired entrance to a gothic sanctuary, Moi-même-Moitié!

I then took out my camera to take a picture of the entrance, and then a lady from the department store came to me and told me that taking pictures was prohibited. But she was too late, I’ve already stolen a shot. Apparently, there was really a sign on the entrance, but I wasn’t able to notice it because I was so excited. You can’t really blame me… So, I’m not gonna put up the pic here because I respect Mana-sama and if he says “no pictures,” I’ll have to obey that with all my heart… (as cheesy as that may have sounded, I don’t give a damn!)

His store is the coolest boutique ever! It was very warm inside, I had to take off my jacket. I took a look around and I’ve noticed that the attendants were really quiet, in fact the entire boutique was really quiet. Not that I have any problem with it. Then I saw this one piece that looked absolutely nice and decided to try it on. I had my SO talk to the attendant in Japanese because my Japanese wasn’t that fluent and I didn’t want to stress myself with the language, I was just thinking of all the very beautiful clothes around me! Then I was shown to the fitting room by this girl, 石井さん (looked at her name tag), who was very friendly by the way, (well, most Japanese are, especially to customers) which was at the center of the boutique and guess what! Their dressing room was a coffin! Very nice! I was very thrilled just by trying on a dress! Haha! Who would have known!

I was also kinda worried at the time when I was fitting the dress because Moi-même-Moitié clothing only comes in one size (M), but I was very happy to know that the dress fitted me perfectly.I felt like I was trying on my bridal gown or something. I also tried on a skirt, but I ended up buying the one piece and a pair of socks. At the counter, I had my purchase gift-wrapped and I was given a Moi-même-Moitié point card, which has 20 stamp slots to fill in. To get one stamp, you have to purchase 10,000yen worth of items (not including items on sale). After completing the point card, you get a gift! Yey!I wonder what gift is worth 200,00 yen of Moi-même-Moitié stuff?

I went back to the store the next day to buy another pair of socks, a pair of lace gloves, and a choker. More items, more points! Yes, I’m an obsessive-compulsive point collector!!! WARNING: Moi-même-Moitié will drain your pant pockets! But Moi-même-Moitié really does have lovely dresses and the craftsmanship is superb. Definitely the couture of Gothic Lolita fashion.

My SO who doesn’t really go for Gothic Lolita fashion was even mesmerized by everything that Moi-même-Moitié has to offer, from the feel of the place to the clothing and accessories they sell. If you’re really into Gothic Lolita / Aristocrat clothing and want the best the world has to offer, there’s nowhere to go but here.

If you have time in your hands, please do visit Moi-même-Moitié. You’ll find that you just can’t leave the store without buying anything. The other branch is in Hiroshima. I’d like to go visit the place sometime.

Hail Mana for creating Moi-même-Moitié!!!