After a decade of working in Tokyo’s sleeper-of-the-best-stop-on-the-Yamanote-Line, Ebisu, known for crazy good affordable food and bars, killer livehouses, an international vibe you never noticed, the photography museum, the most laid back deity of the the 7 lucky gods, the namesake of the town, I now go to work upon the adjacent “hill of posh”, in Tokyo’s fashionable, breezy, boutique-y, somewhat understated neighborhood of Daikanyama Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I think it’s pretty overhyped, but I do admit, it’s growing on me. AND… it has some characters for sure! And I met two of them on this encounter, Hiromi and Yumi. Talk about a photogenic duo! I spotted them clear across the street. And when one of them turned slightly to the other, I noticed the markings of Tokyo’s hippest record store, Big Love Records! And wouldn’t you know it; on that particular day I was wearing MY Big Love T-Shirt! This would be my in…
Hiromi and Yumi put in the strut in strut as they galavanted across the crosswalk, glasses as chunky as their shoes, patterned textiles to the hilt, and colorful as the auras they emanated. They wadn’t letting nobody break they stride …except for me, and I did.
“Yo! Big Love!”
“Oi Oi!”
“Quick selfie?”
“Let’s do it!”
And so we got to talking. Turns out these two are couple badasses, homies with the rockstars. Mere nymphs? The muses? Butterflies of sorts? No, executives! Producers? Maybe stylists? Mood makers? All I knew was that it was a whirlwind convo of high-voltage musical exchange, I was mesmerized, and it became clear they don’t make them cooler than this. Oh, and that these two ARE the inner sanctum of supremely hip alternative rock legends Cibo Matto. “SAY WHAT?!?!”
Something tells me that I should zip my lips here and leave it at, so as to ever be able to have another conversation with them. But know that I’m really tempted to share that later that evening they texted me:
“We’re backstage at the Flaming Lips show! Why aren’t you here?”
“Cuz I’m out here on the streets, among all the commoners, you legends, you.”
It was amazing to cross paths with Hiromi and Yumi. And I hope we can meet again some day. MATANE!
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