Gothic & Lolita Bible
Title: Gothic & Lolita Bible
Editors: Jenna Winterburg and Michelle Nguyen
Publisher: Tokyopop
Publication Schedule: Quarterly
Pages: 128
This month has seen the publication of the fifth issue of the English edition of the famed Japanese “mook” (magazine-book) Gothic & Lolita Bible (ゴシック＆ロリータバイブル). Since the theme of the Spring 2009 issue is “A Dreamy Gothic & Lolita Wedding,” and since I find the obsession with weddings somewhat troubling (blame my inner feminist), I will base this review on the Winter 2009 (fourth) issue of the Bible. The focus of this issue seems to be “badassery and cupcakes,” which provides more comfortable thematic material for me to work with.
So, what is the Gothic & Lolita Bible all about, anyway? Well, obviously, it’s about Gothic and Lolita fashion, but there is also information about visual kei singers and bands, as well as copious amounts of information concerning the Gothic Lolita lifestyle so vividly portrayed in contemporary Japanese fiction like Novala Takemoto’s novel Kamikaze Girls (下妻物語, published in translation by Viz Media). The English version of the Bible provided both translated material from the original Japanese mooks and incorporates new material of interest to Western (especially American) readers.
Because the English edition of the Bible just came into existence (the first issue was released in early 2008), the content tends to change from issue to issue, as features and formats still seem to be in a developmental stage. Each issue, however, will contain numerous fantasy-inspired photo shoots of both Japanese models and Western readers, a Fruits magazine-esque montage of Harajuku street fashion photos, and, of course, a detailed section featuring the season’s offerings from major Japanese Gothic Lolita fashion brands like Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, Angelic Pretty, Innocent World, h.NAOTO, Black Peace Now, and Atelier Boz. Also, like the Japanese version, each issue contains patterns and instructions for do-it-yourself pieces (mainly accessories). Other articles may feature interviews with American Gothic Lolita designers, information on American and Japanese artists specializing in Gothic Lolita art, and reviews of fancy cupcakes that would presumably complement a Gothic Lolita tea party.
Personally, my favorite features are the “Letters from Our Readers” section, which includes, for example, poetry and reader-submitted art of surprisingly high quality, and the occasional fiction and essays that make it into the magazine, such as Arika Takarano’s manifesto titled “Oh Maiden, Advance with a Sword and a Rose,” which encourages young ladies to follow their hearts and their dreams regardless of the social pressures they might face. Along these lines, the reader letters published by the mook tend to deal with issues of participating in the Gothic Lolita culture even though you’re too old, too fat (by Japanese sizing standards), or live in the middle of nowhere. If nothing else, the Gothic & Lolita Bible gives its readers a sense of community, regardless of whether they own a stitch of the clothing or not.
Does this sound corny? You bet it’s corny. The whole mook is corny, actually. If you’ve already made up your mind that Gothic and Lolita culture is the most silly, superficial thing you’ve ever had the misfortune to encounter, the Gothic & Lolita Bible will not convince you otherwise. If you’re even the slightest bit curious about Gothic Lolita, however, I would recommend picking up a copy of this mook. It’s a gorgeous publication and well worth the $20 price tag.
Kateigaho
Kateigaho has been a guilty secret of mine for several years now. It’s an “Arts & Culture” magazine that published its first issue in the summer of 2003 and has been putting out a new issue four times a year since then. The magazine is large format and generally has around 170 full color, glossy pages. Since it’s published in and distributed from Japan, it also has that nice, Japanese magazine smell.
Unlike other English language magazines about Japan, such as Metropolis, Tokyo Journal, and Kansai Time Out, Kateigaho is as professional as professional can be. As the full title of the magazine (Kateigaho International Edition) suggests, it’s the international edition of a famous Japanese lifestyle magazine, Kateigahō (家庭画報), a catchy title that might translate as something like “Home Art Information,” implying that art can be enjoyed within the home (via the magazine), that art can be enjoyed by the entire family, and that the home itself can be a site for art. In any event, the magazine’s target audience, both in English and in Japanese, are wealthy men and women who are interested in the finer points of Japanese life. The adds sparsely scattered throughout the magazine are not for seedy escort services or English teaching positions but rather for Mikimoto, Clinique, and Louis Vuitton.
It’s true that most people will be able to afford very few of the pleasures extolled by the magazine: hotels that cost hundreds of dollars per person per night, exquisite dining at the top of skyscrapers, the unique works of master artists and craftsmen. Just because the lifestyle is out of your price range, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the magazine. The photographs are absolutely amazing and perhaps Kateigaho’s main selling point. The writing, although translated, is not the least bit unnatural, and every once in awhile there will be an original article by someone like Alex Kerr or Tom Mes. The magazine contains all sorts of detailed information about traditional and contemporary Japanese culture, lifestyle, and the performing and visual arts.
I’m mentioning Kateigaho now because the new issue will be on sale today (June 1). If you’re in Japan, you can pick up a copy at all major bookstores (like Maruzen or Yūrindō). In America, you can find the magazine at most Japanese language bookstores, like the Kinokuniya chain. If you’re interested in back issues, the easiest way to obtain them is through Amazon.co.jp, which is surprisingly easy to use, even if you can’t read Japanese.
Check out Kateigaho International’s website, too!
