Koyama Press is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year and, at TCAF, they had a special event as part of their celebration. In conjunction with the Japan Foundation in Toronto, they held a book premier event for So Pretty/ Very Rotten: Comics and Essays on Lolita Fashion and Cute Culture by An Nguyen and Jane Mai.

The event was fascinating. Items of Lolita dress and culture were displayed as if they were exhibits in a museum or art gallery.

This was a really unique perspective, that allowed us to see the craftsmanship of the items, as opposed to seeing them as part of an ensemble,in which they are one piece of a larger statement.

The food itself focused on cute. Pocky, cupcakes and cookies adorned with cute girls from the comics in the book accompanied by fruit and cheese platters gave the whole thing a festival air.

The cookies were fantastic, decorated with characters and items that were illustrated in the book. You were literally able to eat a piece of the book!

After thanks and intros and the usual preliminaries, An and Jane took the stage to explain their experience  and fascination with Lolita dress and culture.  Here they explain the different sub-types of Lolita dress.

I have now had a chance to read the book and I recommend it to anyone who wants to see Lolita culture not from an anthropological, outsider (haha, “objective”) perspective, but from people deeply embedded  in a culture, the history of which is surprisingly hard to trace.

The book includes personal essays by An and Jane, as well as comics by both of them, and an essay and interview with Takemoto Novala, creator of Shimotsuma Monogatari, which was released here in the west as a book and movie titled Kamikaze Girls – both of which are well worth your time. The manga by the same name is less fabulous, but still a pleasant read. None of these essays really get deeply into historical roots of Lolita, but they do discuss why that is more complicated than it may initially seem. The essays touch on things like the assumption that Lolita is related to “Lolita complex” and why it is not, but mostly they are personal looks at the elements of Lolita culture that fascinate, consume and obsess those people inside the culture.

An’s comics are often about camaraderie and community of Lolita culture, where Jane’s often touch on the endless cycle of consumerism and self-abnegation – even self-erasure – that feeds the Gothic Lolita life.

In the end, the title is a brilliant summation of the sense of self we see in Lolita, that the outside is more and more beautiful, but the inside may be rotten, or even empty.

That said, the book, which starts on an extremely macabre note, ends with a poignant and touching story of friendship that expands past the initial boundaries of the community. Whether you find this book positive or negative will most likely depend on your relationship with your own obsessions. ^_^

Ratings:

Overall – 8

I found this book to be an extremely intimate portrait of Lolita, deep without being substantive; a fascinating reflection of the authors’ relationship with Lolita culture. It’s a good read and a valuable piece of research in English into a enduring Japanese subculture. From one subculture enthusiast to another, I raise a stick of Pocky to An and Jane and wish them success!

No joke, today I’m reviewing a Tarot deck.

It’s not the first time I’ve reviewed cards. In 2006, I reviewed a few Yuri-ish Japanese card games, and in 2015, I picked up a Rose of Versailles karuta set.  Just like those sets, there is at least a little bit that ties this deck to us here on Okazu. In fact, there’s more than just a little bit.

My wife called The Tarot of the Silicon Dawn to my attention after noting that the art was very cartoon-y, but in a Steven Universe kind of way. I took a look at the cards and knew I needed the deck. When the thing arrived, I was absolutely convinced that this was a very Okazu-ish deck. Not only is the card art deeply inspired by otaku interests of several kinds, the write-ups are very snarky and intriguing. The creator, Margaret Trouth, is very upfront about her loose use of Tarot conventions, her shifting meanings around to make more sense to her (and – need I say it? – to me, as well.) Here was the big selling point for me – she has cards that don’t exist in conventional decks, like the 99 of each suit, the 8 1/2, History, The Vulture, Aleph and four “The Fool”s. You can see the whole deck on Margaret’s site.

Trouth is also creating an ongoing comic called Decrypting Rita, which Comics Alliance called “story of a lesbian robot whose perception of reality slips across multiple dimensions.” By which point I knew I has found a deck that was for me…and possibly for us. ^_^

The physical cards are gorgeous. The art is symbolic and multi-layered yet simplistic and comicky. Some cards have a clear varnish which show images when held so the light slides across the cards. This includes the 99 of each suit, which are otherwise black.

As great as the art is, it’s the meaning which really appeals to me. Here is part of the description for her Queen of Swords:

A stern taskmistress, a trickster, a librarian. She stores away facts and hints to arrive at surprising conclusions, and will use them however she sees fit. Her social mask is carefully constructed and worn with deliberation; now and then she lets people see beneath it. A little fey, a little alien. What’s she planning when she looks at you? She’s the only Queen who will. And why is she wearing a fox mask, anyway?

Her mirror is her stories, the ones she keeps and treasures. Are they about you? Are they about her? Are they about others? And will she share?

Mannered and seemingly unapproachable; remote and tightly wrapped. Get to know her and perhaps she’ll reward you. She might not; she’s kind of picky. Kind of prickly, too; watch out for her sharp edges. There’s an endless network of tight-wound steel in the cage of her heart, and it can cut you to fragments if it’s opened. Brave that, and you may find her surprisingly loyal in her acerbic way. Just be careful of her long-range plans.

Queen of Swords is one of my two signifier cards. So…yeah. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – 10 “Tarot is a big pack of lies and misinterpretations” <– The first words of the little white book that explains the cards

Overall – 10

It’s a great deck and pleasantly not-bound-by-alchemical-heterosexuality; full of thoughtful and whimsical cruelty. Just the way I like things. ^_^

By the way, I chose the Chevalier of Swords for the post image mostly because I liked it, but….

“Rapier wit and dashing style, a Musketeer who’s a boon companion in adversity. Riding a dark bird before the storm, heralding its coming. He slices through Gordian knots with decisive suddenness, striking through to the core – or does he slash vainly at the edges of the problem, never finding its truth? Wild and acrobatic, even balletic: he’s Fred, wanna be Ginger?

The most intellectual of the Chevaliers, he’s using a thin sword designed for precision pinpoint attacks, relying on his speed and his skill at parrying to defend himself. Quite the swashbuckler, he’s as likely to score points on his opponent with an insult as with his rapier. Perhaps he grows up to become the King of Pentacles, spinning stories about the wild adventures of his youth. Or perhaps he misjudges, gets into something he can’t clever his way out of, and dies tomorrow.

In comic-books, this guy is Spider-man. He lives on his wits, reflexes, and luck. He’ll probably die on them someday too, if he doesn’t admit it when he starts to slow down.

Of course, he might not be a hero. All that dashing and dexterity makes for a damn fine pickpocket or cardsharp or conman, too. Check your pockets after that smoldering kiss.”