98% of the cosplayers on the bridge on a Sunday morning are ビジュラル系 related. The ロリータ are, in general, just wearing a particular type of fashion-not cosplayers (in this area of town). Lolita fashion, whether Gothic, Aristocrat, Pretty or one of the plethora of other types (we called them “Fluffies”, I can’t remember why. We especially liked the fruit fluffies, or the table-cloth fluffies) is intricately related to the visual-kei scene.

I sound like a J-Rock snob, sorry. If you really want to see some simply amazing reproductions of costumes, find a “Lareine” show to go to – even if you just hang around outside. A friend of mine spent more than 90 hours creating a copy of one of the vocalist’s costumes- handbeaded and finished with feathers and… it’s amazing stuff.

(The guy above complaining about you publishing photos might be refering to an American law for print-press. I did some photos on the bridge for an underground mag in America- I had to make sure my subjects were all over 18 and would sign something giving me permission to use the shots. It was kind of annoying. Certainly it’s rude to take pics of those on the bridge without asking, but more so ’cause they don’t want to get caught out of pose or with not-perfect makeup. I’ll stop my essay now. Sorry!)