A host of stars, including two of rock’s more colorful characters, shared the stage at yesterday’s “Asia Girls Explosion” fashion/music event in Tokyo. The center of attention at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium was X Japan leader Yoshiki, who organized the event along with unconventional fashion producer JayFR, the man behind the “Tokyo Girls’ Collection.” With over 11,000 in attendance, yesterday’s show was a crossover between Japanese and American culture. In addition to the top European fashion models lined up to show off the Yoshikimono line, the rocker invited: actress Momi Kaori (59, photo center); model Tominaga Ai (28); “90210” stars Shenae Grimes (21), Jessica Stroup (24), and AnnaLynne McCord (23); actress/socialite Olivia Palermo (25); and American shock-rocker Marilyn Manson (42).
The event also featured Yoshiki modeling his own kimono design and playing guitar for the first time in several years. He performed five X Japan numbers, including the latest single “Jade” and the first performance of “Scarlet Love Song,” the theme tune for the upcoming anime feature “Tezuka Osamu no Buddha – Akai Sabaku yo, Utsukushiku.” There was also the first public performance in Japan by Yoshiki’s side project Violet UK (photo), with support from X Japan guitarist Sugizo (41).