It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a drag show. So where better, when venturing into (relatively) unknown territory than to get a passport to Kingdom Tokyo, Nichome’s newest club. With its excellent drink menu and deals, fantastic music, and friendly staff, it is fast becoming the place to be: and this was never more evident than its Crazy Land drag show event, held on September 7th and 8th.
The World of Drag Shows
For anyone reading the Japan Gay Guide who is somehow unaware, drag shows are events where performers (usually men or masc-presenting people) dress in elaborate, exciting costumes and put on a display for the audience. This often takes the form of a burlesque show, where performers will put on a raunchy performance. The level of sauciness varies from place to place and show to show – but given that Kingdom Tokyo is the foremost edgy club in Nichome, you can probably guess that the Crazy Land performances were a little on the sexier end of the spectrum!
Drag Shows in KINGDOM TOKYO
Kingdom Tokyo’s reputation for warm welcomes is well deserved. I arrived a little early (the event started at 11pm, but I arrived at 9pm). The friendly staff helped me get started with a wonderfully poured gin and tonic, and I made friends with a gentleman visiting on business, who was here having heard that Crazy Land promised to be an excellent show. He was not wrong.
KINGDOM TOKYO's Gogo Dancer
It wasn’t long until the first gogo boy took the stage. The muscular Chiba Yuto, who is Kingdom Tokyo’s resident gogo boy, gave it everything he had and more, to the elation of the crowd. His incredible gyrations were met with cheers and applause from the crowd. Dressed in his thong and harness, his first show of the night was set to pumping music against red lighting, and concluded with a towel covered striptease that titillated the crowd and finished with Mr. Yuto showing off his cheeky side – if you know what I mean.
KINGDOM TOKYO's Drag Queen
Next on stage was Auja Vaugsh. There is little to be said here: this queen owned the stage. Emerging to silence, her performance began with a phone call, where she pantomimed an angry argument with her partner, before slamming the phone down and beginning the show. Naturally, the song choice was “Telephone”, by Lady Gaga.
Clad in a black leather jacket, black two-piece, and fishnets, her neon green hair shone as she energetically danced and mimed to the iconic hit. At the close of her first dance, just as mesmerizing as her sharp, striking make-up to match her sharp, striking features, Vaugsh, known as the “luminary diamond of Tokyo” moved to the middle of the club to perform on the pole, as all around yelled out in joy – including me!
After this, there was another gogo boy performance, this time where the lighting slowly shifted from red to blue, before Yuto was joined by another dancer, before their partnership became a threesome, as Vaugsh returned to join them on stage, the lighting shifting now to her trademark green.
Crowd Participation in Drag Shows
Now, it was time for a break in the proceedings, to let Vaugsh and Yuto mingle among the patrons as music throbbed out and anyone not on the dance floor took to it. Now it was time for getting friendly. The dancers posed for pictures, people started getting sweaty, and the bravest (or at least the most athletic or intoxicated) of partygoers took to the pole themselves – sometimes more than one at a time. Not only does it offer great value for money, put on a good show, and attract a fine crowd of people, but Kingdom Tokyo’s architecture is very strong!
During this intermission, as Yuto flexed his muscles for the crowd, Vaugsh weaved in and out of the swaying thronging revellers, passing out tequila, straight from the bottle to the mouth. This was a chance for the performers to rest, while everyone else got moving. In this way, in these interactions with the dancers and with each other, the night became an audience participation piece, one of my very favorite kinds of art.
Then, the two sides of Crazy Land, the queens and we peasants, merged into one as the dancing, drinking, and debauchery continued side by side. It was at this point that Yuto and Vaugsh were joined by Mia Scandals, in a fantasy-esque blue and black outfit, with elf ears, red hair, and piercing white iris contacts. If you’ve ever played The Legend of Zelda, you get the picture. She too strode the club, dispersing libations like a fairy queen. It’s only fitting that Kingdom had its very own princess.
Alas, after this, I had to make my move. Although the party was still in full swing, at 2am I was starting to feel sleepy. Getting into a taxi and speeding home, I had left the Crazy Land and returned to the real world, sleepier but better for my excursion. It may be a while before Crazy Land returns, but you will always find magic at the Kingdom.