Music label giant Avex (Home to Koda Kumi, Hamasaki Ayumi, and many others) is celebrating its 20th anniversary by reliving the good old days when it lead Japan’s dance music scene.
To drive this point home, Avex is actually bringing back classic Tokyo clubs that played their tracks, but only for one night (and a different location of course). In September they did the first event by bringing back Juliana’s, a Tokyo staple for a mere three years in the early nineties, but one that left a lasting influence due to its legendary “bodicon” girls in skimpy, tight dresses. Here’s a then-and-now for the curious:
Pictures via NightFriendNews and Getty Images
Of course, the Club Legend series isn’t only events, but the “best of” albums that go along with them. Each club has its own CD that comes out a month before each “reunion” event, including club legends Twinstar, velfarre, and Maharaja.
These clubs certainly represented mainstream clubbing culture of the Bubble Days, full of glitz and conspicuous consumption, which is precisely what makes them stand out so much in the more underground and demure scene of today. The last year has been all about retro trends anyway, no doubt because of the great feeling those days gave to a generation that will soon be sending its kids to high school. Great timing!
If you’re interested in reliving the glory days of Juliana’s once again, we found a great site with lots of videos. Otherwise, this weekend is the House Nation event at Ageha for those in Tokyo.
Michael is the Editor of JapanTrends.com and Director of the 
