Tokyo a la Mode. Web Magazine for Japanese Fashion and Urban Culture

Party at Royal/T

By Bobby / Apr 14, 2008
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A little bit of Tokyo just came to Los Angeles with the re-opening of Royal/T art gallery and cafe in Culver City’s art district.  The place is huge and they need every square foot to display all the Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara sculptures and paintings by Aya Takano and other Japanese artists.  Some of the really nice design touches that stood out to me were the floor to ceiling gothic and lolita photographs in the hallway between the two main sections and the manga wall—a display of various Japanese comic books. 

Royal/T’s defining touch however is the importing of the maid cafe concept from Japan.  This is not exactly like the otaku-style cafes that have popped up in Tokyo’s Akihabara district that cater to the fantasies of comic-obsessed Japanese men.  But you do get served by girls dressed in maid costumes, and yes, they are Asian.

Royal/T is the ultimate place to host a party.  Most of the art is displayed safely behind giant plexiglass walls so you don’t have to worry about party-goer fingerprints.  There is a bar and private party room.  And of course, the place comes with it’s own wait staff.  I can see this place bringing over a lot of Japanese artists to LA in the future.

For the re-opening (the soft launch was late last year), the invited guest was the photographer of the Gothic & Lolita book published by Phaidon.

For more info on Royal/T, check out their website.

Here are some snapshots from the party:

Video of the party: