Friday, June 27, 2014

OUT NOW: "JOSHOKU." Book 6 of Ren'Ai Rensai

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A year after "KOIBUMI.", I am now pleased to announce the return of the RR overworld series. "JOSHOKU." takes us back once again the 90s in Japan, focusing on the period of time when Reina and Aiko realize the true potential of their lives together.

Please enjoy the blurb and the excerpt below!

One year into their relationship, Reina and Aiko embark on a journey into the world of academia. For Reina it's about changing her situation in life, even it means returning to a world ran by a foreign religion and young women who claim to be both her best friends and worst enemies. For Aiko it's proving to her mother, to the world, and to herself that there is more to life than husband hunting. For them both it's late nights finding unconventional ways to study for tests as they find new reasons to love each other.

Adulthood lurks in every shadow, from coming to terms with mortality to straining against the shackles that threaten to keep their lives stagnant. Reina wants to find direction in her life; Aiko wants to control her own destiny. Together they want what will become the foundation of their relationship - love, safety, and the exploration of their burning joshoku, or the passion that leads one to women again and again. Even if one of them is an impostor herself.


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EXCERPT


            “Excuse me,” Aiko said, stopping a saleswoman and holding up a green bra. “Does this come in any other color?”
            While the saleswoman took the bra to go look in the back, Reina dangled a silky black bra and panty set in front of Aiko.
            “You should get this one,” she said, jerking the hanger back and forth. “I bet you’d look really sexy in a piece like this.”
            Aiko glanced around the shop, only temporarily relieved when she saw no one paid them any mind. The cramped store was stuffed with racks of underwear and women talking over one another as the cars on the street drowned out their voices. Nothing could drown out Reina’s voice, however. It was right in Aiko’s ear, taunting her with that seductive tone that had once awakened her inner lesbian.
            “I need something practical.” Aiko tried to be collected, but whenever her girlfriend teased her like that, she turned into jelly. She busied her hands by flipping through a rack she had already inspected twice before. “That material would scratch my skin if I wore it all day.”
            “You’re not supposed to wear it all day. This is shit you wear to make you feel sexy and to make your girlfriend want to jump your bones.”
            “Like you need help with that.”
            The saleswoman came back with a pink version of the bra Aiko liked. “Would you like me to open a changing room for you?”
            “That would be great, thanks.”
            Reina stayed out of the changing area while Aiko was shown into the one at the far end of the hall. After locking the door, she stripped off her top and the one bra she had left that Reina had yet to destroy with her pawing. One strap drooped down her arm as she admired – as in criticized – her figure in the mirror.
            Have I gained weight? Aiko turned to her side and stuck her leg up in the air behind her. It made her back suck in and flatten her stomach. Maybe not. Skin stretched across her abdomen as she twisted it around to get a better look. By the time she decided she was not obese – yet – both of her bra straps had fallen down, reminding her of what she came in there for.
            Three bras hung from the door, each one the usual style and colors Aiko liked. When a woman knows what she likes... She hopped up and grabbed the pink bra she wanted.
            Trying on clothing of any kind was a test in patience. There was getting the damn things on; making sure they fit snugly, but not too snugly; checking to see that the color matched her skin tone; looking for any spots that would itch or irritate her later; turning in every direction to catch the best angles; pretending to be a model in a sexy magazine. Aiko spun on her heels and laughed in frivolity as someone pounded on the door.
            “I’m fine!” she called, assuming it was the saleswoman. “I’ll be out in a bit.”
            Another thump. “Ai-chan!” It was Reina. “Open up! I wanna show you something.”
            “Eh?” Aiko snatched her shirt and held it up to her chest. Slowly, as if the dressing room was full of people ready to check out her nipples, Aiko eased the door open and gazed at her girlfriend through the crack.
            Reina swung the door open and marched into the changing room, arm laden with bras.
            “Are you trying something on?” Aiko dropped her shirt and bent to pick it up again. When she stood, she saw her girlfriend latching the door shut, a sinister smile on her visage. “I didn’t think you wore...”
            The sexy black bra popped into her face. “I brought some stuff for you to try on.”
            “What? Me?” Aiko backed against the mirror. “I already have things to try on.”
            The black bra did a dance in the air, and puppet master Reina continued, “Nothing sexy.”
            “I’m not buying anything sexy like that.”
            “Aw, come on, you’re not even gonna try them on? How boring.” Reina dropped the bra to her side. I’m still not used to this haircut. If it weren’t for those thin lips and the usual clothes Reina wore, Aiko would not recognize her without long hair. “Not even for me?”
            “Why would I do it for you?”
            “Harsh.”

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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Trip To The Japanese 90s Day 2: Maki Ohguro

Maki Ohguro is one of those artists that you never really hear about, and yet left a huge impact on Japanese music in the 90s. Undoubetedly you've heard one of her songs before, even if you don't really remember it. Indeed, she used to be a pretty big thing in the mid-90s with her heavy pop-rock sound. You don't find many people who declare themselves to be Maki's biggest fan, and yet if you see her giving out a free concert (because she can, that's why) you think, "Oh, cool! Free Maki concert? I'm in. Let's go!"

The best way to describe her style is "heavy and loud," and yet she's not hard rock or metal at all. She's squarely in the pop-rock category, but like most of her fellow labelmates of the 90s (which include ZARD and B'z, just to namedrop a couple superstar names) she has that edge to her music that you just can't deny. Her songs are catchy and infectious, even if you don't think about them much.

I like to think of Reina in particular being that kind of Maki fan. She would buy some of her albums and play them as background noise, but she would never fan over her. (Not that she fans over anybody, but I digress.) These days she would definitely have some classic Maki tunes on her cell phone and listen to them during her commute on the train.

Actually, I take some of that back. I could see Reina watching Maki videos on TV and thinking, "Hm, I could go for a style like that." Not that she would ever commit to it.

Below is a video of all of Maki's 90s songs, a perfect sampling for our theme this week!


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Trip To The Japanese 90s Day 1: hitomi


I consider myself somewhat of an expert on Japanese pop 'n rock (colloquially referred to over there and abroad as "J-pop") and writing an extensive series that takes place through the decades in Japan and NOT expecting me to insert Japanese pop songs into every scene is next to impossible. At the REN'AI RENSAI website I even have a list of recommended listening soundtracks for every major novel.  One of my favorite decades of J-pop has to be the 90s. It was what I got into first back in 2003, and now it remains incredibly nostalgic (or as they say in Japan, natsukashii.

This week as we lead up to the release of "JOSHOKU." on Friday, I want to stop and listen to some tracks by artists that definitely influenced the 90s culture described in the book. These are artists and songs being played in the backgrounds of scenes - the CDs constantly falling off Reina and Aiko's shelves when they need some, er, mood music. 

Our first artist of the week is hitomi, a 90s pop idol who made her debut in 1994 with the Tetsuya Komuro (he is kind of a big deal people) written and produced track "Let's Play Winter." hitomi started her career as a model before quickly hitting superstardom in the 90s with her slickly produced dance tracks and heavy mid-tempo songs. She has a very unique voice even by J-pop standards, but it's absolutely infectious, just like her songwriting abilities and her tracks as she has matured through the years. (Yup, she's celebrating her 20th anniversary in the industry this year!)

I picked hitomi first for two reasons. 1) There is a new character in "JOSHOKU." named hitomi, and that's pretty funny. 2) I could see her first album getting a lot of spins in Aiko's room. Aiko really loves flashy, pretty, and charming female pop singers, and hitomi just jumps into my head as "the it girl" that Aiko would fawn over for a good 2-3 years. 

Below is hitomi's third and arguably most popular single "CANDY GIRL." I want you to imagine Aiko humming this to herself as she washes dishes today. Yes, today. Somewhere in RR land Aiko is washing some damned dishes and she is humming and singing "CANDY GIRL" and probably driving Reina nuts. Bless them both. 


I dare you to listen to this and not get it stuck in your head for a day too!

Monday, June 23, 2014

"JOSHOKU." Cover and Blurb Reveal!

"One year into their relationship, Reina and Aiko embark on a journey into the world of academia. For Reina it’s about changing her situation in life, even it means returning to a world ran by a foreign religion and young women who claim to be both her best friends and worst enemies. For Aiko it’s proving to her mother, to the world, and to herself that there is more to life than husband hunting. For them both it’s late nights finding unconventional ways to study for tests and as they find new reasons to love each other.


Adulthood lurks in every shadow, from coming to terms with mortality and straining against the shackles that threaten to keep their lives stagnant. Reina wants to find direction in her life; Aiko wants to control her own destiny. Together they want what will become the foundation of their relationship – love, safety, and the exploration of their burning joshoku, or the passion that leads one to women again and again. Even if one of them is an imposter herself."

"JOSHOKU." takes place between March, 1994 and Summer, 1996.

The sixth installment of REN'AI RENSAI will be coming out this Friday, June 27th! To celebrate, I will be posting a video every day this week showcasing some of my favorite Japanese songs to come out between 1994-1997... undoubtedly songs that Aiko and Reina listened to extensively in their youths. (And let's face it, today as well.) Please look forward to it!