Osaka Fashion Episode 14: Go-Go Girl MIWA

There’s always been a dedicated group of Japanese fashionistas keeping the psychedelic style of the late 60s and early 70s alive through curation and preservation of its clothes, furnishings, and design. Much of it exists around the numerous psychedelic, surf, rockabilly, and garage rock bands in the Japan music scene. And at many of these types of gigs you may just find a group of incredible go-go dancers, including MIWA: aka Tigerbilly.

What sparked your interest in go-go and retro styles? Also, how do you describe your own personal style?

My interest in Japan’s Go-Go Kissaten (ゴーゴー喫茶) or Go-Go Cafés, and “昭和” (Shōwa) culture of the 1960s and 1970s—decades before I was even born—began with a certain postcard that I happened to discover at an art museum when I was in my second year of junior high school

The postcard reproduced posters created by Tadanori Yokoo in the 1960s for underground theater groups such as Tenjō Sajiki. The moment I saw Yokoo’s work, I felt as though I had encountered something destined for me: “This is exactly what I love!” From then on, I began learning more about Tadanori Yokoo, Aquirax Uno, Shūji Terayama, Akihiro Miwa, and others. I also started collecting art books and watching and collecting films connected to their work and that cultural world.

Some films from the 1960s and 1970s feature scenes set in go-go cafés. I was fascinated and excited by their unique, feverish atmosphere, the cool dancing of the go-go dancers as they moved while feeling the music through their whole bodies, and the dancers’ stylish and cute fashion.

Several years ago, I also started going to long-running go-go café recreation events in Aichi Prefecture organized by “レコゲバ”RECOGEBA-SAN, including Nagoya Psychedelic Project and Groove Sounds.
RECOGEBA-SAN DJs at these events and also performs psychedelic light shows as part of a team called “Bijitsu Groove”.

I was always captivated by the dancing of “アンリ”ANRI-SAN, “ヒノリ”HINORI-SAN, and “スモモ”SUMOMO-SAN, who perform as go-go girls at these and many other events. ANRI-SAN also works as a staff member at the vintage shop Metropolitain in Aichi Prefecture. Their dancing is incredibly cool, beautiful, and glamorous, and they always look so happy and full of smiles while they dance. I could never take my eyes off them!

Actually, even when I went to these events, I would only move my body lightly to the rhythm at the edge of the venue. I did not do go-go dancing at all myself.

However, when the go-go café recreation event ART&GOGO was held on March 21, 2026, the organizer, SUMOMO-SAN, invited me by asking, “Would you like to participate as a go-go girl?” That was how I made my debut as a go-go girl and go-go dancer. So I am still very much a beginner as a go-go girl!

During the several months leading up to the event, SUMOMO-SAN gave me go-go dance lessons many times, and I also practiced at home while watching go-go dance videos on YouTube. I still take lessons and continue practicing at home today.

In my everyday life, I also express this style by listening to music from the 1960s and 1970s, wearing vintage fashion, and doing my makeup in that style!

What music sparked your interest in this scene?  

My first real interest in music began when I was in elementary school and listened to a record called Greatest Hits by The Manhattans, which my mother had bought and kept since her own student days.

I was born and raised in a rural area deep in the mountains of Nara Prefecture, and this was the first music from overseas that I had ever heard. I became completely captivated by The Manhattans—their urban and sophisticated sound, and their beautiful, delicate yet soulful vocals, harmonies, and melodies.

From there, I fell in love with soul and funk from the 1960s through the 1980s and began collecting CDs and records. I also bought a nine-disc DVD box set of the American television show Soul Train. I watched performances by so many legendary singers from 1971 through 1991, and I would imitate the Soul Train dancers and dance along with them. That was what first sparked my interest in dancing itself.

When I was in my third year of junior high school, I also became a fan of the Japanese Yank Rock band Kishidan “Yank Rock” is their distinctive rock style that combines Japanese “yankī” culture— in Japan, the word “yankī” refers to delinquent or rebellious youth culture—with punk rock. Through Kishidan, I also became interested in some of their musical roots, including punk rock and rockabilly.

My interest in music from Shōwa-era culture began when I was in elementary school, when my father let me listen to his huge collection of records featuring kayōkyoku and enka. At first, I mostly listened to 1980s kayōkyoku and city pop. But as I mentioned earlier, I later became interested in the songs and artists featured in go-go café scenes in Japanese films from the 1960s and 1970s.

That led me to Group Sounds (usually abbreviated as GS), which became hugely popular in Japan from around 1967 to 1969, as well as Solo Group Sounds and what later came to be known as Cult Group Sounds, which attracted renewed attention in the 1990s. I still love listening to all of these styles today.

Growing up surrounded by music and by the fashion associated with those different genres also had a major influence on my life. When I was 20, I worked part-time at a vintage clothing shop for three years. Then, at 23, I began working at TOWER RECORDS, where I stayed for four years. Those experiences became an incredibly important, fun, wonderful, and intense part of my life.

I imagine movies were a big inspiration, too. What are some films that made an impression?

Films—both international and Japanese—have also had a huge influence on me. Some of my favorite Japanese films are Yasujirō Ozu’s An Autumn Afternoon and Good Morning; Kon Ichikawa’s Ten Dark Women; Kō Nakahira’s Only on Mondays; and Kinji Fukasaku’s Black Lizard, Black Rose Mansion, and the 6-movie series of Battles Without Honor and Humanity.

I also love Kazuhiko Hasegawa’s The Man Who Stole the Sun, Yasuharu Hasebe’s Alleycat Rock: Female Boss, and Tatsuo Osone’s Kao.

I have so many favorite films that I could go on listing them forever!

What vintage and retro brands do you recommend to capture your look?

One of my favorite brands is Louie Louie, a brand inspired by 1960s and 1970s fashion. Its atelier is located inside ACE, a shop in Kagawa Prefecture that sells Shōwa-era vintage goods. For brands inspired by 1950s fashion, I also like Dry Bones, which has stores in Tokyo, Aichi, and Osaka, and CREAM SODA, which has stores in Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Aichi.

Louie Louie is my absolute favorite brand. Each piece is handmade individually by the owner and designer, “ヨシエ”YOSHIE-SAN, with incredible care, beauty, and attention to detail. She creates original clothing inspired by designs that actually existed in the 1960s and 1970s, and I love the brand’s designs, silhouettes, and combinations of colors—they are all so cute and wonderful.

Louie Louie also creates costumes for the go-go girls who perform at the go-go café recreation events Nagoya Psychedelic Project and Groove Sounds, organized by RECOGEBA-SAN. The brand also creates costumes for various other events and artists.

What shops do you love the most?

My favorite vintage shop is 『the other』 in Aichi Prefecture. Almost all of the vintage clothing from the 1960s and 1970s that I own was purchased there. They sell not only high-quality and cute vintage clothing and fashion accessories from countries such as France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, but also vintage magazines and records, as well as their own original dresses and bell-bottoms. Their prices are also very reasonable.

The store manager, SUZUKI-SAN, used to be the vocalist of a band and is still active as a DJ today. Everyone on the staff has such a strong love and passion for Shōwa culture, as well as an incredibly broad and deep knowledge of it. They are all very stylish and have a sophisticated sense of fashion, and while chatting with you in a very friendly and enjoyable way, they will carefully suggest authentic 1960s and 1970s-style outfits and combinations

My favorite vintage shops in Osaka are Greenpepe, Couleur, and The Rendezvous. All of these shops have a wonderful selection of cute clothing and retro goods, and the staff are always cheerful, friendly, fun, and kind to talk with.

Which country’s retro style do you like the most?

I love vintage and retro fashion from many different countries, but above all, my favorite is Japanese fashion from the 1960s and 1970s.

Do you ever design your own clothes?

I don’t make my own everyday clothes, but I do make my own costumes every time I perform as a go-go girl. I customize and remake
ready-made clothing to create costumes based on the designs I have in mind!

Who would you say is your style icon?

My style icon is Meiko Kaji, particularly during the period when she appeared in the Stray Cat Rock film series. 

Which venues around Osaka would you most recommend?

One bar I highly recommend in Osaka is Nippombashi R/H/B, which is also the venue for the go-go café recreation event ART&GOGO. The bar has been open for 27 years. In addition to its regular bar nights, it hosts all kinds of events, including rap battles and punk band performances. On the last Monday of every month, they also hold an event called OSAKA FREE CHANNEL, where anyone can become a DJ regardless of musical genre. It is a really fun place.

The owner, “菅野”KANNO-SAN, and staff member “りぼん”RIBBON-SAN are both incredibly friendly and easy to talk to, and they know a great deal about music. KANNO-SAN especially loves soul and funk, and during regular bar nights he plays records for everyone to enjoy. RIBBON-SAN is also active as a DJ. She is involved in other activities inspired by Japanese idols of the 1980s and also sells her own original CDs.

The owner, KANNO-SAN, runs the club with this philosophy: “We don’t offer any special services specifically for visitors from overseas, but we hope you’ll come and experience the real underground party scene in Osaka. We want both Japanese guests and visitors from overseas to enjoy themselves here in exactly the same way.”

Also, the homemade curry made by KANNO-SAN is absolutely delicious, so I definitely recommend trying it!

Which Osaka bands should I keep an eye out for?

Some of my favorite musicians and artists from Osaka and the wider Kansai region are NIKO NIKO TAN TAN, The 50 Kaitenz, THE NEATBEATS, YURIYAN RETRIEVER, and 074 BROS.

Final thoughts and future plans?

Here we are in 2026, in the Reiwa era, and I am having this incredible experience of being surrounded by people of all generations dressed in fashions that were popular in the 1960s and 1970s, listening to music from that time, and dancing the go-go dances of that era. It really feels as though we have traveled back in time!

Someday, I would love for activities like these to somehow lead to professional opportunities as well. I am 37 years old now, and I never dreamed that at this age I would actually become a Go-Go Girl—the very thing I had admired for so long.  I am incredibly grateful to SUMOMO-SAN for inviting me to become a Go-Go Girl. For many years, I always put work first and gave up on many of the things I really wanted to do. But suddenly, my life changed completely and became brighter, more exciting, more joyful, and more dazzling! 

I did not actually live during the Shōwa era, so the only ways I can learn what that time was really like are by reading magazines and other materials from the period, researching it, and listening to stories from people who actually lived through it.  That is exactly why I am so fascinated by how music and fashion influenced by cultures from overseas came to Japan after World War II, and how they were transformed into uniquely Japanese styles and became popular here.

The more I learn about Shōwa culture, the more captivated by it I become.  Of course, there is also plenty of wonderful music, fashion, and culture from the Heisei and Reiwa eras. But I feel that the Shōwa era has its own unique charm, romance, and brilliance that simply cannot be found anywhere else.  Go-go café recreation events are actively held in places such as Aichi and Tokyo, but as far as I know, they are still rarely held in Osaka.  I was deeply inspired by SUMOMO-SAN and her passionate desire to “bring Go-Go Cafes back to life in Osaka!” and to “make Go-Go Cafes recreation events more exciting and popular!” 

I want to keep these events going without letting them disappear, and eventually help bring these events not only to Osaka, but to different places throughout the Kansai region as well.  And of course I want people who already love or are interested in Go-Go Cafes and Shōwa culture to enjoy them, but I also want to reach people who know absolutely nothing about them, or who have never been interested in them before.  I want people to come away thinking:  “Go-Go Cafes are so much fun!”  “I want to try go-go dancing too!”  “Shōwa culture is amazing and so fascinating!”  “Now I want to learn more about Shōwa culture!” 

Those are the kinds of activities I want to continue pursuing in the future.  And to everyone reading this interview, I really hope you will come and experience a Go-Go Cafes events for yourself someday!  I think you will have an extraordinary, exciting, and wonderful experience that feels just like traveling back in time! My next appearances as a Go-Go Girl are OSAKA FREE CHANNEL on August 31, 2026, and the Go-Go Café recreation event ART&GOGO Vol.2 on October 10, 2026!

And whenever there is something you love, something that interests you, or something you have always wanted to try, I hope you will go for it without letting your age, experience, or preconceived ideas hold you back! Thank you so much for reading my interview all the way to the end!