While many first-time visitors to Tokyo
probably have a fuzzy idea of what to expect, they would do
themselves a favor to first check out I Rub
Your Brog, a Web blog that randomly documents
"life, music and general weirdness in central Tokyo." This is where
they'll find slices of technicolor life not necessarily covered in
standard-issue guidebooks about Japan. When the anonymous blogger
behind I Rub Your Brog isn't touring the city's parks and
backstreets on his bike, he can be found jamming with the bands The
Shirts and Squadcar or trading riffs with other artists in Tokyo's
underground music scene. The Japan Times spoke with Mallocup, the
creator's online alias, about his blog, the extroverts on parade in
Yoyogi Park
and the importance of always being prepared for a photo
opportunity.
Mallocup, the anonymous creator
of I Rub Your Brog BASAK ULUKOSE PHOTO
Where's your homeland? When and how did you end up in
Japan?
I'm from a small town north of Melbourne in Australia. I came to
Japan about 10 years ago to teach in a big English conversation
school.
When did you launch I Rub Your Brog?
It was during the summer of 2007. I work in a job that has a
long summer break and found myself walking around Shibuya with not
a lot to do. This brought me into a lot of contact with
extraordinary people and things, and I decided to try and document
that.
"Life, music and general weirdness in central Tokyo" is
how the blog is self-described. How do you define
"weirdness"?
The thing about weirdness in Tokyo is that while most people
conform to a somewhat conservative norm, there are these all these
wacky extroverts that pride themselves in throwing off the shackles
of their day-to-day lives and go out into public places on the
weekend to perform their own particular brand of strange. I love
it.
Do you feel a bond with other bloggers who write about
Japan? Any role models among them?
I love the way the guys from Kirainet and Tokyo
Times capture different aspects of Japanese
culture, and they're both fantastic photographers. Neil
Duckett always has interesting material and often
covers some of the same territory as me, and YouTubers like Tkyo
Sam, Claytonian, and Kevin
Cooney all do pretty interesting stuff. There are
so many that cover different perspectives, but Danny
Choo is the undisputed king of J-bloggers.
"Engrish" can be humorous, but have you received any
criticism regarding your blog's name?
None at all. In fact, it's been quite the opposite.
Who are Squadcar and The Shirts? Between songs there's
"rock band trivia." What is this about?
They are two bands that I play in, though Squadcar are in
semi-hibernation right now. The
Shirts, or "Teh Shirts" as we prefer to be known,
are currently working up a new set of songs that will eventually be
recorded. We play heartfelt rock/pop, and do events around Tokyo,
often with a bunch of our friend's bands. Rock band trivia is a
thing Scott does to the audience during shows to trick them into
letting him cut their hair. People can see some videos of ours on
IRYB, or check our MySpace page for recordings and upcoming
shows.
On the blog, you cover a lot of Tokyo's underground
music scene. How would you compare it to other music scenes that
you've encountered?
Spidey lets loose
in
Yoyogi
Park.
MALLOCUP PHOTO
I think it's pretty tough to play regularly in Tokyo, especially
in that bands have to sell a certain amount of tickets that are
quite expensive before they break even. Also, while live houses
have great sound and light systems, and excellent staff, I've often
found that they lack the vibrancy and energy that I knew back home.
I still prefer the smaller clubs where bands can hold their own
events and it's cheaper for people to get in. The downside to
playing these venues is that they often have marginal
sound systems,
and the bar managers care more about how many drinks are being sold
than the music that's being performed.
You often take photos in Yoyogi Park. What makes it a
special place?
Yoyogi Park is easily one of my favorite places in Tokyo, from
the cultural festivals to the
flea markets
to the quiet back corner where you can almost get away from
everything. There are so many characters, like the
dancing Elvises, or
the
techno-painter guy,
or even the lone bagpiper who's often tucked away in the trees.
Just last weekend we chanced upon
the most amazing 5-year-old guitar
player, rocking out Beatles songs like I would
never have believed possible.
What's sad is that bands have recently been banned from playing
there. It was one of my favorite things about Tokyo, but now it's
gone.
The extroverts in Tokyo get plenty of attention. Are
they crazy, bored, lonely, on a higher spiritual plane? What's your
take?
A life creed etched in
skin. MALLOCUP PHOTO
Maybe some of them are a bit crazy, and I'm sure a lot of them
are bored, but to me that doesn't take anything away from the fact
that they are artists or street performers that are there to
entertain people, I really respect that. It's interesting to me
that people who are most likely very conservative in their daily
lives enjoy dressing up in all manner of crazy and receiving
attention for what is generally perceived as being odd or bizarre
behavior. Ultimately, I think with a lot of them what they do is
very calculated and clever.
Looking at your blog's series titled "Somewhere
somebodies daughter" you'd think that there is a photo
shoot/interview on every corner. Are they really easy to find or
are you actively seeking them out?
That was actually the first series of mine that got any
attention, Danny Choo liked it and featured it on his site, I still
get hits from that post! No they are not on every corner, but there
are a lot in and around Shibuya. It's pretty easy to take candid
pictures of someone that's already in a shoot, so I just take
advantage of that.
What are some of your favorite reoccurring
themes?
Extroverts are always so receptive to having their photo taken,
and go over pretty well with people that read the blog. People like
Goldfish bloke obviously enjoy the attention, and in getting out
there and doing their thing they become part of the pop culture
that helps make the city so interesting. I think that in this age
where different kinds of media can be shared so easily, it's great
that people are able to share their weirdness with a wide audience,
and in turn enjoy their little bit of fame.
A bagpiper does his thing in the
St. Patrick's Day parade. MALLOCUP PHOTO
"Random
night shot" includes photos that reveal an
intimate side of Tokyo. Has being a fan of Rikko Kasso influenced
you as a photographer? Do you have plans for a book of your
own?
Rikko Kasso is a phenomenal artist and photographer. I love the
way he is able to capture the simple beauty of everyday situations,
and that he often shoots around Shibuya or Yoyogi Park is very
inspiring to me. Part of me doing I Rub Your Brog is about trying
to become a better photographer. If I keep doing it for long enough
and have enough interesting photos, I might consider putting a book
together, but it will no doubt be an independently produced one
with a very limited print run.
The photos on your blog are mainly posted by Mallocup.
Any relation to Boyer's chocolates?
You mean the whipped marshmallow creme center surrounded by a
delicious combination of milk chocolate and coconut? Maybe . .
.
Many of the photos you feature get up close and personal
with the subjects. What kind of interaction do you have with the
people you shoot? What advice can you give to budding
photo-bloggers?
I think that part of the reason that people find the blog
interesting is that it really is a visual narrative of someone's
experience, rather than a set of themes that are prearranged. I
have no idea of what will be on the page next week, I only know
that the photos will be of something that I find interesting at the
time. I'm a big fan of candid photos, and in that, I often try not
to let people know when I'm taking their picture. Ultimately I'm
just another guy with a camera taking bunch of photos while hanging
out with my friends.
As for advice, just always have your camera ready.