'Hardware Girls' launch party

19.09.2010 by Patrick W. Galbraith

A photographer and journalist, gravure idol and musician, it is tough to pin down Julie Watai, aka Amano Ai, aka Eye Taso. She is as unpredictable as she is vibrant. Saturday, September 18, marked the launch of her new photo album, "Hardware Girls." A party was held at Super Potato in Akihabara, with free beer and retro gaming. An awesome follow up to a long day at Tokyo Game Show!













"Hardware Girls" comes some four years after where Julie turned her camera on "spirituality and technology for the moe consciousness." It was a cool slice of Akihabara kitsch, and a chance to peek into the mind of an unnervingly self-aware otaku. Some of the images from "Samurai Girl" reappear in "Hardware Girls," but the hardware and the girls snap into sharp focus. Here are some sample images.



















My take on the theme is the technological condition, specifically a free relation to technology opened through and grounded by the young girl. Anyway, worth checking out. Congrats, Julie!

PS - Vid is of Julie (as Eye Taso) performing with Cutie Pai (far right).