Interview with La Carmina, Multi-media Personality

My first impression of La Carmina was when she walked into a room in Istanbul I was in with a bunch of other travel content creators and all I could say was, “Wow!” She certainly didn’t look like or carry herself like the rest of us schlubs milling around in our travel outfits. I’ve followed her ever since, whether it’s her great Instagram account, TV appearances, or when she writes about Japan. Her story is way too interesting for me to sum it up succinctly, so read this interview with La Carmina to hear about her evolution and what she’s working on, including a new book release. 

I always tell writers to pick a niche that hasn’t been done to death, one you can stand out with, but you should be at the top of my case study list. What’s your elevator pitch these days when someone asks, “What do you write about?”

I’d say that I write about travel and alternative subcultures, particularly Goth. While this might sound quite niche, it simply refers to the darker, edgier, and more offbeat perspective that I bring to topics like food, fashion, nightlife, and art.

For example, I’ve reported firsthand on Satanists in Salem, Hello Kitty theme cafes in Seoul, Harajuku Gothic fashion in Tokyo, witch bars in Mexico, steampunk cafes in South Africa, and LGBTQ+ spaces in Lebanon. I stay away from “basic” attractions; if I’m writing about Rome, I’ll cover an Italo Disco club night rather than the Colosseum.

How did you get started as a travel content creator and what brought you from there to where you are now?

I launched my La Carmina Blog on a whim in 2007, and it was originally focused on Japanese street style and nightlife. As the site grew and I received more opportunities to travel, I expanded my content to alternative cultures around the world. In 2009, Random House published my Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants book—a guide to Japan’s bizarre theme restaurants.

Blogging also opened doors into other creative areas such as freelance journalism (I write for publications like Time Magazine, CNN, and Eater), and more non-fiction books (I’ve published four with Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House).

You have always been known for your visuals as much as your writing. What kind of collaborations do you do for images and what kinds of TV series appearances have you worked on?

I love expressing myself through fashion and styling, particularly with underground and Goth elements. From the beginning, my blog and social media have included lots of personalized visuals, often featuring my friends and me in locations around the world. I always travel with someone so that I have a photographer on hand to assist me with capturing DSLR images.

This focus on imagery has led to my work in travel TV hosting and production. My television escapades have included boogieing with Star Trek’s William Shatner in Hong Kong for NBC, haggling for a moose head at NYC’s Oddities shop for Discovery TV, and taking Andrew Zimmern to weird theme restaurants in Tokyo for Bizarre Foods on Travel Channel.

You have a new book out, which is always exciting, but once again, it’s a bit different… Tell us about it.

In October, I released The Little Book of Satanism: A Guide to Satanic History, Culture and Wisdom. It’s a short and accessible guide to the development of Satanism, which I hope can help bring about a better understanding of Satanists and combat commonly-held negative perceptions about them. The religion is often misunderstood, so I wanted to provide a fair overview of Satanic rituals, symbols, holidays, pop culture references, and more.

The Little Book of Satanism traces the Devil’s evolution over the centuries – from his roots in the Bible to the Knights Templar, witch trials, Romantic writers, 1980s Satanic Panic, and socially engaged Satanism today. It’s available worldwide in paperback and digital, and you can find it here or by Googling the title.

When we first interviewed you on this travel writing blog many years ago, the tag of “young female travel blogger” was part of the La Carmina identity, but like all of us, you keep getting older. How do you plan to evolve over the next decade now that you’re 15 years in, a veteran at this?

I never felt that this tagline was key to my approach. I have never focused on “young-only” topics such as college travel breaks, study abroad, youth tours, or budget accommodations like hostels. Rather, my work (in all media) has always revolved around underground culture, which has no age limits. While many who enjoy Harajuku clothing and J-rock concerts are on the younger side, there are people of all ages who participate in subcultures.

I recently attended the 20^th anniversary of Midnight Mess, the longest-running Tokyo Goth club: many partygoers have been present since the start, and continue to dress up and dance!

You’ve been involved in all kinds of projects, in seemingly every kind of media, running tours and events even. What are your main income sources these days and how have they changed?

It’s constantly changing, and often due to factors out of my control. For example, I wasn’t able to work in TV for the past few years because of the pandemic (but I’m back at it now—can’t reveal the details yet—but stay tuned!). During the lockdown, I re-focused on freelance writing about travel and food for various publications, and it led to a publishing deal for my latest book, The Little Book of Satanism.

I’m always working on multiple things at any given time, which can include fashion/travel partnerships, panels and speeches, and even selling my personal wardrobe on @LaCarmina Depop.

Favorite Japanese movie, favorite American horror movie, and…where would you spend a week in Japan on vacation if someone else was paying?

I’ve long been an Akira Kurosawa fan. If I could only pick one of his films, it would be Ran, which is inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear (although Throne of Blood and Seven Samurai are also epic). I also love re-watching the anime Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki.

For American horror films, I’d say Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining: I owned the VHS as a kid, and remain enthralled by the performances, cinematography, and soundtrack.

As for where I’d go for a week in Japan on someone else’s dime… I’d start with a few days in Kyoto, where I’d max out their credit cards on high-end hotels, kimonos and artisan products, omakase sushi, and yuzu cocktails. Then, I’d hire a chauffeur to take me to a nearby luxury onsen (hot spring), temples, and other stunning natural locations within driving distance. Dreams aside, Japan is just as enjoyable on a budget — I have my favorite conveyor belt sushi restaurants and secondhand stores—and it remains my favorite place to visit.

 

La Carmina is an award-winning travel journalist and blogger. She is the author of four books, including two about Japanese food and pop culture. Her latest, The Little Book of Satanism, chronicles the evolution of Satanic organizations and practices. La Carmina is known for her stories about Japanese and alternative / Goth subcultures worldwide. Check out her blog and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for colorful updates.

All photos © La Carmina