Department H (Department H 2099 / デパートメントH / デパH / デパチ, etc) is the longest-running fetish night in Tokyo. Here are details and what the event looks like.
What’s Department H
A showcase at the entrance displays “catch of the day.”
Department H is a monthly fetish night held at Tokyo Kinema Club (東京キネマ倶楽部) in Uguisudani (鶯谷) in Tokyo on the first Saturday of every month. Since Tokyo’s top drag queens emcee the event, it can be very gay but also hetero-friendly.
Although Department H is sometimes compared to KitKatClub or Lab.oratory (the gay side of Berghain) in Berlin in Germany. Department H doesn’t cost you Crisco. This is Tokyo. Nobody punches.
Instead, Department H is a safe place where any fetish admirer can hang out and try out his/her/their art in public as long as they are over 20. The venue and the people exhibit the near-perfect range of what the Japanese word for perv “hentai / 変態” can interpret.
History of Department H
Department H is said to have started as a small event under a different name in Shibuya (渋谷) circa 1994. In 2008, then-“salon KITTYFIRE 2099” was reborn as “DEPARTMENT-H 2099” at the current venue “Tokyo Kinema Club.”
An event flyer of Department H.
The etymology of Department H is said to be “Department H” from X-Men (comic book). X-Men’s Department H is a branch of the Canadian government where the first openly gay character (in American comic books) “Northstar” appeared.
This is Department H
Japan’s national champion of the nuts-kicking game “Kinkerarezamurai Shinji /金蹴られ侍シンジ” defending his title.
Department H is held on the fifth and sixth floors of Tokyo Kinema Club. The fifth floor’s stage is where performances take place. People can hang out on both floors. Seats are non-reserved except for pop-ups by local hentai communities.
Since the venue has no bars, people are encouraged to bring drinks and food. It’s free to leave and re-enter. For those who need to dress up, which is highly recommended: people with a costume get a 40% discount, lockers and a dressing room are available.
A view from the sixth floor.
At Department H, everybody turns Cinderella after midnight. Drag queens appear on stage to host an opulent opening ceremony. Performances last until early morning: showcases by Japan’s top drag queens, a super straight men-friendly catfight, the record breaking moment of the defending champion of Japan’s nuts-kicking game, and on and on and on.
RuPaul of Tokyo “Margarette” at the opening ceremony.
Drag queens walking the runway.
Rachel D’Amour performing on stage.
The catfight. The audience was advised to step back due to the coming climax.
Meanwhile, at a random corner of the venue.
Details:
・Place: Tokyo Kinema Club (東京キネマ倶楽部)
・Adress: 1-1-14 Negishi, Taito City, Tokyo 〒110-0003
・Admission: ¥5000 / $38.40 (10% off with an event flyer. 40% off with a costume.)
・Hours: Midnight to the morning
・Date: First Saturday of every month
*A photo ID is required to enter the property. People under the age of 20 are not allowed to enter.
Website
Tokyo Kinema Club (東京キネマ倶楽部) | 1-1-14 Negishi, Taito City, Tokyo 〒110-0003, Japan
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