Alicia Keys makes 30 minute Billboard appearance

On January 14, Alicia Keys was in Tokyo to perform an intimate concert at Midtown's Billboard Live Club, sponsored by apparel company Ikuta Holdings (no website). The event brought out some of fashion and music's top names, such as models Jessica Michibata, Ken Watanabe’s daughter Anne and singers Mika Nakashima and Crystal Kay.

Keys' 30-minute Tokyo sonata included some of her best hits such as "Fallin" and "Empire State of Mind" (with Tokyo replacing New York). The concert came about at the personal behest of Tsuyoshi Ikuta -- the president of the sponsoring company and creator of its handful of popular Shibuya-kei brands such as Sword Fish and ValenTine's High.

In commemoration of the event, he commissioned a limited edition T-shirt with an illustration by New York artist Daniel Casarella with all proceeds going to the Keep a Child Alive charity. The shirt will be sold at Sword Fish and Deara & Gabriel stores for ¥8,524. Ikuta tells us, "I wasn't exactly raised in the best environment myself so I have often worked with this charity and am very happy to give back."

Despite the whispering that the fast-fashion bubble is even dangerously encroaching on the 'real clothes' market, it appears that there is still plenty of wiggle room in Ikuta Holdings' coffers to produce such buzz-worthy events.

"I think our success lies in the way we do our merchandising, and how swiftly we move trends," said Ikuta. He added that no matter what comes into fashion, be it fast or luxury, "we will continue to be real clothing. That alone is not a trend." And nothing could be more real than Alicia Keys -- in person.