Early Imai Kira

 

Let’s explore Imai Kira pre- Angelic Pretty!

Most of us were introduced to Imai Kira’s beautiful illustrations through her collaborations with Angelic Pretty inside the glossy pages of the Gothic & Lolita Bibles. 

The two began working together sometime in 2001. The following year, Angelic Pretty released clothing with screen-printed Imai Kira illustrations. The two have been intertwined ever since. I think her original art book ‘Rosette’ (released in 2002) summarises the Angelic Pretty influence on her work that is still felt today. It has all the hallmarks of oldschool sweet lolita that you would expect from that time (gingham, strawberries, bunnies) but holds on to some of the edginess from her past.

See an introduction to ‘Rosette’ on the blog 'Rose Tea Before Dawn'.

I’m very fond of that brief period in the early 2000s where all the sweet lolita brands were coming out with gothic releases.  

But anyway, the website states that ‘Rosette’ was her 14th original art book! Which means there is quite a significant gap before becoming the Imai Kira we are familiar with. 

Over the last few months I bought some of her original printed letter paper secondhand. It would have been sold at lolita events or doujinshi sales meetings like Comiket, or by mail order from her website ‘Caramel Candy’. They are signed under the name Shinnosuke Imai (今井しんのすけ) for Eyepatch Heaven (I’m guessing that is the name of the doujinshi circle or publishing group?) They are too precious to use for their intended purpose, so I keep mine for display on my wall.

Notice how different they are to the sweet and delicate illustrations she produces now? Not a pastel in sight. Most are straight up neon. Both are pretty* in their own way, but you can tell how drastically her technical skills have improved over the years. I hope she can look back on this era with fondness and nostalgia rather than embarrassment. Angelic Pretty clearly saw the vision, and she brought their lolita vision to life. It’s no exaggeration to say that lolita would not be the same without her presence.

*pun intended.

DATA: 

List of previous art books from her website: 

- 1997 ‘junk’ art book (unknown)

- 1998 ‘vanilla’ art book (pending)

- 1999 ‘artificial girl’ art book

Peep inside

Additional ‘artificial girl’ illustration

- 1999 ‘marry’ art book

Peep inside

Additional ‘Marry’ illustration, titled ‘Uriel’

- 1999 ‘marble’ Plastic Tree fan art book

- 1999 ‘technodelic’ Buck-Tick fan art book

- 2000 ‘Cute & fragile’ art book (2 parts)

Inside image via this auction listing

- 2000 ‘Little red riding hood’ art book 

Both photos are from this mercari listing. It is still available (but for £53!)

I’d like to keep adding to this post if I can get my hands on more old illustrations. ‘Artificial Girl’ in particular is calling to me with its doll-like lolita and cartoonishly oversized ouji. So old school.

So what do you think? Do any of these shock you? Would you like her to re-do any of these illustrations in her current style?

Below are links to her current website, storefront and twitter. Please continue to support her!

Website: https://www.kiraimai.com/

Booth: https://kiraimai.booth.pm/

Twitter: https://x.com/kiraimai