I think I'm turning into a pickle. The partying and clubbing season has been running me ragged with more openings than an S&M zippered jumpsuit. Designer Kohshin Satoh continued on his one-of-a-kind way with a Spring/Summer collection launch at the new blues supper club, Volga, located in an ancient Russian restaurant in Roppongi done out in 1960s, mock-Byzantine kitsch--and where you can gorge yourself on piroshiki, roast chicken and wine to live blues. We liked the place so much we chose it to stage our Innovative Awards party.

If you were in Tokyo in the exciting '80s, you probably remember P. Picasso, on the hill near Nishi Azabu crossing. Now The Ring--not Monty's event but a new club--has opened at the same site, just upstairs from the Terminal club. The Ring is split-level, run by the same friendly management behind the Bulldog(formerly Drug Store) in Nishi Azabu, plays soul and jazz and contains what might be the world's biggest mirrorball. Further up the hill in the rowdy part of Roppongi near Deja Vu, club masters Matsuoka and Hiro have just launched the new Gas Panic Club 99. It's posh (yes!), and would have to be the cleanest Gas Panic I've ever seen. Hiro says they'll be open 9pm-9am on weekends--count me in for the party, but definitely out for lunch Saturdays. The opening party found the staff a little on the tense side--they had a tiny VIP area they wanted you to pay to sit at--but I'm betting that it's more relaxed now.

If you're into alternative rock on the nightclub scene and haven't heard of the semi-regular (once a month or so) Club Addict events, check them out. The Addict's party at Velvet was a ripping change from the nightclub norm, with hardcore bands the Trip Minds and the Abnormals getting the crowd slamming and DJ Shnezna and guests filling in between. Look out at record stores for flyers.

Among other new clubs there's the funky Loop, downstairs on Aoyama-dori, opposite First Kitchen and the Children's Castle. It's a small, white-walled club that feels like you've dropped over to someone's place for a party. Just watch out for the smoke machine--I think it wants to kill you. And the karaoke/soul-funk bar Club BCBG (big apologies to New York's CBGB) opened up in Aoyama with a whimper. Maybe it's the strange combination of soul/funk DJs and the three karaoke booths and erotic pictures that give this place such an odd air, and pulls so few customers--so far.

And the last thing I remember is New Year's Eve. Pylon went berserk, with champagne spurting everywhere, trashed turntables and upturned furniture. When a bunch of crazies started letting off fireworks inside I had to dive for cover--though that was when I realized I still had a handful of bottle rockets with fizzing fuses. It was almost as deadly as a Filipino Christmas.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Roppongi	Shibuya & Area
Nishi Azabu	Others

The Nightlife listings are updated every month.
* denotes editor's picks.

SPECIAL EVENTS

X*TRA Lots of DJs hosted by YO-C, Tomo Hirata. 12/22, midnight, Liquid Room. Y2500 (in adv.). Liquid Room (3200-6831).

OTO X'mas Eve 12/24, midnight-5am, OTO. Y2000 (with one ticket) (Y1000 in adv.). Free for women. (5273-8264)

Jaki Graham 12/25, Velfarre. For more info, call Velfarre (3746-0055).

OTO Friday Night "Paradise" Special Featuring Matsumoto Koichi (House Foundation) with Daisuke Saito, Motoki. 12/29, OTO. Y2500 (with one ticket). (5273-8264)

Friction Best hard rock trio plays with duo Kirihito. 12/30, Milk. Y3000 (with two drinks). (5458-2826)

OTO Saturday Night "Phat is Jazz?" Special Featuring Masashi `Popo' Kasahara & Keita Takagi. 12/30, OTO. Y2500 (with one ticket). (5273-8264)

The Ring Everybody-knows gay/mix party. 12/30 & 1/27, 11pm, Speakeasy. Y3500 (with two drinks). (5410-0356)

OTO '95 Final Party Featuring all star DJs performing hip hop, reggae, house, techno, jazz, soul, etc. for 24 hours. 12/31, OTO. Y3000 (with one ticket). (5273-8264)

United Future Organization 12/31, 8pm, The Garden Hall, Yebisu Garden Place, Ebisu Sta. Y4500 (in adv.). U.F.O. (3797-1514).

New Year Party 1/1, Velfarre. Free. For more info, call Velfarre (3746-0055).

Cross Over Prepare yourself for excessively ecstatic conditions. Techno, laser lighting and the Master Blaster sound system. 1/6, 11pm, Speakeasy. Y3500 (with two drinks). (5410-0356)

Odyssey Trippy, trancey, techno. Very popular. 1/13, Speakeasy. Y3500 (with one drink). (5410-0356)

Mona Lisa Pink Women only. 1/18, 8pm, Delight. Y2500 (with one drink). (3352-6297)

Inner Ring Jr. Ring--small-scale version of The Ring party. Gay/mix. 1/19, 9pm, Delight. Y2500 (with one drink). (3352-6297)

Club Venus Featuring DJ Andrew Weatherall from the U.K. 2/3, midnight, Liquid Room. For more info, call Liquid Room (3200-6831).

ROPPONGI

BARS

bars

Bali High New bar opened by Baccara group. Just down the street between Al-mond and Café Miami, on the right. (3746-2598)

Bar, Isn't It? It's big and everything is Y500. MT Bldg., 3F, 3-8-18 Roppongi (3746-1598).

Gas Panic Flying glasses, fists and skirts. Leave a tip . . . or else. 7pm-5am. Near Hamburger Inn. 3-14-8 Roppongi (3405-0633).

Rip Rock & roll bar located behind McDonald's on Roppongi-dori. The new model hangout. (3423-0715)

Salsa Caribe Latin bar/club playing from salsa & merengue to cumbia. Reine Roppongi Bldg., 2F, 5-3-4 Roppongi (3746-0244).

Salsa Sudada Libidinous Latin rhy-thms and a friendly multinational crowd. 6pm-6am. Naparette Bldg., 3F, 7-13-8 Roppongi (5474-8806).

Ultra Vivid Scene Came and went with our favorite hostess. Cozy hangout nonetheless. 7:30pm-5am. Closed Mon. & Tue. ITO Bldg., 4F, 7-14-6 Roppongi (5474-4366).

clubs

Breakfast Club After-hours grooving for Roppongi types. House and garage. Membership restriction on weekends. 100m down Roppongi-dori next to Cosmo Gas Station. Togensha Bldg., 9F, 2-4-8 Roppongi (3588-8177).

Cell Block Brand-new. Another gaijin bar with no cover charge. Check it out before it gets too popular and crowded. Tue.-Thur., 7pm-5am; Fri.-Sun. until 6am. Sun.: ladies' night (all drinks half price for women). Dai-ni Togensha Bldg., 6F, 3-15-24 Roppongi (5410-2526).

Circle A new club opened where Cleo was. Behind the Porsche dealership. (3586-8494)

Cleo Palazzi Basically, funky black congregation Cleo moved to where Miste-rio was. Phoenix Bldg., B1, 1-4-3 Azabu-dai (3586-6518).

Fontana Touted as sexy and stylish, and featuring DJs Snezana, Shige, Yugoslav food and a balcony for a sophisticated chill-out with a cappuccino or a cocktail. Midnight-5am, no cover. Aroo Bldg., 2F, 3-14-7 Roppongi (3405-0677).

Gas Panic Club Rock, rap and MTV dance. 7:30pm-5am; Fri. & Sat. until 6am. 3-10-5 Roppongi (3402-7054).

Geoid/Flower Hard after-hours beats and every anthropological specimen you could ever fear. From 12:30am on weekends. Y2000/members, Y3000/non-members. (3479-8161)

Java Jive Square Bldg.'s world beat with models identifiable by their attitudes more than their looks. Reggae & house. 6pm-5am. Square Bldg., B1, 3-10-3 Roppongi (3478-0087).

Lexington Queen Strike a pose, there's nothing to it. 6pm-4am. 3-13-14 Roppongi (3401-1661).

One Eyed Jack (Casino) Gambl-ing, guzzling and groping in one stop. Young foreign staff and a relatively festive atmosphere. 6pm-2am. 7-15-31 Roppongi (5411-2926).

Orange Bizarre bar combining '70s rock, fab '60s furniture and table dancing. Y3000 (with one drink, extra for exotic dance). 7-2-5 Roppongi (5410-6060).

Paradise Garage An all-gaijin male host club. Lovely Roppongi, 2F, 7-8-3 Roppongi (3478-4803).

Speakeasy Underground dungeon space with sporadic events worth attending. Off Roppongi-dori, towards Shibuya, 3rd right from Roppongi Crossing. (5410-0356)

Velfarre Corporate clubbing perfected. Closes at midnight. Whoopee. Y4000 (female), Y5000 (male); Fri., Sat. & one day before hol. Y4500 (female), Y5500 (male); Sun. & Wed., free for women until 9pm. Sun.: Casual Night; Mon.: New Release; Tue.: Oldies' Night; Wed.: Ladies' Night; Thur.: Tokyo Go Night, DJ John Robinson; Fri.: Friday Madness; Sat.: Saturday Night Fever. Next to One Eyed Jack and Velvet. 7-14-22 Roppongi (3746-0055).

Velvet (Formerly Jungle Bass) Big venue. Reggae, rap, and serious dance events. Call for schedule info. 7-13-8 Roppongi (3796-4745).

NISHI AZABU

BARS

Acarajé; Small Brazilian bar with a big heart. 8pm-3am; Fri. & Sat. until 5am. (3401-0973)

Acarajé; Tropicana Bigger heart, better food. 6pm-2am. B1, 1-1-1 Nishi Azabu (3478-4142).

Bulldog Former Drug Store. 4-2-4 Nishi Azabu (3409-8222).

Noose A cozy brand new club in Nishi Azabu. Mainly acid jazz. Y500. Tue.: DJ Mike McKenna & secret guests playing from hip-hop to jungle. B2, 1-4-7 Nishi Azabu (3478-4284).

Pigeon Skankin' little reggae bar. 1-4-49 Nishi Azabu (3403-2962).

328 (San-nippa) Funky DJs, deconstructed decor and a laid-back crowd. At the corner of Nishi Azabu Crossing next to the police box. 8pm-5am. 3-24-20 Nishi Azabu (3401-4968).

Sapphire New little sexy bar produced by Masami Matsui. Behind Nishi Azabu Almond. B1, 2-25-12 Nishi Azabu (5466-3954).

Soul Sonic Boogie Groovin' funky DJ à la '70s-'80s. 8pm-2am. 1-2-26 Nishi Azabu (3404-6388).

CLUBS

J.Men's Tokyo An all-gaijin male strip revue; shows 7, 8:30 & 10pm. Reservations required. From Y4000 (free drink). 4-2-4 Nishi Azabu (3409-7607).

Yellow The city's most progressive events and the sleepiest, most packed-in flock of adolescents. Tue.: Live Yellow. 2nd & 4th Fri.: Jazzin' (jazz/soul/funk). Sat.: World Connection (house). Others: Zero (techno), X-Stasy (reggae), Jamaican Night (reggae), etc. Drop by for their complete calendar of events. 8pm-midnight. Turn left off Roppongi-dori three streets up from Nishi Azabu Crossing towards Roppongi. B2, 1-10-11 Nishi Azabu (3479-0690).

SHIBUYA & AREA

BARS

Bar Aoyama Groovy, arty hang-out with a diverse mix of DJs. 8pm-4am; Sun., 7pm-2am. About 8 min. up Roppongi- dori from Shibuya Sta. Daikyo Bldg., 4-5-9 Shibuya (3498-4415).

Colors Excellent neighborhood dive in Ebisu. Fri.: Neo-acoustic guitar. Sat.: Reg-gae. 8pm-2am; Fri. & Sat. until 4am. From Ebisu Sta., turn right at Meiji-dori, then turn right at the first signal. B1, 1-15-6 Hiroo (3448-0317).

DJ Bar Inkstick World-famous space, with recently renewed energy and acid jazz nights. 6pm-2am. Kanpari Bldg., 4F, 1-6-8 Jinnan (3496-0782).

D-Zone Small bar with nice vibes and nice DJs. Thur.-Sat. Vision Network Com-plex, 5-17-6 Jingu-mae (3407-6845).

Feel New little club in Shibuya. Best night is Toby's techno gig on Thur. Y2000 (with one drink). Etowaru Bldg., B1, 3-13-9 Shibuya (3797-3338).

Grass Little dive emphasizing hip hop, reggae and house music. Cute midweek hangout. 3-25-12 Jingu-mae (3497-0303).

Jirocho Boogaloo and ethnic music in Ebisu. 7pm-2am; Sun., 6pm-midnight. Sat.: Shinichi Ito. Sato Bldg., 2F, 2-8-7 Ebisu Nishi (3477-2600).

Kiss New expresso bar located on Ao-yama-dori. 1 & 2F: bright expresso bar. 3 & 4F: bar (Y2000 entrance). 3-11-13 Minami Aoyama (3401-8165).

Sad Cafe Almost 24-hr. café with DJs on Fridays and Saturdays and inexpensive if unremarkable food plus drinks the rest of the time. 11am-5am. Kind of behind Condomania. Asaina Bldg., 2F, 6-28-3 Jingu-mae (3406-6692).

Shinkukan Cozy club with a cool bar. Y2500 (with one food dish & two drinks). Harajuku FS Bldg., B1, 4-4-14 Jingu-mae (3478-4946).

Silk Bring-your-own-music DJ place in Shibuya. 5pm-midnight. Fri. & Sat.: Eurobeat. 1-17-7 Jinnan (5458-1507).

Vagabond Off An Internet bar in Aoyama. Kita Aoyama Sangyo Bldg., 3F, 3-3-11 Kita Aoyama (5413-7523).

Web Stylish little mingling space. At the Mishuku Crossing between Ikejiri-Ohashi and Sangenjaya stas. (Tokyu Shin-Tamagawa Line). 3-30-10 Ikejiri (3422-1405).

CLUBS

Apollo Funky, funky. Featuring James Vyner's "The Right Touch" on Saturdays (acid jazz, Brazilian, hip hop). Y2500 (with two drinks). Aoyama NH Bldg., B1, 3-2-4 Kita Aoyama (3478-6007).

Blue Art and acid jazz. Intimate club. On Kotto-dori. 6-2-9 Minami Aoyama (3797-1591).

Cave Worth the one-hour search for the front door. Energetic and enthusiastic young crowd. Near Tokyu Honten Dept. Store. 34-6 Udagawacho (3780-0715).

Club Maruyama Small split-level basement dance hall, located in the love-hotel district. From 6pm. B1, 7-9 Maruyamacho (5489-1600).

Dug New trendy club cashing in on the Internet boom. OZ City Bldg., 3F, 2-32-5 Jingu-mae (3423-7403).

FFD Warehouse space on Dogenzaka featuring sporadic events. (5489-5459)

Maniac Love It's lost that comfortable sleazy quality since the re-modeling but still come if you're fierce. Mon.: Ambient & New Age. Tue.: Mellow & lovers. Thur.: Gorgeous deep-house groove. Fri.: Garage. Sat.: Pure chunky techno grind until 5am (Sublime Records night). Then hard-house and happy-techno after hours until 10am. Just off Kotto-dori. 5-10-6 Minami Aoyama (3406-1166).

Milk New kind of hard rock club combining the best of Tokyo's underground bands (Fri. & Sat.) with DJs and separate lounge areas. Y3000 (with two drinks). Roob 6, B1 & B2, 1-13-3 Ebisu Nishi (5458-2826).

Mix Arty, smokey, crowded. Soul and reggae joint. 3-6-19 Kita Aoyama (3797-1313).

Planet A new club in Harajuku. Jinnan 1 (5489-2811).

Pylon Aoyama's newest club now only open on Fri., midnight-5am; Sat., from 10pm. DJ "Dazzle-T" Komiya from J-Wave & guest DJs playing soul, funk, hip hop, jazz funk, reggae, etc. Y2500 with two drinks (Y2000 with Tokyo Journal). For more info, call M-Plan (3465-1525). Omotesando Sta. In the same building as Wendy's, Le Deco, B1, 3-5-11 Kita Aoyama (3478-1870).

The Room Acid jazz and hip hop ricochet off the concrete walls of this popular shoe-box size club. Funk, hip hop, reggae. From 9pm. Jinwa Bldg., B1, 15 Sakura-gaoka (3461-7167).

OTHERS

A.M.B. The first Asian music bar in Shinjuku. Toho Kaikan, B1, next to Shin-juku Koma Gekijo. For more info, call A.M.B. (3209-4871).

Arty Farty Young, sexy, gay crowd clashes with Santa-Fe-at-Christmas decor. Shinjuku-nichome. Mixed on Sun. 2pm-5am. 2-4-17 Shinjuku (3356-5388).

Atomage One floor under Auto-matix, Clockwork Orange-styled weirdness and lounging. No cover week-nights. Y1000 (with one drink). Fri. & Sat. 2-15-26 Shinjuku (3358-2256).

Automatix Hard dancing, techno and grooviness on two floors. Recom-mended: Tue.: Fine Time, DJs Shinkawa and Yamamoto. Wed.: FAB, DJs Patrick and Nao. Fri.: Hard house and techno with Wada, Yama and others. Y2000 (with one drink). 2-15-26 Shinjuku (3358-2256).

Body A new club with soul music in Akasaka. Y2000 (men), Y1000 (women) with one drink. Empolium Bldg., B2, 4-2-6 Akasaka (5570-5635).

Delight Fresh, mixed clubbers. House and garage. Men only on Sat. Women only 3rd Thur. Just next to the cruisy park in Shinjuku-nichome. Dai-ni Hayakawaya Bldg., B1, 2-14-6 Shinjuku (3352-6297).

G-Spot Formerly Giger Bar in Shiro-kane. Very interesting building with a cool multi-level interior. Located past Hiroo Sta. before Meguro Tunnel. 5-10-15 Shirokane-dai (5424-1171).

Kinsmen Established favorite in Shin-juku-nichome where boys and girls, gay and just happy hang easy. 2F, behind BYGS Bldg. (3354-4949)

Kinswomyn Women-only bar for gorgeous gay women and their friends. (3354-8720)

OTO Techno/house club in Shinjuku. Midnight-5am (opens as an event space SIDE/B 7pm-midnight). Mon.: all mix; Wed.: hip hop; Thur.: reggae; Fri.: house; Sat.: jazz groove. Y2000 with two tickets (Fri. & Sat., Y2500). After hours: Sun., 6am-noon. 1st, 3rd & 5th week: house; 2nd 4th week: techno. Y1000. 1-17-5-27 Kabukicho (5273-8264).

Liquid Room Mainly a live venue but also featuring the fabulous Club Venus and other one-off club specials. Check schedule for details. Shinjuku HUMAX Pavilion, 7F, 1-20-1 Kabukicho (3200-6831).

Luna Chic Newly opened casino bar with DJ (Soul Systems) in Akasaka. Arai Bldg., 2F, 3-12-18 Akasaka (3585-0746).

Plug New, funky, jazzy club space for the genuinely groovy. Latin, funk, roots and soul. Sun.-Wed.: no charge. Thur.-Sat.: Y2000 (with two drinks). 3rd Sat.: live. Nakano Sta., N. Exit under the Kuishinbo Steak House near Broadway Center. (5380-2488)

Rolling Stone Cool dive in Shinjuku. A tribute to you-know-who. DJ dishes 'em out by request. 6pm-4:30am; Sat. & Sun. from 5pm. 3-2-7 Shinjuku (3354-7347).

Volga A brand new club near Tokyo Tower which was formerly a groovy-looking Russian restaurant. 3-5-14 Shiba Koen (3433-1766).