"Live the life" is a motto that has worked for Mi-chan. Having begun her days as an assistant photographer, she soon discovered that she much preferred socializing. So when two of her favorite hangouts closed (Jirocho in Ebisu, and MC1000 in Shinjuku), she and party cohort Gera decided to open their own place.
That was four years ago. And that place was Milligram Underline, which, while it lasted, was one of Tokyo's funkiest little bars. Its location, literally under the embankment of Platform 4 of JR Shibuya Station, helped give it allure, but nothing in this space -- before or after -- ever equaled the cool the girls created.
Shortly after the Milligram experience, Mi-chan opened her own place and throughout the following year was at the helm of one of Tokyo's coolest lounge bars. Vive La Vie was a chic and comfortable bunker right on Gaien Nishi-dori in Aoyama. I say "was" because Vive La Vie closed a year ago.