Harajuku is a place in Tokyo where, on Sundays, Japanese youth will gather to strut their stuff wearing all sorts of odd clothing combinations. Additionally, there are sometimes informal music performances, and these girls pictured above were part of a singing group (that in truth wasn't very good).
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Golden Hair Harajuku Girls
Japanese subculture in Harajuku
For general fashion and subculture in Harajuku, Japan
"Harajuku Girls" is also the title of 7th track of Gwen Stefani's 2004 album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
"Harajuku girl" redirects here. For general fashion and subculture in Harajuku, Japan, see Harajuku.
The Harajuku Girls performing on the Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005
The Harajuku Girls performing on the Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005
The Harajuku Girls are four young women who were hired in 2004 as backup dancers for American singer Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby. album. The "Harajuku Girls" have continued to appear alongside Stefani, and are featured in the music videos for "What You Waiting For?", "Rich Girl", "Hollaback Girl", "Luxurious", "Crash", "Wind It Up", "The Sweet Escape", and "Now That You Got It". They have also toured with Stefani. Coincidentally, both Love and Music have worked with Namie Amuro at some time, Music as a member of the group Super Monkeys and Love as Amuro's dancer for a period.
harajuku in the rain
Umbrella Girl in the rain
harajuku boys Harajuku Station in Tokyo.
A couple of guys in their Sunday's finest pose for pictures near Harajuku Station in Tokyo. Many teenagers and young adults congregate around the station and its adjoining park on Sundays to show off their sometimes rather extravagant costumes. This is is a way to rebel, in a small way, against the enforced conformity of Japanese society. Ironically, many dress up in groups of similarly-clad friends.
Goth-Loli Fashion Harajuku
I visited Harajuku today, not my first time there by far but my first time on a Sunday (when all the Japanese kids dress up and promonade on the bridge by the Meiji Shrine). It wasn't actually as crowded as I thought it might be, but I'd gotten a late start, and I think some people had already gone home.
Generally, there are several styles of Japanese cosplay: A lot of the youth on the bridge were dressed in what is sometimes known as the "Goth-Loli Fashion" (short for "gothic” and “Lolita"). This essentially involves increably fancy goth-style babydoll outfits. For examples, you can check out the links below.
Harajuku Girls kids and teenagers dressed like this
"Harajuku Girls" yes... this is what some of them look like. Basically every Sunday if you go to Harajuku station just outside of the famous area called Harajuku you'll find kids and teenagers dressed like this and in other fun and outrageous costumes. This place is a hot bed for creative expression and overall a great public space for performance artists and musicians. And yes... they all love to be photographed.
Harajuku Girls 13
Another one of my favorites from my Harajuku Girls series of photos. This will probably be my last from this series until I'm able to go back to Japan. I hope you liked them.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Harajuku Phose
A collection of Harajuku inspired crisp, preppy separates has an easy feel. Fine seersucker blouses and cropped boxy blazers appear in multi coloured ticking stripes. Capes and oversize cardigans are layered over clean cut gingham shell-blouses and skinny and carrot leg jeans. 1970’s style blue jeans, slouchy shorts and ra-ra skirts work with cute logo Ts in young, primary colours while 50s’ style summer dresses add sophistication. A palette of red, blue and white dominates, highlighted with degrade citrus lemon and orange. Brightly coloured t-bar flats, doctor and bowling bags complete the story.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Harajuku : Cosplay Venues
Cosplay can be seen at public events such as video game shows, as well as at dedicated cosplay parties at nightclubs or amusement parks. It is not unusual for Japanese teenagers to gather with like-minded friends in places like Tokyo's Harajuku district to engage in cosplay. Since 1998, Tokyo's Akihabara district has contained a large number of cosplay cafés, catering to devoted anime and cosplay fans. The waitresses at such cafés dress as game or anime characters; maid (or meido) costumes are particularly popular.
Possibly the single largest and most famous event attended by cosplayers is the semiannual doujinshi market, Comiket. This event, held in summer and winter, attracts hundreds of thousands of manga otaku and many thousands of cosplayers who congregate on the roof of the exhibition center, often in unbearably hot or cold conditions.
Cosplayers in Japan refer to themselves as reyazu; pronounced layers (by writing the word cosplayers in katakana, it is possible to shorten it in this way). Those who photograph players are called cameko, short for "Camera Kozo" or "Camera Boy". The cameko give prints of their photos to the players as gifts. Tensions between players and cameko have increased due to perceived stalker-like behaviour among some obsessive males who push female cosplayers to exchange personal email addresses or do private photo sessions. One result of this has been a tightening of restrictions on photography at events such as Comiket.
While Cosplay arguably originated in Japan, one should not be confused with the idea that Cosplay is considered typical behavior in Japan. While some do attend Cosplay functions that are held in districts such as Akihabara, most Japanese people find Cosplay to be rather silly. In addition, because Cosplay in Japan has adapted such a negative sexual connotation, many Japanese have come to feel that Cosplay is reprehensible. In addition, North Americans who Cosplay typically refer to themselves as "otaku", which is essentially the Japanese word for "geek", but wrongfully use this word in an attempt to embody themselves in a sociological group that they can be proud of. To contrast, in Japan actual otaku refuse to admit that they are otaku because the idea of otaku it is not looked at as a group of people who are engaging in activity that may seem "just a little different". In fact, being an otaku in Japan entails standing on one of the bottom rungs of the Japanese social ladder.
Read More
Possibly the single largest and most famous event attended by cosplayers is the semiannual doujinshi market, Comiket. This event, held in summer and winter, attracts hundreds of thousands of manga otaku and many thousands of cosplayers who congregate on the roof of the exhibition center, often in unbearably hot or cold conditions.
Cosplayers in Japan refer to themselves as reyazu; pronounced layers (by writing the word cosplayers in katakana, it is possible to shorten it in this way). Those who photograph players are called cameko, short for "Camera Kozo" or "Camera Boy". The cameko give prints of their photos to the players as gifts. Tensions between players and cameko have increased due to perceived stalker-like behaviour among some obsessive males who push female cosplayers to exchange personal email addresses or do private photo sessions. One result of this has been a tightening of restrictions on photography at events such as Comiket.
While Cosplay arguably originated in Japan, one should not be confused with the idea that Cosplay is considered typical behavior in Japan. While some do attend Cosplay functions that are held in districts such as Akihabara, most Japanese people find Cosplay to be rather silly. In addition, because Cosplay in Japan has adapted such a negative sexual connotation, many Japanese have come to feel that Cosplay is reprehensible. In addition, North Americans who Cosplay typically refer to themselves as "otaku", which is essentially the Japanese word for "geek", but wrongfully use this word in an attempt to embody themselves in a sociological group that they can be proud of. To contrast, in Japan actual otaku refuse to admit that they are otaku because the idea of otaku it is not looked at as a group of people who are engaging in activity that may seem "just a little different". In fact, being an otaku in Japan entails standing on one of the bottom rungs of the Japanese social ladder.
Gundam Costume
This Gundam Strike Freedom Cosplay is awesome.
So what is Cosplay anyway?
Cosplay, short for "costume play", is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, Japanese pop music bands, Visual Kei, fantasy music stories (such as stories by the band Sound Horizon), and novels. However, in some circles, "cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.
In Japan, "cosplay" as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Like-minded people gather to see others' costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.
The most specific anecdote about the origin of the word "cosplay" was that Nov Takahashi (from a Japanese studio called Studio Hard) coined the term "cosplay" as a contraction of the English-language words "costume play" while she was attending the 1984 Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon. He was so impressed by the hall and masquerade costuming there that he reported about it frequently in Japanese science fiction magazines. This point is debatable, however, as the word fits in with a common Japanese method of abbreviation: combining the first two syllables of one word with the first two syllables of a second word (or, more precisely, the first two moras of each). Other examples of this include Pokémon and puroresu.
Read More
So what is Cosplay anyway?
Cosplay, short for "costume play", is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, Japanese pop music bands, Visual Kei, fantasy music stories (such as stories by the band Sound Horizon), and novels. However, in some circles, "cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.
In Japan, "cosplay" as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Like-minded people gather to see others' costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.
The most specific anecdote about the origin of the word "cosplay" was that Nov Takahashi (from a Japanese studio called Studio Hard) coined the term "cosplay" as a contraction of the English-language words "costume play" while she was attending the 1984 Los Angeles Science Fiction Worldcon. He was so impressed by the hall and masquerade costuming there that he reported about it frequently in Japanese science fiction magazines. This point is debatable, however, as the word fits in with a common Japanese method of abbreviation: combining the first two syllables of one word with the first two syllables of a second word (or, more precisely, the first two moras of each). Other examples of this include Pokémon and puroresu.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Latest costume-play offerings in Japan.
School boy cafes, maid casinos as the latest costume-play offerings in Japan.
School girls have a well-documented following, but what about the boys? It turns out that school boys are building up a following of their own: since opening last fall, the school boy themed café, Edelstein, has been filled to capacity every weekend and has seen repeat customers visit upwards of 40 times in just a few short months.
[link]
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Three of a Kind
You really do get to see them all in Harajuku.
The one on the left would only be photographed if she was touching her face in some way.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Monday, October 08, 2007
JAPANESE STREET FASHION
Japanese Street Fashion - Japan is famous for its amazing street fashion. Sure not all young Japanese wear outlandish street fashion, but there is certainly a dedicated following in large Japanese cities such as Tokyo and Osaka where you can see lots of Japanese Street Fashion.
TOKYO FASHION
There were some very distinct fashion trends for young women in Tokyo this Spring.
Denim jackets and skirts - Never worn together, but a short denim jacket would be worn over a dress or t-shirt with pants in a wide range of lengths from the very short to full length in either army green or camouflage.
Below the knee length boots were very common, worn with shorts or dresses, but with bare legs. Stocking socks were worn with the boots, more frequently showing than hidden at the top. The styles of boots varied greatly, as I don't think I ever saw any the same.
Many boots were a cowboy style, but with a high pointed heel. Others had patterns on the side or fancy laces. Black was not a common color.
TOKYO FASHION - LOCATIONS
Harajuku
Possibly the new centre of fashion in Tokyo, from the latest in young fashion to extreme fashion Gothic Lolita.
Ginza
It is considered the fashion area of the Tokyo and contains many up market shops and restaurants.
Odaiba
A popular shopping and sightseeing destination for Tokyoites and tourists alike.
Shinjuku
A key fashion shopping and nightlife part of Tokyo.
Ropongi
Famous for its nightlife where thousands of foreigners are visible. Almost all restaurants and clubs cater to the English-speaking crowd.
Shibuya
The trendy part of Tokyo, where you can see the latest and often outrageous fashion.
TOKYO FASHION - DISTINCT STYLES.
Kogal
A subculture of girls and young women in urban Japan. They are characterized by conspicuously displaying their disposable incomes through unique tastes in fashion, music, and social activity.
Gothic Lolita
Gothic Lolita or GothLoli is a Japanese youth fashion among Japanese teenagers and young women. It emphasizes Victorian-style girl's clothing and often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls.
Gonguro
Ganguro, literally "black-face", is a Japanese fashion trend among many Japanese girls which peaked in popularity from the late 1990s.
Read More
TOKYO FASHION
There were some very distinct fashion trends for young women in Tokyo this Spring.
Denim jackets and skirts - Never worn together, but a short denim jacket would be worn over a dress or t-shirt with pants in a wide range of lengths from the very short to full length in either army green or camouflage.
Below the knee length boots were very common, worn with shorts or dresses, but with bare legs. Stocking socks were worn with the boots, more frequently showing than hidden at the top. The styles of boots varied greatly, as I don't think I ever saw any the same.
Many boots were a cowboy style, but with a high pointed heel. Others had patterns on the side or fancy laces. Black was not a common color.
TOKYO FASHION - LOCATIONS
Harajuku
Possibly the new centre of fashion in Tokyo, from the latest in young fashion to extreme fashion Gothic Lolita.
Ginza
It is considered the fashion area of the Tokyo and contains many up market shops and restaurants.
Odaiba
A popular shopping and sightseeing destination for Tokyoites and tourists alike.
Shinjuku
A key fashion shopping and nightlife part of Tokyo.
Ropongi
Famous for its nightlife where thousands of foreigners are visible. Almost all restaurants and clubs cater to the English-speaking crowd.
Shibuya
The trendy part of Tokyo, where you can see the latest and often outrageous fashion.
TOKYO FASHION - DISTINCT STYLES.
Kogal
A subculture of girls and young women in urban Japan. They are characterized by conspicuously displaying their disposable incomes through unique tastes in fashion, music, and social activity.
Gothic Lolita
Gothic Lolita or GothLoli is a Japanese youth fashion among Japanese teenagers and young women. It emphasizes Victorian-style girl's clothing and often aims to imitate the look of Victorian porcelain dolls.
Gonguro
Ganguro, literally "black-face", is a Japanese fashion trend among many Japanese girls which peaked in popularity from the late 1990s.
Meeting People in Japan
Whether you're planning to come to Japan or have already arrived, the more people you know here the easier it will be to settle in. You may be looking to expand your social circle, get into a sport or hobby, even find a girlfriend or boyfriend. All of the above are easier if you speak the language but lots of people manage to get by without it. There are plenty of clubs, associations and parties catering to foreigners, mainly English-speaking ones, and there's no end of Japanese who are keen to hook up with you - for all kinds of reasons. Of course if you're the super-sociable type, just being out and about enjoying the multitude of distractions that Japan has to offer, during daylight hours and after dark, will probably be enough for you to meet lots of people. Otherwise, you may want to take advantage of some of the services set up by those of a more enterprising nature.
Most of the big cities have at least one area where the nightlife is particularly "hot." But none can compare to Tokyo's Roppongi district. Originally home to many of the ex-patriate community working at embassies and foreign companies in the area, it became more of a "meat market" as the English teaching hordes arrived in the 80s. The more popular bars and clubs are filled to bursting on weekend nights and many party through to the following morning. Basically a great place for the young, free and single but "relationships" tend to be, how can I put this - fleeting. As the number of westerners has grown over the years, more and more of them have opened bars and restaurants which have become gathering places for fellow "gaijin" and japanese who like to hang out in a more international atmosphere. One example is the growing number of Irish pubs that have sprouted up all over the country, especially in and around Tokyo.
In the real world there is enough of a foreign population in Japan these days for just about every sport or common hobby to be accessible in English. There are clubs for things as diverse as softball rugby, martial arts dojos, flower arrangement, amateur radio, swing dance and foot fetishists. Most countries have their own society or network, many of which are online, too. There's just too much for me to try and list them all here and keep them updated. Your best bet is to check the free classified magazines that are circulated in most big cities. Some clubs as well as the magazines themselves organize regular international parties.And of course there is always good old daily life. Japanese people, in the cities anyway, have become much more used to seeing foreigners. The result can be good or bad depending on how you look at it; people are less likely to run away or try to avoid you if you approach them but, strangely enough, they are also less likely to strike up a conversation with you, unless they're drunk! For the many people who come to Japan to teach English, there is regular contact with students and staff. If the students are adults and the school doesn't specifically prohibit socializing with them (as NOVA does, for example), you can expect them to be very happy to go out drinking with you.
A relationship, with a Japanese person or anyone else for that matter, will have its ups and downs. If it's a Japanese person, there may be cultural and/or language issues that crop up now and again.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Ground-Zero-Returned
All Alone in harajuku!
