So, today I took a trip to Harajuku. The youth capital of Japan. It was a cold
cold overcast day but I wanted to try out my new camera and so this was an ideal
trip. The camera is sooo small (and 5 megapixels to boot!) that I can easily
take candid shots without looking like some creepy dude. Though in the end,
there were plenty of tourists from Europe and Asia openly taking pics with their
gigantic Canons so I guess it didn't matter.... But anyway.
All the pics are linked to images at 1024x768. Some of the fashion is best
seen
at that size so check it out!
First off, some terminologies. The most type of fanshion I saw this time is
what's known here as Gothic Lolita. Think a cross between goths and
frilly babydoll type dresses. The Japanese youth took the Western style goth
look that's more The Cure and such with all the lace and so forth, and merged it
with their ideal view of the West which seems to be centered around either
victorian or 18th century high class Europe.
Do a search on google for Gothic Lolita or check out this page here, for some info on
this fashion style.
However, there were others there too. Though unfortunately no anime cosplay
today. Probably too cold. I'll have to go back during the summer since I've
heard there are guys walking around looking like Inuyasha and such :)
The Harajuku station looks like a little Swiss chalet in the middle of Tokyo. A
bit past the station is a big open square where the the kids all congregate. It
also helps that there is a concert hall right nearby where bands centered around
this culture tends to play. Today apparently there is a band called V6
playing...though I thought that was a boyband...hm... Sunday is THE day to
congregate here and the station was PACKED.....
And there were a bunch of people...and I mean like a good 30 or so...holding
little post cards asking to buy tickets for V6 like these girls here.
Not only are people there in costume but there are other activities going around
the area.
There were these guys that were protesting the Japanese government and their
policies. Didn't seem like it was against this government's support for the
Iraq War but more about the social aspects of this country's equivalent of
Imminent Domain and such.
And there was, I guess, a Japanese equivalent of a jug band playing some
southern style music with a banjo and a wash board and everything. And they
were GOOD!
But of course, the main attraction is the open square where the kids congregate
and just sort of hang out!
They all sit around and it's like a picnic on concrete in the cold overcast
skies of Tokyo. But they all seem happy to just show off their outtifts and
live it up.
Of course, it's not just gothy kids here. Afterall, it's X-mas time!
And the cute lolilta fashion never goes out of style, especially with the
lollipop!
Of course, not all Gothic Lolita are alike. Some are more goth than lolita and
some are just kind of creepy. Note that the person to the left (I couldn't tell
the entire time if it was a guy or a girl....of course that could have been the
intent) has a chain running from a pierced lip to the ear. And the eyepatch is
part of the costume as well for the girl second from the right.
And some looked like they were a cross between the glam rockers of the 80's and
Cure fans :)
But of course, the most elaborate are the Gothic Lolita girls. I was especially
impressed by these girls here.
But others were just as dressed up to the max to hang out and show off!
And I even managed to snag a peace sign from one of the girls (^_^)
Oh, and since it's the fad in Japan right now, the maids were around too, though
not as many. Think of them as the lolitas without the "goth" part.
BUT! I have to say....of all the costumes and such I saw...there was one that
was the oddest of them all. Some chubby dude in a white tody suit and a
superhero/wrestler mask hamming it up striking superhero poses and generally
just acting crazy and hamming it up with the occasional tourist too - but in a
really funny and fun way. Don't know who he was or what he was supposed to be
but it looked like he was having a blast in his own world.
Oh...and um...I have NO idea what's up with the Winnie the Pooh alarm
clock...but it was his as he took it with him when he left.... So.....weird....
Anyway, there you go. The wacky and weird side of Japan. There are also tons
of clothing stores in and around Harajuku that caters to the youth and their
fashions. Lots of second hand clothing stores and such. I also know that alot
of the top fashion designers from all over the world will come to Harajuku
during the summer time to see what the fashion trend is and such. Especially
since you can't buy these clothes. Most of the people in the pictures above
made their own (including, I'm sure, the superhero guy....). Seems odd but
lately the fashion capital of the world is no longer Paris or NYC but Japan and
more specifically, Tokyo.
Cool eh?
Hope you enjoyed the pictures!!