Riding the Train

The morning ride to work has to be about my least favorite thing about Japan. First of all I am going to work and it is the morning, but being packed into a train almost immediately after waking up will make just about anyone irritable. But at least I have a good view.

Maybe trains are the only place that Japanese people are allowed to be rude

because when you get to a station it does not matter if a car is full. Everyone waiting is going to get on. And if it seems there is not room, never fear they will just push until there is enough space. This happens at every station typically beginning at Ontakesan, the station after ours, and ending 7 stations later at Osaki-Hirokoji, which is the 2nd to the last station where about 1/5 of the people get off before we finally arrive at Gotanda.

Did I mention that the trains are hot in the summer? And typically just as hot in the winter.

I feel sorry for the smallest women and children. They often get lost in the mass of humanity. I keep trying to get Aya to bring a snorkel onto the train, but so far she refuses. Eventually I will get that picture...

Hanabi (Fireworks)

Aya and I went to see the fireworks along the Tama River the middle of August. It is about a 10 minute bike ride from our house.

Suprise photo


Not fireworks, just a few buildings and me shaking the camera during a long exposure

Fireworks!!! Was anxiously awaiting but had no idea where they would be

They take their fireworks pretty seriously over here. Those photos might represent 1/50 of the total display, and this was a "small local" display. I watched the "big" one on TV, because based on everyday life I am not sure I want to be part of a Japanese "crowd."

Area across the river that has recently begun to be developed

Looking down the levee back towards our house. I think the light is central Tokyo.

National Art Center Tokyo

Designed by Kisho Kurokawa, a founder of the metabolist movement. He also designed the Nakagin Capsule Tower in the 70's, which made the Japanese sleeping capsule famous.

An interesting (and as always crowded) interior space

Pretty interesting from the outside as well

You can't run from my picture

Harajuku Fashion Style

Japan is not only famous for its automotive and electronic that has already spread all over the world market, but it is also famous for its lifestyle which is extreme and seduce the youngsters' desire. This culture is called Harajuku.

Harajuku refers to the area in the middle of Tokyo, exactly around Harajuku Station, in Sibuya District, Tokyo. In the beginning of 1990s, it is an important area that connects Tokyo to other surrounding districts. 1n 1906, The station was opened as an expansion of Yamanote railway. Several years later there were various kind of department stores around the place that led to the existence of fashion centers. This area became famous all over Japan after having been broadcast through some fashion magazine like Anan and non-no. That time, some girls groups were recognized wandering around Harajuku area. Their fashion imitated the style of fashion models in the Anan and Non-no magazine. Until now, group of youngsters wearing extreme styles can be seen in this area. Harajuku becomes icon of fashion style rebellion in Japan.In Tokyo, most officers generally wear dark coats, dark trousers, white shirts, dark ties, dark suitcases, their hair was well combed, and they walk fast because they do not want to waste time. Students wear uniform determined by school authority. But in Harajuku, there is a rebellion of fashion. The youngsters refuse to wear neat and tidy clothes. Their desire to be creative is expressed through extreme, glamorous fashion and hair style. Not only extreme hair style they perform, but also extreme hair color like green, purple, red, blue, golden blond, silver, pink, and ash.The contrast performance between color, design, motif, size, and the kind of clothes is the specialty of this fashion style. Harajuku style is divided into several types. Sometimes the style is adapted to the beautiful doll from Japan with white pale skin and nice dressing like the doll displayed in the window. This style is called Lolita. There is also a style called Cosplay (costume play). This style imitates the character of a hero or bandit in Japanese cartoon movies. Those styles are mostly adopted and promoted by J-Rock (Japanese Rock bands). The asymmetrical hair with loud color is one of their hair style. The asymmetrical hair is the hair that is cut unevenly. For example, one part is long but other part is short. Or the length on the left and right side are different.
In America, the Harajuku fashion style is getting more famous after a singer from America, Gwen Stefani, created a song that carried the theme of Harajuku fashion entitled 'Harajuku Girls'. In promoting her song, Gwen seemed employing some dancers wearing Harajuku fashion in some of his concert all over the world. The fashion style becomes more famous in many countries. And it may spread to your country.
Marsudi Suwarnaadi is a stylist & professional writer. He invites you to see his haircut ideas, including Harajuku style, Rockabilly haircut, and many more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marsudi_Suwarnaadi

Harajuku on The Street

Harajuku Girls

Gwen Stefani, lead singer of the pop band No Doubt, has lead a Madonna-esque fashion revolt in both her recent videoclip for her single What You Waiting For and her solo album Love, Angel, Music, Baby. Her catchy 80's inspired popish tunes, platinum blonde hair and Like A Virgin kit out on the album cover art only reinforce her homage to the material girl, even though it may be somewhat tongue in cheek.

But its her references to the Japanese Harajuku Girls peppered throughout the album and on one track in particular that has drawn interest from a diverse range of commentators.

So who are these Harajuku Girls anyway?

The Harajuku District of Tokyo and in particular Takeshita Street, a narrow street lined with shops is home to these funky fashionistas. Since the end of World War II, "consumerism" and "consumption" have become the national past-time for most Japanese and in particular teenage girls who often live at home with their parents well into their twenties. Their rent free existence provides them with the enough funds to flock to Harajuku every weekend, where they transform themselves into Lolita-esque baby doll caracitures.

It's all a sort of a pop-art meets pop-culture meets Western decadence kinda street where often a t-shirt with a western image like Mickey Mouse can go for several hundred dollars a pop. This constant pursuit of rock n roll pop star hipness extends to teenage boys too. They in turn have opted for the western inspired hip-hop culture of disheveled jeans hanging half way to their knees, caps at all angles on their heads and of course lots and lots of bling.

Often the net result looks like something out of a Manga comic book as the fashionistas of Harajuku compete to look less human and more iconic. Not concerned about what we in the West may see as a conflict of style over substance, Harajuku Girls unlike the Goths, punks and bond girls that came before are not about rebellion from society. No, in fact these girls, like most Japanese, are often extremely polite and happy to pose for photographs with inquisitive tourists who gather every Sunday to take happy snaps of these super-model caricatures.

For the Girls of Harajuku, their most extreme vice may be a simple cigarette.

Peter Shuttlewood is the author of webzine freshread [http://www.freshread.com] which contains articles on Popular Culture with an Australian slant. Freshread [http://www.freshread.com] - the everyday in a fresh way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Shuttlewood

The Girls of Harajuku, Japan

For the Virgin traveller in Japan, Harajuku is one of those 'must see' places on the Japan tourist circuit. Without a doubt the most famous street of Harajuku's is Takeshita. It is highly doubtful that you will see such a place back home - taking into consideration that I am orginally from a place of 3,000 people and sheep outnumber humans by 1000:1 it holds especially true for me.

So who are these infamous Harajuku Girls?

Harajuku gyaru (girl) is the phrase most commonly used to identify girls who hang around Tokyo's Harajuku district. And of the many varied sites, definitely some of the more eye-catching are the lithe figures of the girls that flank the streets there. A word of warning though, "All that glitters is not gold" and all that looks like a girl is often not either.

You will find the fashion styles not only diverse but in some cases exceedingly bizarre. I often notice myself mentally 'high fiving' the girls for their courage and complete lack of self-consciousness. Here are a few of the genres that I have been privileged to see in my trips down those lanes: Gothic Lolita, Gothic Maid, Wamono, Decora, Second-Hand Fashion, and Cyber Fashion (which tends to feature goggles, masks, leather and latex.) In one of my more memorable trips I even saw several girls wearing fake blood and bandages.

What possesses these girls to dress in such an outrageous (and often provocative) way you ask yourself...

A number of of them are evidently doing their best to imitate rock bands such as Japan X (this band almost deserves a post of it's own.) If we put on our social anthropology coats and glasses (or goggles if you want to get into the swing of it) and burrow deeper we can appreciate that for many others this is a form of escapism. At the peril of over-generalizing I have observed Japan to be a very homogeneous society and this weekly indulgence allows them to briefly escape the majority of the rules of Japanese society. It gives them individuality not as certainly apparent while wearing their usual school uniforms or workplace costume. And perhaps at the heart it gives these wonderful ladies an outlet to express, often in very sexual ways (with ripped stockings, garters, and mini-skirts, etc), the oppression of the Japanese female in their predominantly male dominated society.

I have created the opportunity to talk to quite a a small number of of these girls over the years to try and grasp what makes them 'tick' and found the Harajuku Girls, underneath all the make-up and bling, to be like the girl next door - tremendously polite, gracious and warm-hearted.

Haydn Stevenson provides you with Free Tips for a more stress-free, fun and enriching life in Japan (including the secrets of how he creates income on 100% 'auto-pilot' while being a full-time solo dad.)

For those starting out living in Japan or are just plain 'curious' http://japanfordummies.com shows you this wonderful country through the eyes of an 'outsider' who has bumped up against the Good, the Bad and Ugly.. and lived to tell the tale ;-)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Haydn_Stevenson

Harajuku Fashion Style

Japan is not only famous for its automotive and electronic that has already spread all over the world market, but it is also famous for its lifestyle which is extreme and seduce the youngsters' desire. This culture is called Harajuku.

Harajuku refers to the area in the middle of Tokyo, exactly around Harajuku Station, in Sibuya District, Tokyo. In the beginning of 1990s, it is an important area that connects Tokyo to other surrounding districts. 1n 1906, The station was opened as an expansion of Yamanote railway. Several years later there were various kind of department stores around the place that led to the existence of fashion centers. This area became famous all over Japan after having been broadcast through some fashion magazine like Anan and non-no. That time, some girls groups were recognized wandering around Harajuku area. Their fashion imitated the style of fashion models in the Anan and Non-no magazine. Until now, group of youngsters wearing extreme styles can be seen in this area. Harajuku becomes icon of fashion style rebellion in Japan.

In Tokyo, most officers generally wear dark coats, dark trousers, white shirts, dark ties, dark suitcases, their hair was well combed, and they walk fast because they do not want to waste time. Students wear uniform determined by school authority. But in Harajuku, there is a rebellion of fashion. The youngsters refuse to wear neat and tidy clothes. Their desire to be creative is expressed through extreme, glamorous fashion and hair style. Not only extreme hair style they perform, but also extreme hair color like green, purple, red, blue, golden blond, silver, pink, and ash.

The contrast performance between color, design, motif, size, and the kind of clothes is the specialty of this fashion style. Harajuku style is divided into several types. Sometimes the style is adapted to the beautiful doll from Japan with white pale skin and nice dressing like the doll displayed in the window. This style is called Lolita. There is also a style called Cosplay (costume play). This style imitates the character of a hero or bandit in Japanese cartoon movies. Those styles are mostly adopted and promoted by J-Rock (Japanese Rock bands). The asymmetrical hair with loud color is one of their hair style. The asymmetrical hair is the hair that is cut unevenly. For example, one part is long but other part is short. Or the length on the left and right side are different.

In America, the Harajuku fashion style is getting more famous after a singer from America, Gwen Stefani, created a song that carried the theme of Harajuku fashion entitled 'Harajuku Girls'. In promoting her song, Gwen seemed employing some dancers wearing Harajuku fashion in some of his concert all over the world. The fashion style becomes more famous in many countries. And it may spread to your country.

Marsudi Suwarnaadi is a stylist & professional writer. He invites you to see his haircut ideas, including Harajuku style, Rockabilly haircut, and many more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marsudi_Suwarnaadi

Harajuku Girls - Meet the True Fashion Icons of Japan

'Harajuku girls', popularly known as the 'fashion aficionados' or the 'beauty stars of Japan', are best known all over the world for their unique costumes, which are made in various styles of clothing that originated in the rich culture of some of the major cities of Japan. They have been named after the very popular Harajuku district in Tokyo and were made popular in the West by the 'Love.Angel.Music.Baby' album released in 2004 by Gwen Stefani.

Their Clothing Styles

These young, beautiful fashion icons are Japanese teenage girls who gather in a narrow street of 'Takeshita' every weekend and dress themselves up as the baby dolls of the Lolita-esque caricatures. A large number of fashion styles, including the cyber fashion, Gothic Maid, Wamono, Gothic Lolita, Second-Hand Fashion, and Decorah, can be noticed among these young ladies.

They can be often seen wearing dark outfits combined with traditional Japanese clothing, such as Kimonos and fans. Some of them also wear fake bandages and blood and carry things, such as cell phones, hello kitties, and photo stickers, which symbolize modern Japan. The varied clothing styles of these girls are beautifully featured by 'FRUiTS', the most popular Japanese street-fashion magazine.

Their Purpose

Why do these Harajuku girls dress in such outrageous outfits every weekend? Is it their love for fashion that drives them to do so? The answer is 'No'. There are much deeper reasons behind it. The weekly ceremony that lasts just for a few hours allows them to not only spend their spare time and money, but also momentarily escape the strict rules of the male-dominated Japanese society. Outrageous dressing styles actually symbolize the oppression of the female gender and their attempt to seek their individuality and independence to express.

Their Nature

They compete with each other to look more iconic and less human! These outrageously dressed teenagers look no less than characters of a Japanese Anime series or a comic book of Manga. However, these girls are extremely fun loving, polite, and beautiful. They would love to pose for photographs with you if you request them for a happy snap.

In short, the Harajuku district is a must-see on weekends for all those who visit Tokyo. If you really wish to see a unique blend of tradition and modernization of the Japanese society, you should certainly not miss the opportunity to meet these wonderful fashion icons and the beauty stars of Japan.

Also, view sexy pictures of Hot Japanese Actresses and famous Sexy Japanese Actors and know all about them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eshwarya_Patel

harajuku style makeup

Harajuku's Style Deficit Disorder