Only in Japan

Does anyone else see anything wrong with this picture?

A guy is sitting on the train with his head shoved up the sleeve of his jacket and the guy next to him is busy emailing, or reading the news… totally oblivious to the situation.

The entire time I am thinking… whether he is in trouble. Maybe he has accidently gotten his head stuck up his sleeve and fainted because of overheating. I mean it must be very hot inside the sleeve of a down jacket. But on the other hand, maybe I have turned a little Japanesey and am afraid to draw attention to myself by approaching others and engaging in a little human interaction.

In any case, I hope that this guy made it home safely. Who knows… maybe he’s on to something and this could be the next “big thing” in the world of fashion.

girly boys

In Japan, the women loooove the girly boys, and somehow this emasculated male fetish is growing on me. Why do Japanese women prefer non-threatening men in Japan, any ideas/analysis? Matsujun is even advertising mascara now! Pictures all stolen from Crunchyroll.com, which became worthless when it started to collaborate with the Man!

Ikuta Toma:

Oguri Shun:

Of course, Matsujun:

And the best for last…Ikuta Toma and Oguri Shun in women’s clothes–Toma is the nurse with the red arrow. And then…the infamous kissing scene between the two of them. Yup, they made out. Love Tomo in Hana Kimi!

Bae Yoon-joon

This is an actor named Bae Yong-joon. He’s apparently superfamous in Korea and beloved in Japan. I am on the fence about his hair…OK, not on the fence, I think he looks insane. Yea or nay on this guy? I just moved to Japan so I am somewhat obsessed with the girly-boys here.  Does anyone get it? Someone please recommend some of his work so I can understand the fascination.

Comme des Garcons

As a fashion novice, I am just starting to notice and delve into interesting, structured pieces, so it took little Tavi, the precocious baby blogger, to get me hooked on this particular piece–a fabulous cardigan by Japanese brand Comme des Garcons. Here is the original:

And here is the pipsqueak version, styled for the pipsqueak fashion commentating child queen herself. So cute! And Tavi does a great job showing the piece from several angles.

That is all.

Pictures courtesy of Tavi’s blog and of Style.com.

tokyochii and japandamanda

Just a note to readers–we currently have two writers on this site, tokyochii and japandamanda.

tokyoichii is a fledgling designer; japandamanda is an amateur fashion enthusiast. tokyoichii’s posts will focus more on inspiration from the creation side of fashion; japandamanda will focus on consumer/personal style posts.

Please check the bottom of the post for the author.

The “Skanky Ho-bag” look…don’t knock it till ya try it

Now I am going to go a little off topic and discuss my current favorite look–the “Skanky Ho-bag Look”. Why is this off-topic, you ask? Well, reader, because it is not a look that is popular in East Asia, and therefore is of little relevance to this blog. However, I totally dig it, so let’s discuss, shall we?

What is the “Skanky Ho-bag” look, you ask? It is ripped stockings, ripped pants, wearing t-shirts as dresses, showing your bra, streaky black make-up, and tall ho-boots. Somehow it should be so wrong, but somehow it is so…right.

Now who are our “Skanky Ho-bag” fashion icons? Today, I am nominating my favorite, Effy from Skins 3. I think her stylist is the SHIT. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to grab some screenshots of her better outfits, but here is a general idea. That is some serious bling for a 16-year old (during filming) British chick. Check out her images below. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that the actress who plays Effy, Kaya Scodelario, is stunning and will be enormously famous some day.

In the future, I will do features on others who excel at the “Skanky Ho-bag Look”, like All Saints, Rumi from Fashion Toast, and Little J from Gossip Girl. It is part punk, part fuck you, part I don’t care (even though they do–takes time to dress like that!)– but somehow it is ultimately rock star and high fashion. Love it.

Musings on Japan

Ok. So I’ve just moved into a new apartment. And tonight, I saw one of the people I share the building with. There are 8 people altogether living under one apartment block, divided by one thin wall each in between us. I wonder if anyone knows who’s living next to them. It struck me today when I saw that guy walking up those hard wooden steps and entering one of the single units that I call home.  Such a solitary existence.
I think Tokyo is such a lonely city. There are so many people on this little island, yet Tokyo-ites are I think one of the most solitary beings in this world.  They travel to and from work, on the same train probably with the same people and not noticing a single one. Is it just me or does everyone in Tokyo have glass eyes? And by that I mean eyes that reflect away everyone apart from themselves.

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why people in Tokyo can dress the way they do. It’s a rebellion against the way their own society is structured. A society based upon a retraction into themselves. Maybe that’s the only space they can own.

It’s so easy to be anonymous here. I’ve only lived here for 6 months, but I feel like I can be anyone I want to be. I can act and dress like any persona I wish to create that day. Who knows, maybe it’s the fact that I have no past here. No one knows me and it’s just like starting from zero.
But all you have to do is look around you.

Walk around Shibuya and see the girls with the fake hair and faces full of make up.  In any other country, they would be stalked and harassed like nobody’s business. On the streets of Tokyo this sight is so common no one blinks an eye, no one takes a second glance.