Wacky Japanese Street Wear

Japan brings to mind sushi, Hello Kitty, Anime movies...and of course just about the most wacky and original fashion in the world.

Japanese street fashion ranges from the European-inspired marked by haute couture looks from the runways of Paris to Milan to the school girl set...and many more.

Photographer Shoichi Aoki has been chronicling the different fashion trends Tokyo has seen since the late 90s in the magazine Fruits .

Street fashion in Japan has so many different and unique looks that they have been categorized and named accordingly:

Lolita

This is a European-inspired fashion look very popular in the streets of Japan. Inside this Asian fashion subculture are more subcultures. There is the Gothic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, Classic Lolita, and Punk Lolita.

All these types of Lolita fashion are marked with a Victorian-era look. Some followers of the Lolita fashion even adopt conservative Victorian manners to go with their look!

Ganguro

One of the most eye-catching looks in Japanese street wear. Ganguro girls typically have bleached blond or orange hair, dark tans, fake eyelashes, white eyeliner and extremely colorful clothes which are usually in the form of miniskirts or sarongs. The face could be adorned with stickers and platform shoes cover the feet to complete this look.

Ganguro literally means "Black Face". 

Kogal

The Kogal look is your typical Asian schoolgirl look as a fashion statement. The skirt is shorter than most schools would allow and loose socks are worn. This look was very hot in the 90s but has been cooling off since.

Every Halloween, girls around the world continue to pick up this look however.

Visual Kei

To get the Visual Kei look wear eye-catching makeup, an unusual hairstyle and preferable an androgynous outfit.

Visual Kei is considered by some as a musical genre as the look was influenced by certain musical subcultures in Japan.

Cosplay

Cosplay is a trimmed down term for "costume roleplay". Followers of this Asian fashion trend dress up as characters typically from anime, manga or video games.

The Best Eyelash Curler In The World

...is Shu Uemura's.

Hands down, this Asian brand beauty tool curls lashes like no other.

Makeup review sites on the Internet rave about it, fashion magazines like Allure always list it down as one of the must-buys and we have tried it ourselves.

This baby works!

Press and hold the clamp on each eye and hold for 10 seconds. You won't be disappointed with how curly your eyelashes get. Finish with a coat or two of your favorite brand of mascara.

Curling your eyelashes makes your eyes look bigger and brighter. Fool everyone into thinking you slept for 8 hours after a night out with your friends! 

Shu Uemura products are available here:

Japanese Tea And Ultra Sweet Delicious Daifuku

   

Japanese Vocabulary

• Chado : Way of tea, Japanese tea ceremony involving ceremonial preparation of powdered green tea (Matcha)
• Wagashi : Traditional Japanese sweets served with tea
• Daifuku: Japanese mochi sweets; literally means "Great Luck" 
• Matcha: Powdered green tea 

Japan hearts tea! Yes definitely do!  Although tea started its roots in China when the second emperor of China, Shen Nung, discovered tea as the leaves blew into his cup of hot water... or so the story goes.  Rumour has it that  a monk brought it to Japan and by 12th century it spread to the samurai. 

During the 16th century, Sen Rikyu established the foundation of Chado 茶道 (The Way of Tea) or the Japanese tea ceremony.  It has been part of Japan culture since then and it can take as long as four hours! 

Nowadays, there are tons of school for Japanese Tea Ceremony and, yes it is quite pricey, but the experience is both refreshing and unforgettable. Japanese people aren't the only one who hearts their tea, because when tea reached the West around 1600s the British caught the tea bug and the first tea is sold as a health beverage in London, England at Garway's Coffee House.

The price of tea was so expensive that only the rich and the royalty had easy access to it. Later on Thomas Twinning, served it in his coffee house in London. Today tea is a very strong aspect of the British culture. 

Minamoto Kitchoan, a teahouse with branches in Singapore, New York and London (where else!) serves amazing green teas and often times have crash courses on Japanese tea ceremony. Their wagashi and daifuku (traditional Japanese sweets often served with tea) are to die for.

When it comes to tea, the Britons prefer to drink theirs with milk and honey while the simplicity of the green tea is more appreciated in Japan where tea is best served with amazing cakes (daifuku) ... 

Wherever in the world you enjoy a nice cup of tea, it's always best enjoyed with the company of dear friends. 

Recipe for Japanese Daifuku sweet treats to go with a Japanese tea party:

Ingredients:
* 1 c. sweet or glutinous rice flour (available from Asian markets)
* 2/3 c. water
* 1/4 c. sugar
* corn starch (approx. 1/2 c.)
* anko filling (Red bean paste available in Asian markets)

Step-by-step:

Prepare anko filling, form 12 small balls (marble sized) and set aside.

Prepare a smooth surface, such as a cutting board, by coating with corn starch; be generous, as the dough that will be spread out will be very sticky.

In a microwave bowl or measuring cup, heat water and sugar together in a microwave until sugar is dissolved. Add rice flour and stir completely. Microwave for 2 minutes, remove and stir. Microwave for 2 more minutes or until dough begins to expand. Remove from microwave, stir again, and remove the dough to the corn starch coated surface. The dough, called mochi, will be very hot!

Spread mochi out until thin. Using a knife, cut into 12 even sized pieces. Coat the palms and fingers of your hands in corn starch. Spread each piece out as thin as possible, keeping in mind the mochi is hot. Place an anko ball in the middle, then wrap the mochi around the ball, forming a bigger ball. Roll in corn starch and set on a plate coated with corn starch or a piece of wax paper.

Serve warm or cool. Store in an airtight container. Very perishable.

Party Idea:

Check out these great resources and put together a Japanese tea party for you and your friends!



 

Virtual Craze In Japan: Virtual Pets, Fashion And Lovers

Japan hearts virtual everything... Virtual what? Signs that say "No Pets allowed!" are signs no pet lover wants to see... Most of us are so attached to our adorable poochies and kitties.There are also those allergic to pet dander.

Not to worry because Japan being one of the vanguards in all the techie-stuff from decades ago invented an egg-shaped toy best known as the TAMAGOTCHI!


The original Tamagotchi toy used a dot matrix interface with three buttons A (scroll/ select), B (choose/ set), and C (cancel). Taking care of your virtual pet was easy with the basic needs of your pet namely Health, Games, Toilet, Food, Discipline, Friends, Light and Attention.

You can also interact with other Tamagotchis using the toy's infrared capabilities. Whenever your Tammy beeps for attention, look at it and check what it needs. With enough love, care and attention, you are sure to grow and nurture a healthy and happy Tamagotchi.


Tamagotchis we sugggest are:

Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3
Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop
Tamagotchi Connection V 4.5 Original Virtual Pet - Tiger Stripes

That is only the beginning! When it came to fashion,Japanese street fashion, (read previous blog posts about Wacky street wear) is very influential among fashion girls the world over. Koei created the POP CUTIE Street Fashion Game that is available for the Nintendo DS.

Check out Pop Cutie! Street Fashion Simulation here.

The game is so interesting! One can hire models, run a boutique, sells clothes, ( what every girl dreams of!) and get a chance to be a fashion designer by capturing and combining “images” from real kids on the street.



What is even more fun is the fashion battles where you get to be up against another pop cutie to design an outfit based on a certain amount of items and your outfit will be judged based on several criteria.

This Nintendo DS game would make a great gift to that girl in fashion school or to that girl who's always longed to be in fashion but is working as doctor or an accountant and needs to past time, take long trips on the train, or gets stuck in a really boring conference!
You can get the Pop Cutie! Street Fashion Simulation online.

Virtual pet is the answer for those with pet allergies and those who can't live with pets in their buildings...or to simply outwit the NO PETs allowed sign Pop Cutie is the answer to a fashionable girl's dreams! You are never too young or too old to train to be a fashion designer!

Of course Japan being OTT (over the top!) has gone beyond just creating virtual pets and virtual design stores, - the Japanese have gone gaga for virtual boyfriends and girlfriends!

If you don't believe us check out this uber famous Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend)
, a robot designed to be the perfect boyfriend.

A major proof the Japanese can be really serious with this virtual craze, a Japanese man married his virtual girlfriend!!!  Watch it here.

Our take on this craze?
We live life on the fast lane. Some of us work 12-hour shifts, and some of us do not have the opportunity to own a pet, go to fashion school, buy the most coveted gadgets...while some of us are simply unlucky in love.

Hey if one click of a button can make you:

• Play with an egg-shaped toy with a pet on a bad day, no matter where you live
• Enjoy several hours a week in this life
• Laugh and de-stress
• Battle loneliness we all go through...

Let's not spoil the fun :)

All is fair in love,war and the virtual world!

How To Get Japanese Anime-Inspired Hairstyles

Now how do Japanese men, and some women, get those really spiky hairstyles that stay up all day?

These kinds of spiky 'do don't t stay up by themselves without styling products for sure. But what kind do the Japanese use the most?

Gatsby Moving Rubber hair series:

Gatsby's Official Product Description:

Creates a variety of styles that with flexible texture and definition.

You can keep reshaping the hair with your hands all day. Lightweight formula containing newly engineered polystretch fiber called the moving rubber. Gives a pliable hold. Non greasy or oily. Fresh green apple scent. No preservatives. 

Gatsby's  Moving Rubber hair line comes in different colors and varieties too:

Use the hair rubber on towel-dried hair. The consistency is thick enough for you to be able to style using your fingers or a comb in the direction you want your Japanese hairstyle to point to. Have fun with it!