First off, I learned first hand this weekend after several awkward field work attempts, that there is nothing simple about a middle class white man sparking up a conversation with a host club employee busy on the nightly grind. Is it because I'm a guy, or because it's clear I have no money to give them...either way, smart men, I like these guys.
So what I decided to write about instead is something that anyone who takes a second to look around the streets of Japan sees daily, Japanese women and their keen sense of fashion. Fortunatley for the sake of field work I have a lady friend, Ai, who is, of course, part of the Japanese fashion culture who was available for some questioning, and Misato, who does not mind being photographed and put on the web. Cool.
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| Try texting on your Iphone with these bad boys. |
In my three or so months here in Japan, I have noticed something about the Japanese female fashion. Although the seasons and temperatures have changed over time, well, the fashion hasnt changed a bit. I really began to notice this when a somewhat cold day came by, Japanese girls are the first ones to let you know how samui they are. "Samui! Samui!" So this led to a simple question for Ai, why not wear more clothing? It only seems natural. She was very straightforawrd with her answer; "For many of us, it is more important to look good, then to be warm and comfortable." To each his own I guess. I can't complain.
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Nice earrings, fashionable hat, Pretty Japanese
girl rockin a Red Sox hoodie, I like it. |
The fashion can also, at time, be an example or the younger generation of Japanese people having a certain interest in the Western world. The day I took these pictures of Misato, when I told her it was so I could write about Japanese fasion she made it very clear to me that none of her clothes were manufactured in Japan. We then talked about how it may not neccesarily the clothes themselves that represent the fasion but the way in which they are assembled together. They have the skill to take a series of simple outfits and turn them into one extravagant get-up. Perhaps its the Western girls that could learn a thing or two.
In closing, I think it is important to also say that its not just the females in Japan that exhibit these strong traits, but also the men. Perhaps some of the fashion statements wouldnt go over to well in other countries but I think that Japanese pull it off quite well.
First things first, I think I should date back to my first blog when I wrote about the rediculously high tech toilets that are found in various locations with various capabilities. I did not realize that in a matter of a day I can find myself utilizing many different kinds of toilets. So as my first impression of toilets was based on the noise making, private part cleaning toilets found in the seminar house, I soon realized that toilets change drastically from place to place. The ol' eastern style toilets...not so high tech, but a cultural gem. Interesting how you can feel as if your being pampered while doing your duty, or feel like you are excercising and just resting for a second in between squats. Thank you Japan for making it incredibly easy to see first hand a segment of the evolution of toilets. 
Another one of the pre-arrival assumptions about Japan was based on a somewhat stereotypical western idea on why Japanese people are often times so small and skinny. "It must be because they eat so healthy, rice and fish everyday, right bro?" Now I'm not trying to see that I have a reason why Japanese people are so skinny, I'm just saying that the food isn't always as healthy as a westerner may assume. I must say that my decision to come to the Osaka region was based largely on the fact that Osaka is known as the culinary capital of Japan. Sold. But I quickly realized that the people in this region, or perhaps all of Japan, have a love for fried foods, and they sure do love their mayonnaise. Don't get me wrong, I do too. But I'm pretty sure its not the karage with mayonnaise for dippin that keeps these people so skinny. But when it comes to skinny people, once again, don't get me wrong, I'm not complainin'.
On a final brief note, let me just say to all the western men who now what I'm talking about...The assumption you have about Japanese women, for the most part, its not true. And thats all I have to say about that.
