Japanese Fashion

To say that the Japanese gals are fashionable is really an understatement.  The Japanese gals are way ahead when it comes to fashion.  Even in the cold winter.. while I am looking frumpy in my huge warm coat.. they can be out wearing fashionable mini-skirt.. and boots.  How they do it..?? i don’t know.  Are they freezing..?? lets find out.

Around Shibuya and Harajuku in Tokyo, a growing number of young women in their teens and twenties are wearing mini skirts and shorts. Though normally about half of all women wear pants in freezing winter, this year it seems that around 50% of women in these areas are wearing skirts, with a further 30% wearing shorts and just 20% wearing pants. Skirts and shorts are winning hands-down. Hemlines, meanwhile, are short; micro skirts that rise 20 or 30 centimeters above the knees and ultra-short hot pants are not uncommon.

Yummy Food From Aomori

To die for uni..!!  the freshest to be found only in Aomori Prefecture.  One of the local specialties of Aomori is a seafood dish called ichigo-ni (literally “stewed strawberries”). The dish is said to have originated among fishermen in the Hachinohe area, who would simmer fresh uni (sea urchin) and awabi (bearded clam) in sea water, having located the ingredients using “box glasses” (a box-shaped device for seeing underwater made of wood and glass) and retrieved them by skin-diving. In the dish now common in Aomori, uni and awabi are lightly simmered in a kelp-based soup stock to which only salt and light soy sauce are added for seasoning. Shreds of aojiso (green shiso/perilla leaves) provide the finishing touch.

Fashionable Japanese Without The Kimono

Some ppl still thinks that the women folks in Japan wears Kimono .. lol.  Not exactly true.. but they do wear them on special occasions like going to the temple, New Year’s day .. and weddings or an important office function.   The Japanese are very fashionable ppl and their designers are very artistic and meticulate.  From home designs and furnishing, from area rugs to tea sets - every detailed in a fashion show like the ones that they have once a year is awesome.

Unfortunately, unlike the ones in Milan and Paris, they do not get as much recognition or as much buzz for all their effort.  Truth be told.. the Japanese designers are pretty awesome.. if you asked me. I also heard that there were quite a few first time participants .. that had pretty designers on this year’s fashion week.   I didn’t get an invitation this year.. maybe because i haven’t gone for the last few ones.  But many years ago, when I was working for the hotel industry .. my boss always gets invited.. and since his wife wasn’t in town, i get to go with him.  I enjoyed every moment of it.  So glamour..!!! but sure made me feel a little bit shy.. when you are standing besides some fabulous looking model eh.

The Art Of Japanese Tattoos

The Japanese are very artistic ppl .. not only are they particular about the kind of tattoos they put on .. they are into the traditional kind of tattoo and in fact, they are gaining lots of interest of late.  These traditonal tattoos are not done by just any tattooists but traditional irezumi is done by only the specialist.   The reason behind it is because they are so detailed, they not only are expensive by time consuming and very intensive. While some may think covering the whole body like them is not their taste, the japanese who does this traditional kind of suit that covers not only the back but the arm and the chest can take up to 5 yrs of work - but only once a week visit, since you can imagine, how painful it can be.  And the total cost ..?? is as much ast US $30,000.  But personally, if i were to have any tattoos done, i would rather do something that means something.

Yes.. even ladies do these traditional tattoos