Latest Fashion Trend In Japan

While everyone associates pearls with Japanese ladies - this year the  teardrop beads are commonly seen amongst the younger generation and the trendiest for the lot in shinjuku.  Every Japanese that I’ve come across are always so well-dressed and absolutely well maintained and they may not have gone for facials every month or a manicure and pedicure but they look immaculate.  Every strain of hair is in their proper places.

So whenever I go on vacation to Japan - the first thing I look out for are their accessories and fashion - and bring some home with me - and show off as well.  Not many people around here can find the same quality of accessories or clothing - so I’m grateful that I get to travel to Japan for work and vacation all the time.

Old Meets New In Japan

I’ve always loved the new part of Japan but loved the old ones as well.  The old buildings in Japan fascinates me immensely - my mom used to say that I should have been an architect but I can’t even draw a straight line - so not good being an architect - but I do have an eye for nice and unique things and Japan’s architectural like Spain unique by itself - but yet different.

You will never see this in the West - there isn’t anyone who does work like this anymore around.  I’ve always called these old Japan builders an artist.

The detailed on the roof is amazing.

A magnificent looking temple in Osaka.

And here is the somewhat new but not modern like in Tokyo yet.

Another beautiful looking piece of artwork in Osaka.

New For Valentine In Japan

Photo credit :  Tokyofashion.com

Valentine’s Day  in Japan 2012 is very popular in Japan but this is not just because you get chocolates, flowers and gifts - because in Japan, they celebrate it differently.  Now like I said before on Valentine’s day in Japan - it’s only the women who give chocolate to let the man she likes or is interested in know her feelings and then the men in Japan will recipocrate on White Day on the 14 March only in Japan and created by Japanese with gifts of chocoalate and jewelry box gifts to the one he might be interested in.   As bizarre as it may seems - on Valentine’s day - you can see woman from all over japan flocking into chocolate stores, candy stores and also flower stores to buy gifts for the men. Japanese are known for being meticulous and not worry about spending money to buy the right gifts.

Pool Party For Christmas

While I missed the pool and bbq parties back home where the children can play around the pool safely because of having swimming pool fencing. We can do this here I mean the pool fencing  - but since it is Winter, no one will be having a pool party here.   But I do remember having pool parties in Japan in friend’s home with a pool and hot tub. As I watch their holiday photos on Facebook, I have to say that I’m quite tempted to visit them next Christmas too - to enjoy the sun and the pool. I think I really missed the outdoor pool a lot and the sun tanning one can do when I lived and traveled around Asia. Sure we have our pools here - but we can only use it during the summer and summer isn’t that hot either but yes, we do have the fencing too put around the pool because the kids are always playing outside and we have to make sure that they don’t go in there when they are alone without an adult. Plus, we have younger kids who comes and visit with their siblings and we all know how engrossed kids get when they are playing and they forget their younger ones - so now that we have the fence put up - we don’t have to worry about one falling into the pool when we are not watching. But I could definitely use some pool party right about now.

Cosplay In Japan

Cosplay in Japan is a huge thing - from kids to adults - and if you think that Japan is a conservative country - you will change your mind once you’ve seen this.  They gather around Tokyo - from harajuku to Jingu Bridge - that connects to a shrine in Meiji.  But having said that - you can also see come cosplay in Akihibara.

There are many cosplay cafe in Akihabara - fans of cosplay goes there to see cosplay waitress serve them.  They are also known as Maid cafes.  But be careful which Maid Cafes you go into - because some of the waitresses are quite skimpy dressed.

These cosplay folks love the attention - and if you have a camera - they will post for you.  I’ve heard that some don’t like pictures taken - but I’ve never come across them.

Cosplay is not cheap at all - as you can see here - the Japanese takes them seriously and wear everything to detailed.

Very colorful cosplay costume here.

Kids may be a little freak out by the costumes but we loved it.

Prada In Japan

Prada at Omotesando is a very unique building as you can see but I’m sure you wouldn’t expect anything less in Japan  - plus this is Prada you are talking about.  Look at the bubbles on the building - you cannot mistaken it as any other brand right?

I didn’t go in the day I took the pictures because I wasn’t dressed appropriately.  I just didn’t feel right - as the Japanese thinks that you don’t respect them or their establishment if you walked in with your bermuda.

Shopping In Downtown Shinjuku

If you hear anyone tell you that shopping at downtown Shinjuku is a blast - they are not wrong - there is just so much to pick from - you don’t know where to begin and don’t know where to stop.  I used to be so addicted to shopping in Shinjuku - that I had to put my credit card on freeze for a week to stop my addition.  I would look for those discount ray bans and handbags and the most funkiest looking dresses or shoes.   If you walk in the downtown Japan, you will see that you are surrounded by the most fashionable kids and you just envy them for being able to wear what they do.

How I wished I was young and rich - that way I can buy anything and wear just about anything instead of being confined to work clothes since we spend a lot of time in the office.  But on can’t resist those discounted ray bans for they were so popular once upon a time.  If I can go back to Japan - I would spend a few days just shopping at downtown Shinjuku.

Japanese Wives Club

When I was living in Japan for 6 months - I’ve had the privileged to meet some wonderful wives of my engineers stationed in Japan - and they taught me many things about shopping in Japan.  A lot of people thinks that shopping in Japan is expensive but they are just like us in the West - and only buy quality things and things that are on sale - and using wet seal coupons as well - to get the best deals.  One very important lesson I learned from these Japanese wives is that they never buy things that are not of good quality and of a good deal.  Even when it comes to groceries and marketing - they buy the freshest but the cheapest and make the best dish for their husbands when they come home from work.  So yes!  the Japanese wives club had ladies ranging from the age of 25 - right up to 45 of age.  And for every thing they buy for themselves and for their family - they take care in getting the right things for them.

Nail Art In Japan

Nail art from Japan has gotta be one of the most amazing art work that I’ve seen and they really make you feel like yo8u are so outdated.  This is a halloween nail art - so it looks kinda horror but there are so many cute ones that one can choose to wear.   i don’t know how one works with nails like that but when you are shopping in Tokyo - you will see lots of younger girls having nail art on their hands.   I hear they are pretty expensive - but I do like them and will try them out when I do visit Japan again.

Cookie Boy In Japan

Cookie as an art in Japan is not new - in fact everyone loves this place so much and when I was there - I go there everyday because I needed some sweets.  But Japanese do make their food so much more interesting - that I sometimes feel bad eating them.  Nevertheless, when one is in Japan - I’m sure we would just about eat anything and everything.  Even the street food looks so good - and I can’t get enough of them.  So the best ways to suppress your appetite when in Japan is bringing your supplement along else you will end up like me - coming home with at least and extra baggage of 5Kg - I kid you not.