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.

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.

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.

Hello Kitty Tea In A Bottle

Only in Japan can you find a Hello Kitty Tea In a bottle - a friend from here just returned from a teaching stint in Japan and brought this all the way back for my kid.  So sweet eh.  In Japan - you can find the prettiest Hello Kitty stuff - and all original.

Trendy Japanese Exchange Students

We currently have some exchange students from Japan and during the multi-cultural festival recently I was privileged to have met some of them.  They were as usual - one of the most trendy group amongst the various I’ve met during these festival but that’s to be expected.  We exchange conversation and shared my love for sushi and sashimi and of course the fact that I loved maguro more than salmon sashimi made them laughed.  We talked a lot about fashion and I asked one of them about the shoes they were wearing from Nike and they told me it was for skateboarding and they were so looking forward to skateboarding this summer at our newly build skateboard park.  The skateboard shoes looked really light and trendy - I wonder if I can wear them just for walking around?   The students were extremely friendly and we promised to have lunch soon.

Handmade Stuff From Japan

The Japanese are well known for loving handmade stuff and they also love shopping online for things they cannot get from Japan - Coupons and discounts at personalcreations.com is one of the places I’ve recommended my good friend living in Japan to go shop for stuff she cannot find in Japan, plus it is a great place to shop for their friends like myself - living the West.

The Japanese are not as closed minded as some might think - just because they have different culture - they are only into quality stuff and not quantity.  I know of a friend who buys her daughter’s clothes and accessories all the way from Paris, France.  But if you do have Japanese friend - you will know that even the greeting cards that they send to you - are carefully chosen and crafted.

Kawaii Girls In Japan

My Canadian friend who is going to Japan to teach - asked me how he can get a Japanese girlfriend and asked me if all Japanese girls looked as kawaii and slim like her - or was it just an illusion that the press wants foreigner to think?   I told him that most Japanese girls that I know are pretty health conscious and more looks conscious - so I wouldn’t be surprised if they are onto fat burner reviews constantly to see which fat burners are the best.  Japanese girls are really, really concern about their skin - their body and their fashion sense is pretty impeccable.

I used to work with a Japanese girl in the hotel - when I was there for work and she would refused to eat - because she put on like 0.5kg - she would rather starve herself.  Well, until someone told her about using a good fat burner instead and exercising.  So yes!  if you are wondering and don’t want to sound too desperate - about looking for a kawaii Japanese girlfriend - you don’t have to worry - because the Japanese girls loved the American and the Canadians - as long as you are white - the loveee  it!

Hello Peko San

Say hello to Peko San please - she brings back many good memories  - when I used to live in Japan.  I used to love her cute looking face and said to myself - what a cute little Japanese girl - mischievous too.  She isn’t really pretty - but definitely cute and mischievous.  So I hear you asking - who is this doll/statue right?  Peko San is the official mascot of Fujiya Confectionery - a major cake/sweets/chocolate company in Japan.

My girlfriend who is living in Japan permanently tells me now you can get them Peko San baked with fillings.  And the filling’s flavor are different during different season.  Wonder will they ever have durian flavor?  But they are pretty similar to the other Japanese baked item that we see sold in all the supermarket in Japan and everywhere in Asia.

So if you are in Fujiya - and you see Peko San - do drop in and get some and try.

Someone send me some Peko - San!

Shopping Spree

One thing I like about going to Japan is the shopping spree and the cute stuff one can buy in Japan - but of course the spouse goes to japan because of the latest gadget he can find in Japan electronic mall.  We would have bought our  canon camcorders from Japan too - if they weren’t all in Japanese menu.  But when you are in Japan - you can see the latest in cameras and phones and even digital cameras  - and make comparison  - that way when you are ready to buy a camcorder or a camera - you would know exactly what is the best.

In Japan of course, you not only can get lots of extraordinary gadgets but also all sorts of cute stuff - even the food - like the ones on top - you can get them from the airport as gifts for friends are too cute to be eaten if you asked me.  Like I tell everyone, in Japan - whatever you buy is gift wrapped so pretty - you don’t even wanna open them up to eat them or use them.   I used to go to Japan on a yearly basis when I lived in Asia and I so missed shopping in Japan - I missed the mushroom tea a lot! and buying the latest gadget to impress the engineers at work.

Japanese Loves Modern Wedding Dresses

If you think that all Japanese wedding look like that - then you are wrong - for the modern japanese women - they also want a change of clothes in a western type of wedding attire.  Their bridesmaid dresses are also specially picked out for them and usually they have a few bridesmaid.  The Japanese takes their wedding ceremony seriously as it cost a lot of money not only for the reception - but everything that the bride and the groom wears - are carefully thought.  The groom also pay for the bridemaids dresses - so of course, he wants what they look best in and like I said - all Japanese young lady just love the modern western dresses for weddings.  I’ve attended several Japanese wedding when I lived in Japan many years ago - and I know for a fact that everything needs to be perfect - even the photograph is carefully chosen for the auspicious day.  Japanese weddings are definitely one of the most expensive that I’ve been too - and as a token of congratulation to the newly wed - it is now preferred that one give cash and not gifts.   And I can fully understand it - for if you look at how grand the weddings are - you can imagine the fortune spend on the ceremony.  And if you are wondering where they get their Western wedding dresses - some order them a year in advance from the US - I was told.