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Mar 02 2012 10 Comments

A contrasting figure at Shibuya crossing

Shibuya crossing is one of Tokyo’s most iconic images. As is the fashion the city is famous for. But this lady offered a very noticeable contrast to that. A dissimilarity in fact that for me at least made her all the more interesting. And the crossing itself, much less so.

old Shibuya fashion

Categorized: Fashion, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marsha says

    3/2/2012 at 11:48 am

    She’s an interesting character in your photo – especially more so because she doesn’t project run-off-the-mill genki-ness that many supposedly stylish characters oft radiate with in Japan. (I think.)

    Reply
    • Marsha says

      3/2/2012 at 11:49 am

      And not kawaii, either.

      Reply
      • Lee says

        3/2/2012 at 4:32 pm

        Yes, that’s a big part of why I found her so interesting.

        Reply
  2. Hans ter Horst says

    3/2/2012 at 11:26 pm

    I would definitely recommend a different hairdresser to her ever so gently.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/3/2012 at 10:54 am

      She didn’t seem like a lady to mess with, so it’d have to be ever so gently, and from a very safe distance.

      Reply
  3. winne says

    3/2/2012 at 11:38 pm

    Interesting Shot!
    It look like the woolly Headdress. I am more attracted to her expression! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/3/2012 at 10:56 am

      Thanks Winnie.

      Yes, she made for a very interesting subject, and really stood out from the crowd.

      Reply
  4. AdelaideBen says

    3/3/2012 at 9:57 pm

    Ok… I guess it’s up to someone to be the dissenting voice… but I’ve seen a lot of interesting dressing or made up obasan in Japan, and whilst it’s easy to think of Shibuya as a teeny wonderland of fake gyaru fashion, I for one don’t mind seeing someone being “themselves” in a more real way. And of course, it could be that her expression reflects her feelings about being photographed (or of course that she’s just a natural born IRON-LADY). Either way, I love difference in society, and think that Japan’s all the better off for the self-unique, rather than the mass-unique. Still, it’s always a good place to see a wide cross-section of Japanese society, and a nice pic… I always love to see the a-typical on blogs.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      3/4/2012 at 11:27 am

      Cheers Ben. Yes, that’s exactly why I her took her photo — she’s interesting. And in the fashionable non-conformity conformity (if that makes any sense) of Shibuya, even more so.

      Reply
      • AV says

        3/5/2012 at 9:59 am

        Pretty much so. These characters are every bit as inspiring as the boxed fashion they tend to associate with [if at a meaningful distance]. Conforming non-conformity… sense of style?

        Reply

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