Fashion

Despite the somewhat surprising resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday, talk in busy Japanese bars and offices quickly turned from the demise of the nation’s dour leader to the donning of denim, as the hotly anticipated winner of Japan’s Best Jeanist contest was finally announced.

And as widely expected, sultry songstress Kumi Koda walked away with the title once again, after finally ending the denim-based domination of Ayumi Hamasaki in last year’s event.

How the judges make their final decision is a well-kept secret, but as pictures amply prove, Ms Koda definitely does suit denim.

Even if she doesn’t actually wear it in fact, which is a sure sign of a winner in most people’s eyes.

Some other celebrities also won prizes, including, rather amazingly, a middle-aged man. Should you really wish to see them, you can do so by clicking here.

As far as relatively recent history is concerned, Japan isn’t exactly the most reliable when it comes to revealing the truth. An approach that is highlighted by the almost yearly disputes with its Asian neighbours over the often controversial content of Japanese textbooks, with many scholars seemingly happy to favour revision rather than a simple retelling of the facts.

In this sense, Japan’s approach to its past is utterly inexcusable, although to be fair — and to give credit where it’s not really due — it does appear to be equally blasé in regards to other (Western) countries’ wrongdoings.

(click mage for full-sized fashion faux pas)

After its introduction several years ago, Japan’s energy saving Cool Biz summer clothing concession has been a resounding success, with salary men the length and breadth of the country boldly going to work without jackets — some of them even turning their noses up at ties.

Yet perhaps not surprisingly, it is Japan’s ladies that have really taken to the idea of dressing cool for summer, with this video showing how far behind the nation’s sombre shirt-wearing salary men have already slipped.

A trend that some analysts are predicting will soon take over the workplace, with cooks it seems already keeping cool in the kitchen.

Along with a few eco-conscious care workers feeling the need to help cut energy costs.

This new found environmental awareness also spreading from work-related wear to recreational regalia, all the way from horse riding

to darts.

Apparently.

Japan it has to be said is not averse to borrowing things from other countries and then changing them; more often than not for the better. Take Tokyo’s train system for example, as after bringing in British engineers to design the original network, they have developed it into a system envied throughout the world. A far cry indeed from what now constitutes a train ‘service’ in the original engineers’ homeland.

Similarly, horse racing is another thing that has been enthusiastically borrowed from Britain, and whilst many of the traditions have remained intact, they have also been adjusted to suit Japan. Like dressing up for instance. As whilst fancy hats are de rigeur at Royal Ascot, frilly dresses are deemed more desirable in Japan.

At least for the more adventurous.

(image via the FG Forums)