Regardless of how long I stay here, there are many (if not most) things about the Japanese that I will never truly understand.
To start with there is their overriding sense of conformity and fear of standing out from the crowd.
And perhaps because of this, it can be disheartening to never see anyone acting with a bit of spontaneity, or unashamedly making a show of themselves.
Plus whether it be fashion, furnishings, or even felines, cute is always the ultimate goal.
It can be ever so confusing…
Nacente says
They have this sense of community we don’t have. They need to be cute, if you are cute you are cool. If you look at animes and things like that, movies and games too. The main characters and the “good” people are in group, normally. The enemies are alone or nearly alone. Good vs Bad –> Group vs Alone. And good always wins. So group always win. So, normallity vs rarity.
dr Dave says
On the other hand, it is hard not to be struck by the aching need to be noticed. Whenever I happen to walk by (on my way to the park or to Omotessando), especially on a slow tourist day, I always perceive a certain disappointment whenever they realize I am not about to whip out a camera and start shooting entire rolls of them and their crazy outfit. OK, let’s be frank, I even take a certain pervert pleasure in walking past them, looking at them as if they were the most normal people in the world.
In the end, they are only insecure teenagers, most definitely trying to fit in, in their own Harajuku fashion way… and very much begging for attention. I think we all did it, even if I was personally more into tattoos, insanely bad music and excess of beer, than dressing up in nazi nurse outfit with black lace and a matching doll in my arms….
Whitey says
And then there’s Harajuku.
Toni says
I still can’t figure out why Gwen Stefani did an entire song about these kids. If only Americans (and other Western countries) knew what Harajuku Girls REALLY looked like, I wonder if they’ll still think they were cool.
dr Dave says
Toni: to answer your question, she did it for the same reason Madonna sings with Britney Spears, or any aging pop star end up duetting with up-and-coming teeny-boppers: to try and grab some of the cool by association.
Then again, had she actually set a foot in Harajuku, she might have realized her “Harajuku girls”, or version thereof, doesn’t even remotely ressemble the original. In the defense of the real thing: they sure might not be all that they are made to be, but they do not look like some retarded vision of “Japanese fashion” straight off the mind of some untalented American studio designer…
Loboto says
Excellent post and great comments. I believe the Japanese follow a strict path of life in today’s times. Go to school, get a job, get married, have kids and die an honorable death. As teenagers, this maybe their only time to find out who they are and to express it in a non-vocal way. Some of course are more vocal than others. They may also gain back the respect from their parents if they conform back to societies belief by shedding the costume and getting a decent job to live out the rest of the fairytale.
I think Gwen was merely trying to applaud the kids of Harajuku as fashion forward innovators. The depth of why they do it, I think she left out because she’s probably as confused as we are.
xue says
Tese girls are in cosplay [ coming from costume + play ]
they dress up as their favourite visual rock bands.
This is not Harajuku fashion. As cosplay and Harajuku fashion are two completely different things.
Gwen Stefani…. ugh… she knows nothing of Japan or their fashion. Ad yes, all that she ‘thought’ it was… she made this idea up by herself, after taking only a scared glance at the real thing.
From conformity and such a strict life, Iguess they do this as an outlet.
It is very creative.
Islington says
harajuku kids are a nother thing blown out of proportion, to kids in america it’s new, in america you have to look a specific way and act a specific way, to them harajuku street fashions are a new concept, unheard of before now.
anggia says
not many people dare to dress in harajuku style in my coutry – jakarta, coz of the weather is hot, but sumtimes i put myself in harajuku style when i work (indeed i work at fashion retail industry) & they say not everybody look good in harajuku except me 🙂 haha coz im dare tobe different as they say. but the most important thing is not what you wear but how big is your confidence wearing it.
Beau says
Harajuku Fashion is a complex thing.. yes it may be that they are teenagers who want to express themselves- I find the same things where I live (in England.) Teens dress as gothic fairies and pirates in my home city. they make good tourist attractions though!
Gwen Stefani is like me, I suspect, just fascinated by their fashion, courage and the general Japanese culture.
landon barrowman says
the blatent explotation of these kids uniue sense of stile by gwen is sickning!!i mean stealing there style for your own plubicity. fuck what a hack. i dont know what happened to her cence the tragic kingdom days but it sure is sad. i just hope this world wide attention to the harajuku fashion dosnt ruin it for the girls and boys involved. at least untill i get over there
BOBBIE says
IN MY OPINION I THINK THAT THE HARAJUKU STYLE IS PRETTY COOL.I WAS UNAWARE OF THE STYLE UNTIL JUST RECENTLY WHEN GWEN STEFANI CAME TO LAS VEGAS,NV USA FOR A CONCERT AND I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON THE WEB. I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE STYLE AND THE BACKGROUND OF THE PEOPLE. IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS, IT WOULD BE ACPRECIATED. I LIKE THE DIVERSITY AND UNIQUENESS OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR STYLE OF CLOTHING NO MATTER WHO OR WHERE THEY CAME FROM. PEOPLE NEED TO TRY NEW THING AND STYLES.MAYBE DOING SO WILL HELP THAT INDIVIDUAL IN THE LONG RUN ON FINDING THEMSELVES.
Kirsten says
Yes, maby harajuku fashion is a bit mad…teens seeking atentin? they have totaly mad fashion but who realy cares?if they feel like mixing up a totlay mad out fit theyll do it. insted of following societies opinion of “acseptable” they dont care they dont follow the crowd. its all about being diferent and standing out. its a way to express ur self just like an artist paints a painting, its a creatin of ur self!
Andy says
Just back from Tokyo, and have witnessed Harajuku – Costplay girls for myself. They are fantastic, they put so much thought and creativity into it. It had just been snowing and they were still out the next day wearing skimpy frilly dresses, clothes pegs topped off with Hello Kitty… and trolley bags. Good sports, who love the attention. Very popular for young creative teens, good on Gwen for making it more known I say!