Japan Harajuku

Japan Harajuku

Harajuku Rebellion Style

Japan is famous for its fashion & hairstyle which are extreme and seduce the youngsters desire. One of most popular hairstyle is Harajuku. What is the Harajuku?

Harajuku is an area in the middle of Tokyo, exactly around Harajuku Station, in Sibuya District, Tokyo. In the beginning of 1990s, it is an important area that connects Tokyo to other sorrounding districts. 1n 1906, The station was opened  as an expansion of Yamanote railway. Several years later there were various kind of department stores around the place that led to the existance of fashion centres. This area became famous all over Japan after having been broadcasted through some fashion magazine like Anan and non-no. That time, some group of girls were recognized wandering around Harajuku area. Their fashion immitated the style of fashion models in the Anan and non-no magazine. And until now, group of youngsters wearing extreme styles  can be seen in this area. Harajuku becomes icon of fashion style rebellion in Japan.

In the capital city of Japan, Tokyo, most officers generally wear dark coats, dark trousers, white shirts, dark ties, dark suitcases, their hair was well combed, and they walk fast because they do not want to waste time. Students wear uniform determined by school authority. But in Harajuku, there is a rebellion of fashion. The youngsters refuse to wear neat and tidy clothes. Their desire to be creative is expressed through extreme, glamorous  fashion and hair style. Not only extreme hair style they perform, but also extreme hair colour like green, purple, red, blue, golden blonde, grey, silver, pink, and ash.

The contrast performance between design, colour, motif, size, and the kind of clothes is the specialty of this fashion style. Harajuku style is divided into several types. Sometimes the style is adapted to the beautifull doll from Japan with white pale skin and nice dressing like the doll displayed in the window. This style is called Lolita. There is also a style called Cosplay (costume play). This style immitates the character of a hero or bandit in the anime or other cartoon movie in Japan. Those style are mostly adopted and promoted by J-Rock personnels. J-Rock is a name of a band from Japan. The assimetrical hair with loud colour is one of their hair style. The assimetrical hair is the hair that is cut unevenly. For example, one part is long but other part is short. Or the length on the left and right side are different.

The fashion style then becomes more famous in many countries. In America, the Harajuku fashion style is getting more famous after a singer from America, Gwen Stefani, created a song that carried the theme of Harajuku fashion entitled 'Harajuku Girls'. In promoting his song, Gwen seemed employing some dancers wearing Harajuku fashion in some of her concert all over the world.

About the Author

Adi Marsudi, a hairstylist. Before you get a new look, Marsudi recommends you to browse his harajuku hairstyle gallery on his blog.

what is the best location to be near to everything (( malls , harajuku st. , etc )) in japan?

also tell me about the best malls there
and the traditional malls to buy souvenirs for my family
and i need some bookstore that sell Manga in English
i need all locations that i have to visit in japan

Hi there,

As for Tokyo, to optimize your time there and see a lot I always take people for their first time:

Malls (for clothing)
1.) 109 Mall in Shibuya
2.) Roppongi Hills
3.) Venus Fort in Odaiba

Traditional Japanese souvenirs:
-Nakamise Dori near Sosenji Temple (Asakusa).

For manga:
Try "Book Off" chain, they are every where.

Any morning:
1.) Go to Sosenji Temple (Asakusa) walk around "Nakamise Dori" and "Kaminari Mon."
2.) Take taxi to Ueno park walk around, then can walk towards Akihabara (the electronics dictrict)
3.) take JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku-get off and walk down "Takeshita Dori" and see all the teenie-boppers and fashion
4.) From Harajuku walk towards Meiji Jingu (shrine) nice walk
5.) From Meiji Jingu walk towards Omotesando
6.) From Omotesando you can walk to Shibuya and make sure you walk up "Center Street"
7.) On way home take subway from Shibuya Station and make sure you see "Hachiko" statue

Other daytime activities:

1.) Kichijoji-nice little area, lots of nice shops/restaurants/park, my favorite part of Tokyo!
2.) Odaiba-Venus Fort mall, get to ride over Rainbow Bridge, see Fuji TV
3.) Tokyo Tower-not really anything interesting...haha
4.) Nagatcho-to see the Japanese National Diet Building
5.) Ikebukuro-nice area just to walk around in

Eating:
1.)Try cheap and good "kaiten sushi"-sushi on a conveyor belt, good quality and good price
2.) Ramen shop-if it's crowded it should be good
3.) A good stanby chain restaurant is called "Otoya," nearly everywhere and serve traditional Japanese food

These are just some basic things for a few first days in Tokyo, have fun!

For other info check out: virtualtourist.com

A day in Harajuku Japan with a gothic lolita April 2009 - Part 1