J-Pop Scandal of the Month

The big headline news this month in Japan is about a member of the girls band AKB48. She cut off her hair due to her embarrassment for being caught staying overnight with a man. The horrors. The fact that she acknowledged her scandalous behavior is what made the headlines. This “sleep over” became such a big deal because members sign a contract when they join girl bands. The girls are not to have sexual relations while they’re in the group. Yes, you basically have to be a nun while you’re in a J-pop girls band.

As an act of contrition, singer Minami Minegishi cut off her beautiful long hair. This ritual of shaving ones head as an act of self-punishment goes back to ancient times in Japan. So when Minami made a video apology sporting an almost shaved head, no one was surprised. It seems her act of contrition has worked so far. I haven’t read that she’s been kicked out of AKB48. (Don’t get me started on how stupid some of the band names are in Japan.)

 

I decided to call my friend Midori to get her take on the big scandal. “So how do you feel about the whole Minami shaved head deal?”

She sucked in a breath. “Very embarrassing.”

“Really? I mean all she did was sleep with a guy.”

I heard nervous tapping on the other line. “I know, but she is supposed to be better than that.”

“Oh. So she can’t be attracted to guys at all?”

“I know it sounds harsh but she signed a contract. She knows what is expected of her.”

“But who can blame Minami. Aran is hot!”

She stuffed back a laugh. “He is cute, but rules are rules.”

“Boy, you Japanese are a bunch of hard asses.”

“Why thank you. It takes many hours in the gym.”

What the Heck is That? J-Pop

I've been MIA for awhile due to a family member passing. So I hope you won't mind if repost one of my most popular subjects—J Pop. I promise to be back to writing new posts the end of the month.  

J-Pop Fashion Rules

Watching TV in Japan often becomes a cultural education. But one particular phenomenon fascinated me—J Pop fashion. Some of the singers wear crazy clothes straight off the streets of Harajaku. And no one exemplifies it better than current sensation Kyary. Watch one of her videos and your eyes bug out from visual overload. She takes Hello Kitty cuteness to a whole new level. I had to investigate the appeal. All the cute kitty did for me was make me lose my lunch.

I could think of no better person to ask then my friend Midori. After all, she was a  Harajuku girl. A Fairy Kei to be exact.

 

“Can you tell me what’s the deal with the crazy video’s and clothes Kyary wears? Some J Pop just seems so over the top.”

“That’s the whole point. She’s dress up gone crazy.”

“No kidding. But why does she wear such bright colors, wigs and those enormous eyelashes. She looks like an anime character.”

“Exactly. She wears Kawaii style.”  

“Okay, but why do her pupils look so huge like a dolls?”   

“Oh, those are contacts. Like mine.”

I looked into Midori’s eyes. “Wow, I can’t believe I never noticed before.”

She batted her gigantic eyelashes. “I don’t wear them all the time. Just when I want to look extra cute —kawaii.”

“Okay, that’s my problem. What’s cute about dressing up like a little girl and putting stuffed animals on your clothes?”

“Americans have a hard time understanding our ways.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll say.”

She grabbed my hand. “Come to my house and I’ll show you just how cute you can look.”

It took Midori almost an hour to complete my transformation from boring American college student to Kawaii Harajuku girl. She proudly stood me in front of the mirror. “See, you look super cute —kawaii neh!” 

The person that looked back at me was some kind of cartoon character. I had on a giant pink wig with pigtails and a matching tutu skirt worn over pale pink tights and glittery high-top sneakers. The sweater I had on was covered in bows and little stuffed bears. All in shades of pink of course. I could barely hold open my eye lids as the fake lashes I had on were almost as big as butterfly wings. I twirled around in front of the mirror astounded by the transformation.

Midori beamed. “You’re amazing. Let’s go to Shibuya and show you off.”

I looked at her and smiled. “You’re right. I’m so kawaii! In fact I’m so cute I need to go to the bathroom and throw up.”   

So you can see J Pop craziness for yourself here's Kyary's latest video Fashion Monster.   

Pulled From The Pages: Christmas in Japan=KFC!

Christmas in Tokyo

December 20th

When I first came to Japan in August, it never dawned on me that the Japanese would celebrate Christmas. But as December rolled around it became very clear the Japanese were totally into Christmas. Lights and decorations sprung up everywhere. The Christmas displays in Tokyo could give any major city in the States a run for their money.

The whole thing seemed so surreal. I had to know why, so I asked my friend Midori to meet me at Shinjuku station one of the epicenters of Japanese Christmas fever.

As we strolled past the endless light displays I said, “I really love how you’re so into Christmas, but I can’t help wonder why?”     

She gave me a crooked smile. “We are a complex people.”

“Okay, I get that. But aren’t you Buddhist?”

“Oh yes. But that has nothing to do with why we celebrate your holiday.”

I was tempted to tear off my scarf and strangle her. “Then tell me why.”

She stroked her diamond tennis bracelet. “Because we love bling.”

I laughed. “Okay, that makes total sense.”

A furrow crossed her brow. “I don’t mean to offend you, but we Japanese tend to adopt any tradition that is sparkly and fun.”

Having been in Japan for several months, I didn’t have any problem believing her. “So does Santa come to your houses too?”

A look of sheer joy crossed her face. “Of course, Santa is fun! He comes through the children’s windows and leaves a present under their pillow.” 

Knowing that fireplaces are few and far between in Tokyo, the window made sense. “Why only one present? That doesn’t sound very fun.”

She gave me a smile. “We have to be practical. Our houses are small."

I held back a chuckle. “And what about Christmas dinner?”

Keiko grabbed my arm. “Follow me.”

She led me down a side street and she stopped in front of a Kentucky Fried Chicken. “Here you go.”

I stared at a life sized Colonel Sanders dressed up as Santa. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

She took a deep breath of the aroma wafting out of the restaurant and pointed to the menu. “Nothing says Christmas in Japan like a party barrel bucket of fried chicken!”  

Pulled From The Pages: Japanese Nail Mania

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November 20th

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time in Japan, it’s that the Japanese know how to take a trend and push it to the limit. Take fingernails for example. A visit to the nail salon is like stepping into another world. You don’t just get a standard manicure, your nails are transformed into an art gallery. Every imaginable design can literally be at your fingertips. As an artist, I could appreciate the meticulous work that's done on a daily basis in the nail salons of Japan. And I was determined to get a gallery of my own.

Midori, my constant partner in crime, suggested we try a salon she read about in Nail Up magazine. (Yes, they have a magazine for everything in Japan.) She promised to treat me if I let her pick the design. We headed out to the trendy town of Shibuya to a salon called Bling Bling Nails.  If the sign was any indication of what was inside, I was in trouble. I didn't know if I wanted Toucans dancing across my nails in tutus.

The salon was sleek and modern like a high-end hotel. We sat down in the plush leather chairs and I had to admit I was a bit nervous. Giving myself over to Midori could be as dangerous as eating blowfish.

She patted my hand. “This going to be fun. So glad you are letting me pick your nail art.”

My mouth went dry. What had I agreed too? Midori’s taste and mine were light years apart. “I trust you.”

“Good, then close your eyes.”

“What?”

She gave me her best innocent little girl smile. “You are in good hands.”

I gazed around the salon at all the women oohing and ahhing over each other’s amazing nail art and decided to play along. I closed my eyes. “Go ahead, surprise me.”  

The nail artisan worked diligently on my nails as the time dragged on. And that wasn’t all that dragged. My fingernails felt like she was gluing on little weights.

The woman let go of my hands and pronounced, “Beutiful.”  

Midori squealed with delight. “Oh Anne. You are going to love what she’s done.”

I opened me eyes and blinked twice. My nails were covered with the most hideous thing on the planet. “How could you do this to me! You know how much I hate Hello Kitty!”

She gave me the little girl smile again. “I figured if you had to live with Kitty every day you’d learn to love her.”