This outfit almost make me lose my mind. The bottom is fairly standard, neon tennis shoes with wings. Above that are stockings that scream Rocky Horror Picture show. The shorts and matching top look like someone robbed grandma’s couch. And there’s so much more. I have to thank this kid for confusing me completely.
Summer Olympics is not just about athletics, it’s also about hot athletes. My favorite is Japanese world champion gymnast Kohei Uchimura, recently profiled and photographed by the New York Times magazine.
Kohei is incredibly strong, precise, and focused. He’s the first male gymnast to win three consecutive world all around titles (2009, 2010, 2011). In Beijing he won two silver medals.
And his visual style combines stubble for macho toughness with tall helmet hair that screams mom and eyebrows that have been yanked and angled within a few hairs of their existence. Swoon.
I am selfishly wishing he wins plenty of gold medals, and becomes a regular image of corporate marketing in Japan. I’d much prefer to see young Kohei than skinny Ichiro. Maybe that’s just me?
Who will you be stalking this Olympics?
Last week I was waiting for a friend at the Nakano JR station. He was late, but it didn’t matter. That station is one of my favorite people watching spots. At any time of day or night, there are always people waiting at the North Exit for friends to show up. Nakano has none of the desperate fashion extremes of Shibuya or Harajuku (fueled largely by suburban visitors, no doubt), but always a fun mix of mod, retro, regular and unique styles. I like this young guy’s studied indifference to being watched and photographed. Not sure about the 70s shark skin jacket, but I love the over-sized man-bag and boots. Plus the photo includes a bonus salaryman’s back side.
Men torturing their hair is one of the sights that always brightens my day in Tokyo. This hair was particularly huge in Shibuya. I caught images of the side and back.
Some people have told me that Japanese men who do this to their hair think they look like “lions.” Have you heard other funny explanations for this explosion of male vanity? What do they say these styles look like? And what do you think they look like?
It seems like a little bit of Japan has landed in the US. The NY Times breathlessly reports that US male youth are growing their hair big and mixing up eras and styles. Funny to note that the story’s photographer has a Japanese name.
Mid-summer in Tokyo is a wall of heat and humidity. A long day of work was suddenly perked up by the site of this hyper-coordinated youth. Showing that style does not have to be expensive or formal, this fashion super-hero matches his cap, t-shirt, shorts and Crocs in shades of orange and yellow. I ❤ Tokyo! おしゃれ！
Tokyo Moe 