MangoVine
Adventures in East Asia

Entries in Japan

 17 May, 2009
Sunday Design Festa at Tokyo Big Sight - Linh’s Big Hair
Linh wasn't sure what to expect from the Design Festa Art Event held at Tokyo Big Sight, since I'd mentioned that they'd be lots of design and crafty things to see. However, it didn't take long for her to notice a creative hairdressing space - the kind of exhibitor we weren't expecting.

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After chatting with the (stylish) stylists there and hesitating (briefly), Linh decided to take the plunge and get her hair puffed up (not cut) for 1,000 JPY (£6.75). At that cost, it was inexpensive enough to try out the "big hair" image for a day.

Read more... 17 May, 2009
Sunday Design Festa at Tokyo Big Sight - Personal Creativity at its Finest!
One of my highlights during our two week stay in Tokyo was spending a day at the bi-annual Design Festa International Art Event, held at the fabulously named Tokyo Big Sight.

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Design Festa only happens twice a year, the second time in November and so I was particularly happy that we were in Tokyo for the May event, which is actually the 29th such event to be held.

Read more... 16 May, 2009
Saturday Japanese Subculture Fashion at Takeshita Street, Harujuku
Harujuku's Takeshita Street, across the road from one of Harujuku's station exits is an alley packed with pedestrians, including alot of punky adolescents, sporting subcultural costumes. They seemed drawn to the area to browse and shop at many of the kitschy stores selling outrageous gear and accessories.

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As were made our way simultaneously checking out the goods and navigating our way through the crowds, I couldn't help thinking that only in Japan would some of the costumes displayed be seriously considered for everyday wear.

Read more... 16 May, 2009
Saturday Cosplayer Sightings at Harujuku’s Jingu Bridge
During our time in Tokyo, I wanted to snap some cosplayers and read that the Jingu Bridge, just up the road from Harujuku station was the place to be on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon.

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We were actually going to the Design Festa on our last available Sunday, so had to make do with visiting Jingu Bridge on a Saturday late afternoon instead.

Read more... 16 May, 2009
Saturday Tokyo’s Grandest Meiji Shrine and a Traditional Japanese Wedding
Visiting the historic Meiji-Jingu or Meiji Shrine couldn't be more different to the nearby subculture-packed Takeshita-dori alley. From Harujuku station, we crossed over the Japanese cosplayer's destination - the Jingu Bridge (where cosplayers gather on Sunday afternoons posing for photos) - to enter the spacious, leafy grounds where the Meiji Shrine is located.

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