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Monday, May 21, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
i think i'm turning japanese...
Heels, hair and Harajuku fashion, the three are synonymous with Tokyo. While walking the streets of the largest city in the world, Tokyo proved to classify itself as the trendiest city as well. One after another, the teased manes of bleached hair crossed the busy intersections beneath the fluorescent lights and continually flashing advertisements. The men and women strut straight off the pages of Vogue and onto the sidewalks attempting to battle for the most creative ensemble. Influenced by J-Pop fashion icons and futuristic aspiration, the aesthetics of the Japanese are a shocking sight.
I am baffled by the way the women walk…clearly they have not watched enough “Sex and the City” to learn the famous Carrie Bradshaw run (looking elegant and classy while exhibiting the latest pair of Manolo Blanhiks). Only about 1 in every 20 women that I passed on the streets was not in stilettos. I myself love wearing heels and am all for dressing up day to day, but before I venture off with my 3 inch height boosts, I usually make sure that I can walk normally in them without stumbling or tripping myself. I could not quite figure out if clumsiness was due to incorrect sizing of shoes, flat-footedness or just plain lack of coordination. No matter the cause, the women were still able to keep it together and look fabulous all the same.
The hair is a whole other topic for discussion. No joke, I passed a woman whose hair was teased so high that the circumference of her crown was larger than her bottom. Many appeared to look like dolls, made up for show with heads slightly too large for their bodies. The men participated in this phenomenon as well as they spiked and parted their hair in ways that I never knew to be possible. I am not going to lie…they may not have looked proportioned, but they all looked fantastic.
Clothing was an assortment of styles fused into a brand new taste. Basically the recipe for a good outfit was to grab the most mix-matched things in the closet and throw them together for a creative display. There were layers upon layers, knee socks galore and more trench coats than I knew were manufactured. I really believe that the trends need to fly across the Pacific and make their way to the States…maybe that will be my mission when the voyage is complete- to educate on world fashion.
Order is very important in Japan. The streets are spotless, beggars are not to be found and everyone appears to have been freshly washed. It is such a difference than America. I cannot remember a time where I felt the pressure to be so neat. There is no jaywalking in Japan…it is not that you will get in trouble, it is simply just not done. The trains and subways are testaments to technology and precision as they can take you anywhere and you feel safe, clean and incredibly on schedule while traveling. There is even order to boarding the transportation as you line up in front of the doors prior to the arrival of the chosen mode of transport and as the doors open a parting occurs to let the travelers off before you replace their bodies on board.
There are so many things that are just culturally different in Japan that seemed so bizarre to me. For instance, when purchasing anything at a store or restaurant, the money or form of payment was not to be handed to the cashier, instead you placed it on a tray in front of them then they took it from there. I thought slot machines were only super-popular in Las Vegas, but in Japan they are around every corner along with the comic stores, karaoke rooms and sticker booths. And the vending machines…let me tell you, they were so pretty with the cans on display that they called from across the street begging to be admired.
There is so much in Japan that we can learn from and take home with us just as Japan could learn from the States. Maybe a few extra trash cans would be nice just so you didn’t have to walk 6 blocks to dispose of a can and ATMs that took VISA cards would be much appreciated and great time savers. The world is a learning cycle and everyone has something to offer.
I did many things with my time in Japan. I observed the beauty of the Himeji Castle. I traveled up Mt. Rokko and took the cable cars and ropeways to see the nature and sheep that inhabited the Cheese Castle. I walked the bustling streets of Tokyo. Everything I did was wonderful and interesting, but nothing compared to my time at the “Muscle Musical”.
Traveling with my pal Vince, we wandered the regions of Tokyo looking for evening entertainment. While on the subway making our way to the next stop on our list, we saw the signs for a new show called “Muscle Musical”. The posters boasted a large group of fit Japanese twenty-somethings doing handstands and acrobatics under colorful lights. After reading that the show opened only 4 days prior and that the theatre happened to be at the next subway stop, Vince and I decided to hunt down the show and make it our mission to be in the audience for that evening.
With only 2 hours before the show started we began wandering aimlessly asking anyone and everyone if they knew where the “Muscle Musical” was playing. It appeared as though we were the only ones who had ever heard of it. Somehow with a stroke of luck we spotted lamppost banners along a connecting street and we followed our signals to an officer who finally pointed us in the right direction. We made it to the theatre and bought the tickets for 75 bucks a pop hoping that it would be well worth it. In a matter of time we would find out…
I don’t think I have ever spent my money better! The show started out with cast members dressed as monkeys and other jungle animals enjoying their daily life of picking at fleas. All is happy until a giant space ship disturbs the nature and space people appear in tight metallic shredded costumes. Don’t worry though, as soon as the animals and the space cadets touch fingers, an electric energy shocks them all into friendship that consists of gymnastics and other flashy acrobatics into a demonstration of pure randomness and delight. I was hardly able to control my silent laughter and I am pretty sure that my body convulsions we shaking Vince’s seat next to me.
Scene after scene, routine after routine the show was a manifestation of high-energy fun. There were cycling tricks, synchronized swimming bouts and millions of costumes changes that established a crazy sense of Japanese entertainment culture. I am positive that in the States this obscene and bizarre show would not even make it to the stage, but in Tokyo the crowd was wowed and amazed by the failed gymnasts bopping to the techno beat. The hodge podge of acts were hilarious and full of dramatic emotion and as funny as the whole thing was, the routines were impressive showing of choreography and stamina. As I told Vince, somehow I never pictured Japanese men to be so fit but after seeing about 50 sets of perfect abs I will never doubt again.
Everything from the haphazard assortment of performances to the neon hair colors of the cast members was amusing. The sets were well done, there were points with audience participation and everyone seemed to have a great time. Vince and I left the show with the largest grins on our faces. Along with many others we chanted the slogan of “J-U-N-G-L-E Jungle!” and acted out the corresponding hand gestures to the rhythm as we exited the theatre. I still smile at the thought of the opening sequence of the animals and aliens and I am pretty sure that anytime I think of my time in Japan the “Muscle Musical” will always be present.
I am baffled by the way the women walk…clearly they have not watched enough “Sex and the City” to learn the famous Carrie Bradshaw run (looking elegant and classy while exhibiting the latest pair of Manolo Blanhiks). Only about 1 in every 20 women that I passed on the streets was not in stilettos. I myself love wearing heels and am all for dressing up day to day, but before I venture off with my 3 inch height boosts, I usually make sure that I can walk normally in them without stumbling or tripping myself. I could not quite figure out if clumsiness was due to incorrect sizing of shoes, flat-footedness or just plain lack of coordination. No matter the cause, the women were still able to keep it together and look fabulous all the same.
The hair is a whole other topic for discussion. No joke, I passed a woman whose hair was teased so high that the circumference of her crown was larger than her bottom. Many appeared to look like dolls, made up for show with heads slightly too large for their bodies. The men participated in this phenomenon as well as they spiked and parted their hair in ways that I never knew to be possible. I am not going to lie…they may not have looked proportioned, but they all looked fantastic.
Clothing was an assortment of styles fused into a brand new taste. Basically the recipe for a good outfit was to grab the most mix-matched things in the closet and throw them together for a creative display. There were layers upon layers, knee socks galore and more trench coats than I knew were manufactured. I really believe that the trends need to fly across the Pacific and make their way to the States…maybe that will be my mission when the voyage is complete- to educate on world fashion.
Order is very important in Japan. The streets are spotless, beggars are not to be found and everyone appears to have been freshly washed. It is such a difference than America. I cannot remember a time where I felt the pressure to be so neat. There is no jaywalking in Japan…it is not that you will get in trouble, it is simply just not done. The trains and subways are testaments to technology and precision as they can take you anywhere and you feel safe, clean and incredibly on schedule while traveling. There is even order to boarding the transportation as you line up in front of the doors prior to the arrival of the chosen mode of transport and as the doors open a parting occurs to let the travelers off before you replace their bodies on board.
There are so many things that are just culturally different in Japan that seemed so bizarre to me. For instance, when purchasing anything at a store or restaurant, the money or form of payment was not to be handed to the cashier, instead you placed it on a tray in front of them then they took it from there. I thought slot machines were only super-popular in Las Vegas, but in Japan they are around every corner along with the comic stores, karaoke rooms and sticker booths. And the vending machines…let me tell you, they were so pretty with the cans on display that they called from across the street begging to be admired.
There is so much in Japan that we can learn from and take home with us just as Japan could learn from the States. Maybe a few extra trash cans would be nice just so you didn’t have to walk 6 blocks to dispose of a can and ATMs that took VISA cards would be much appreciated and great time savers. The world is a learning cycle and everyone has something to offer.
I did many things with my time in Japan. I observed the beauty of the Himeji Castle. I traveled up Mt. Rokko and took the cable cars and ropeways to see the nature and sheep that inhabited the Cheese Castle. I walked the bustling streets of Tokyo. Everything I did was wonderful and interesting, but nothing compared to my time at the “Muscle Musical”.
Traveling with my pal Vince, we wandered the regions of Tokyo looking for evening entertainment. While on the subway making our way to the next stop on our list, we saw the signs for a new show called “Muscle Musical”. The posters boasted a large group of fit Japanese twenty-somethings doing handstands and acrobatics under colorful lights. After reading that the show opened only 4 days prior and that the theatre happened to be at the next subway stop, Vince and I decided to hunt down the show and make it our mission to be in the audience for that evening.
With only 2 hours before the show started we began wandering aimlessly asking anyone and everyone if they knew where the “Muscle Musical” was playing. It appeared as though we were the only ones who had ever heard of it. Somehow with a stroke of luck we spotted lamppost banners along a connecting street and we followed our signals to an officer who finally pointed us in the right direction. We made it to the theatre and bought the tickets for 75 bucks a pop hoping that it would be well worth it. In a matter of time we would find out…
I don’t think I have ever spent my money better! The show started out with cast members dressed as monkeys and other jungle animals enjoying their daily life of picking at fleas. All is happy until a giant space ship disturbs the nature and space people appear in tight metallic shredded costumes. Don’t worry though, as soon as the animals and the space cadets touch fingers, an electric energy shocks them all into friendship that consists of gymnastics and other flashy acrobatics into a demonstration of pure randomness and delight. I was hardly able to control my silent laughter and I am pretty sure that my body convulsions we shaking Vince’s seat next to me.
Scene after scene, routine after routine the show was a manifestation of high-energy fun. There were cycling tricks, synchronized swimming bouts and millions of costumes changes that established a crazy sense of Japanese entertainment culture. I am positive that in the States this obscene and bizarre show would not even make it to the stage, but in Tokyo the crowd was wowed and amazed by the failed gymnasts bopping to the techno beat. The hodge podge of acts were hilarious and full of dramatic emotion and as funny as the whole thing was, the routines were impressive showing of choreography and stamina. As I told Vince, somehow I never pictured Japanese men to be so fit but after seeing about 50 sets of perfect abs I will never doubt again.
Everything from the haphazard assortment of performances to the neon hair colors of the cast members was amusing. The sets were well done, there were points with audience participation and everyone seemed to have a great time. Vince and I left the show with the largest grins on our faces. Along with many others we chanted the slogan of “J-U-N-G-L-E Jungle!” and acted out the corresponding hand gestures to the rhythm as we exited the theatre. I still smile at the thought of the opening sequence of the animals and aliens and I am pretty sure that anytime I think of my time in Japan the “Muscle Musical” will always be present.
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