Japan Fashion Week wrapped up last week in Tokyo Midtown, the event passed a lot of people in the
international press by, but Tokyo still remains the place where H&M, Forever 21 and a host of other
major brands battle for every last millimeter of retail space.  We took the chance to find out what
one of the professionals attending the event thought of it and where they get their inspiration from while in Tokyo.

Japan Fashion Week on GaijinPot.

So what does Japan fashion mean for you and where does your fashion inspiration come from?
Leave your thoughts below and check the In Japan section for more on shopping in Japan.

Shopping in Japan can be expensive especially when you don’t know where to go. But fret not! I’m going to share with you my little hidden spots of outlet shops, vintage boutiques and low-cost shopping – places you can go without you having to give up your sense of style.
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Have you ever wandered the aisles of your local Japanese drug store chain wondering what most of the stuff is? Well, me too. And once I found out what some of it actually was, I had to laugh. But who really knows if these products work or not? It’s hard to say who will get the last laugh.

Wacky Beauty Product #1: Breast Enlarger Cookies (more…)

Barring confusion with a still from some shopping mall horror flick, this photo from a Japanese dressing room might be rather self-explanatory. Whenever women want to try on clothes in Japan, they will usually find a box of nearly transparent fabric slips in the corner of the stall. Though they strongly resemble the fabric softener sheets some people throw in the dryer, they are actually head covers. (more…)

Hey, how’s your summer going? Up here in Akita where I live, we are having an unseasonably cool summer…Not that I’m complaining mind you, but it does cut back on my days at the beach! And I love the beach!  Akita has some really nice sandy beaches along the central and southern coastline and some really cool rocky ones to the north and around the Oga peninsula jutting out into the Sea of Japan.

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Tokyo is no stranger to the fashion world. From hot international fashion items straight off the catwalks of Milan and New York right through to Japanese inspired fashion and ‘cosplay’, inner city Tokyo boasts thousands of options when it comes to adorning yourself with the latest must-have piece. However, no other store seems to have attracted the attention of Tokyoites as has ‘Forever 21′.

‘Forever 21′, a clothing chain founded in the US, opened its flagship Japanese store in Harajuku this May. The multi-level store is a one-stop-shop when it comes to all things fashion including tops, skirts, dresses, t-shirts, pants, swimming costumes, handbags, shoes, jewellery and accessories. What has set this store apart from the rest is its low prices. You can pick up almost any item and it will not set you back more than 3000 yen. (more…)

When I lived in Toyama I had a girlfriend. At the time I had just been brought into video games by a friend of mine who enjoyed them and collected them as a hobby (Thanks Kenji!). But at night when I wanted to relax and enjoy my game my girlfriend would be rather upset at my choice of activity, “Why are you playing your games?” she would always ask me in a scolding voice. My answer would always be, “Because dear, I’m bored.” This would usually end with me turning off my game and being forced to sit through some Japanese drama TV show with her.

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At certain times throughout the year, Japan feels less like the “land of the rising sun” and more like the kingdom of the constant downpour. Luckily for me, the most popular trend in Rihanna’s accessory of choice is a sweet, clear contraption with a sturdy white handle.

This kind of umbrella helps to lift my spirits when I know I have to brave the rain. I view it as the stylish counterpart to the cheap, uninspired black umbrellas hawked on the streets of Chinatown back in New York. Although equally as affordable (not to mention ubiquitous), this particular variety manages to possess a certain charm. First of all, transparent goes with everything.

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I recently discovered Japanese cosmetics. I have extremely sensitive skin. I’m one of those rare people that is allergic to SPF. It makes my face break out in big red sores. It’s bad. Thank goodness for dermatologists! Well, I’ve always noticed that Japanese women have almost perfect skin.

• Small pores
• Even skin tone
• Sometimes I can’t even tell if they are wearing make up!

Today is a look at my two favorite Japanese cosmetics.

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