It is also the best time to gather up with friends and family, set a picnic and take photos. They are also some locals that sell Japanese specialties. If you’re a tourist and unfamiliar with it, you can have some for free and if you like it, buy it then.

I was caught off guard that day, I didn’t know that we were going down town thus the look.

Charlene Dy photo blog.

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.

Outlet shop

Japan is brimming with fashion spots like Harajuku, Ometesando, Ikebukuro, Shibuya and Shinjuku. Each of these places carry its own shopping cultures, movement and people. However, lets leave that discussion for another day, because as promise, I’m going to show you places where you can get the goods you’ve been dying for there, but only cheaper.

In Kobe, there is shopping mecca called Porto Bazaar where you can get designer and branded pieces sold for much less.

In Hyogo (specifically located near my place in Kakogawa), there is an outlet shop that sells heaps of branded and cool pieces from Edwin, Seventeen and more with prices that range from ¥200-¥4000 (about $2-$40).

Vintage shops

Second hand shops in Japan are everywhere, and since the economy downturn, even more so.

Vintage shops in Japan are great because they seems to sell the best of designers goods for next-to-nothing. Here are some of the shops in Kakogawa that sells branded pieces from Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons, Dior, Coach, Louis Vuitton and even local labels such as Cinema Club, Ingni and many more.

The one hundred-Yen shop

Or should I say, the one hundred and ten yen shop? (since it’s always has an additional 10% tax). Daiso is a popular store that sells everything in ¥100 and there’s one located in every part of Japan. You could find everything here from food, office ware, school supplies, garden tools, car accessories and of course beauty and fashion goods such as make-up, tights, stockings, gloves, knit materials and hair accessories.

Wacky Beauty Product #1: Breast Enlarger Cookies

You can buy these cookies at almost any drug store or Don Quixote and they are called F-cup cookies. Can a cookie really enhance the size of a woman’s breast? I’m not sure but the magic ingredient in these cookies is Pueraria Mirifica, a root herb that can be found in Northern Thailand and Myanmar. Some benefits of taking this herb are increased appetite, increased circulation, increased energy and vigor, and better sleep. So, let’s “bust up!”

Wacky Beauty Product #2: Smile Trainers

As a matter of fact, the well-respected Japanese brand, Shu Uemura, makes this product, which is a small, brace-like prosthetic that you fit into your mouth. The company says that this smile trainer will train people to smile more often and at the same time, work to decrease facial sagging. However, you cannot actually speak when the product is in your mouth so don’t take it to work with you.

Wacky Beauty Product #3: Face Shaper

This product serves two purposes. One is to make your face slimmer and the other is for a Friday the 13th Halloween mask. This mask supposedly contains the “growing” of your face by pressing down on your facial bones and also massages and melts away the fat from your face. I’d say your better off using it for Halloween.

Wacky Beauty Product #4: Nose Stretcher

With this product, you might be better off just buying a strong clothespin, as the product itself resembles just that. The Hana Hana Nose Stretcher promises to make your nose bigger and longer by stretching the nose cartilage with only a few minutes of use everyday. But who in their right mind wants a bigger or longer nose? Apparently, Japanese women do, as they are supposedly unhappy with their small, flat noses, according to the advertisement. Although a nose stretcher sounds painful, plastic surgery sounds even more so. Therefore, in the end, the Hana Hana Nose Stretcher might be the way to go if you want to change your honker.

Wacky Beauty Product #5: Head Bath Cap

This is a plastic cap which you fill with water and put over your head. The water is said to be good for your scalp and will help you grow thicker and longer hair. The cap also covers the entire face so make sure that you are at home alone when you use this, otherwise you may scare the hell out of someone.

Wacky Beauty Product #6: Neck Stretcher

This accordion-like device is meant to go around your neck and is then filled with air from a conveniently provided hand pump. This is meant to stretch your neck and increase your height. It might have been more effective just to drink your milk, just like your mom told you to.

Wacky Beauty Product #7: Slim Mouth Piece

The slim mouth piece is different from the smile trainer in that it exercises your facial muscles and helps you to lose fat around the mouth. Also, despite its name, it is actually supposed to make your mouth bigger. If the mouth is widened, it will give the appearance of a “small face”, which is greatly admired by the Japanese.

Wacky Beauty Product #8: Feces Odor Tablets

Yes, this product was invented in Japan for those who are self-conscious about pooping in public toilets. Nothing is more embarrassing than leaving a not-so-rosy smell behind you in the stall, especially if another person is waiting to use it. These tablets promise to make your feces completely odor-free after three days of use. “People must be responsible for their odors,” the bottle claims. The tablets come in a bottle which reads Etiquette Up. So if you’re suffering from poop anxiety, head to your nearest drug store chain to see if they carry some of these lovely tablets.

Wacky Beauty Product #9: Bird Poop Facial Treatment

Nightingale droppings have been used since the 18th century, by geishas and kabuki dancers to wash off their heavy white makeup. These droppings contain guanine, an enzyme that is said to be good for exfoliating, whitening the skin, removing pollutants and blackheads, and making the skin tone even. It doesn’t come cheap however, one ounce is about 2,000 yen and a facial treatment with the stuff can cost over 20,000 yen. Who knew that bird poop was actually worth anything?

If you are a foreigner, the assistant will likely point out its presence, urging you to take advantage of the store’s desperate attempt to keep its merchandise in good sale condition. These makeup masks are designed to prevent the inadvertent transfer of all female facial enhancement products onto tops and dresses which are pulled over the face.

The concept is similar to the one that spawned the surgical-mask-as-sickness-prevention trend so easily observed in most Japanese public settings. Many newbies to Japan (myself included) will confess that they simply disregarded these ghostly garment shields in the beginning, not fully understanding their purpose. One girl recently confided to me that she thought it was a sanitary square on which to stand after removing her shoes. One can only assume she has excellent balance.

I consider this to be an excellent example of the stereotypically courteous behavior for which Japan is famous. And judging by the liberal use of glitter eyeshadow and fake lashes on display in my city alone, it would appear that such precautionary measures are not merely considerate, but entirely necessary.

So, finally we have a perfect beach day and here we are! You all remember my friend, Akiko, from my earlier blog at the onsen, right?

‘Geeze’, this girl LOVES water! Hot or cold, fresh or salty, doesn’t matter to her! And doesn’t she look hot in that bikini? Do you know she buys a new one every season! She is so cute!

Here on my left is my friend, Akina. You’ll be seeing more of her in blogs to come….Uhhh…Not literally of course…I mean there’s not much left to the imagination in that getup! She’s a real cutie too…Wouldn’t you agree? Akina is a free-spirited bijin like Akiko and me. The three of us hang out together a lot.

It’s getting a little hot out here now, and we bijins don’t like to burn. Don’t forget to put on plenty of sunscreen when you go out to the beach. We always do!  You have to protect your skin from the elements of the weather. Our skin is our outer beauty so we take good care to preserve it as long as we can. So, you all be careful with the sunlight and don’t over do it!

Well, we are off for a little frolicking in the water and then a beach barbeque with some more friends.

Hope we didn’t shock you with our slightly revealing swimwear, hehehehe!

Until next time………..mata ne!

‘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. The sizes too are also kind to the foreigner. Although I generally fit into smaller sizes back home, finding clothing in Asia that I don’t need to be strapped into to avoid popping a button is always somewhat of a problem.

It seems the lure of foreign, hip fashion in combination with the low prices have sent Tokyo’s women into a spin. As a foreigner, one of the first things we often notice is how polite the Japanese are and the emphasis they place on showing respect in such an overt manner. While shopping in Japan one is welcomed by the familiar call of irasshaimase (welcome), most people are generally very polite as they move around the store and a bow from the shop assistant whether you bought something or not is a common sight. Forever 21 is probably as far away from a regular Japanese shopping experience that one can get.

Firstly, you have to queue to enter the store. One might be mistaken in thinking it is some kind of nightclub with security manning the door and controlling the masses. Although I must say, I have never had to wait for long to enter as the security guards seem to succumb to the pressure of the eagerly awaiting glare of young women wanting to update their wardrobes. The queues often build up to such an extent that the store opens vastly earlier than its scheduled opening time of 11am. Once I thought that arriving at 10am on a Monday (which I imagined would be a less notorious day for shopping) would exempt me from having to endure the insane crowds. However, it seems that no hour or day is a quiet one. The number of people allowed to enter at any one time far exceeds that of those exiting, which leads us to the first major problem: the sheer amount of people. The store is so crowded that moving from one rack to another is almost an impossible task. It is like being on the train during peak hour only this time with women on a mission who are not afraid to wrestle you for that perfect addition to their outfit. In fact, in Forever 21 is probably the first time I have seen Japanese people bordering on rude. Pushing and elbowing to get past even though there is no space to move into without a hint of a sumimasen (sorry/excuse me). Why some shoppers try to bring in prams or pushers is beyond me. And don’t even think about trying to get back to the same spot for a second look. This has lead to most shoppers just grabbing what they can even if they are still undecided on buying it and then trying to find a skerrick of space on the stairwell to sort through their options before dumping anything that doesn’t make the grade.

The stairwell seems to be a common respite area where shoppers gather in corners, even sitting on the floor and arranging their potential outfits for further inspection. Weary shoppers can even be seen taking a nap along with exhausted boyfriends and husbands more often than not clutching a small, sleeping child oblivious to the mayhem around them. The first time I visited Forever 21 there were two floors dedicated to men’s fashion that within a matter of a week or so was downsized to a small corner on the top floor. One can most likely assume due to the massive sales made in the women’s sections and the apparent disinterest many men have in this kind of shopping experience.

While most Tokyoites seem to associate Forever 21, and Harajuku as a whole, as a hub for younger fashion, Forever 21 does not seem to have an age limit. Forever 21 is prompting many older women to dare the crowds to pick up their piece of the craze. One morning, I took my host mother. She had been wanting to go since the store had opened, saying she is usually the last person to be so caught up in fashion or the latest fad, but all the media hype on the television and in newspapers about the store had even given her the Forever 21 fever.

If one wants to try on their potential purchases, then prepare to queue again for the fitting room with the line snaking around racks upon racks of clothing. As the prices are affordable for a new fashion piece, most women gather more than the six items allowed into the change room at any one time. The other items must be hung on the door and swapped over by the shop assistant. As the women ponder their purchases in front of the mirror one by one, the wait for others can seem like an eternity with many opting to just hold the item up in front of one of the mirrors around the store to guesstimate the correct size, or attempt an impromptu public fitting, squeezing the items over their existing clothes to check the fit. The queue to the cash register is often equally as long but seems to move quicker than the lines to the fitting rooms. I doubt the whole experience can be conquered in less than two hours. But rest assured relief for those hunger pains is not far away with local businesses also cashing in on the increased traffic by offering ‘Forever 21′ lunch and dinner specials.

What one comes out with at the other end seems to be the prized piece, more precious than the clothing itself: the yellow bag. The Forever 21 shopping bag, already infamous around Tokyo in a bright canary yellow with black, bold letters is the supposed gateway to improved social standing. Forever 21 has an online store which seems to be a good alternative to enduring the heavy crowds and lengthy queues, however, much of the pleasure comes from the experience of going to the store and being ’seen’ with that yellow bag in the busy streets. Harajuku, particularly in and around the Takeshita Dori area, is a sea of yellow. In fact, the first time I found Forever 21 was by following those yellow bags. Always carried with pride, the satisfied shopper can be assured that the passerby will notice their purchase. Recycling the bag and using it to carry other items on non-shopping days so that one can re-live that Forever 21 feeling is not uncommon.

While all crazes inherently die down, Forever 21 is not yet showing any signs of slowing up. It seems for the foreseeable future that Tokyoites are pleased with their one-stop-shop to social improvement. Have a coffee, bring your most comfortable pair of shoes, a keen eye for a winner and a bucket-load of patience and that yellow bag can be yours too.

Two months into our TV routine, I decided to do something I never thought I would have done before. I actually invited her to play with me. I was playing Super Mario Bros. and thought the game was easy enough for her to play without too much assistance from me. After twenty minutes of convincing dialogue and showing her the controls and walking her through the first level she took the controller, plopped down on the floor, and crawled up to the TV. I was excited to have a second person to play Family Computer with, but also anxious to see how she would do.

She died three times trying to pass the first level and twice trying to pass the second. The game over screen came up and she watched in what I could call anger as she was sent back to the first level only dying twice to finish it. She never made it to 1-4 and was frustrated that I played well. “You are only doing this to get out of watching TV with me !” She would say in her scolding voice. I explained to her that was not true but instead I wanted to do something with her as a couple.

We switched over to the Super Famicom since I knew maybe Super Mario Bros. was a little too advanced for her. Realizing that I would needed something easy for her to figure out and play but not make her look unintelligent or foolish for losing, my answer…Yoshi’s Cookie.

Yoshi’s Cookie is a puzzle game for the Super Famicom. The objective of the game is to line up the rows of cookies so that the rows would have completely matching cookies. You would only be given a certain amount of moves you could make before you lost though giving the game some challenge. She managed to learn the controls in about an hour and she even managed to figure out some of the puzzles by herself. One night I even caught her playing by herself when I got up in the middle of the night.

Sadly, our relationship did not stand well against the sands of time as we went our separate ways a month or so later. But every now and then I still pop in Yoshi’s Cookie and try to figure out the puzzles as she could do and keep the happy memories of what time I got to spend with her in my heart.

The point of the story is that we live in a world where both video games and girlfriends exist side by side. Many people write and ask what is my best piece of advice to getting non-game playing girlfriends to play with them. My answer is really simple. Buy a game you think she would enjoy. If she is the type that does not play video games, you need to find something easy to learn and challenging to master (Like Pac-Man). Since it is something you are doing as a couple, maybe try a game she would like and both you and her play it together. This is even better when you and her are not great at the game and both you and her can grow together in skill.

I don’t have a girlfriend right now in life, But when I finally find miss right for me ( I know who she is…). I do plan to at least have her play one game with me. This week I know its not some ground breaking or thought provoking article. I wanted to just write a little bit about my gaming life and share a rather interesting story with everyone. Well a story I always thought was interesting anyway.

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.

Despite what some people may believe, bad weather is not an automatic excuse for tacky accessorization. More importantly, I can still see what is going on around me when I hurry down the sidewalk or jump over curbside puddles. The plastic allows me to look up, from side to side, or straight ahead if I so desire. This is infinitely better than having to focus my attention on the ground ahead of me and the depressing pools of water accumulating everywhere. Instead of wandering about under an opaque eggshell, I basically walk the way I would at any other time.

I especially love to be among a crowd of people carrying clear umbrellas. On hazy mornings, when I find myself surrounded by a sea of shimmering plastic, the scene evokes a kind of drizzly dreamscape. Back home, whenever it rained, I would leave the apartment and feel as though I were partaking in a massive funeral procession. Although I will always prefer balmy weather and clear skies, I have to say that rainy days no longer get me quite so down. Mondays, however, are still a problem.

• 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.

First off, I recently discovered a brand that has been loved by many other make up bloggers (Musings of a Muse) Kissme Heroine Make. It’s a drug store brand, but you can get it online (Webichi, SASA) or a Japanese market. I do admit, the only reason I really became interested was because of the mascot girl looking like a Rose of Versailles character. I got the volume and curl version. When I went to the store, there were no more! But after looking around the rest of the store I discovered one of those random discarded products! Thank you whoever who decided not to buy!!

I love this mascara. I have been looking for a new mascara since I really liked Maybelline Intense XXL Volume + Length Mascara, but it flaked (not good for contacts) and smudged horribly. This does not at all. I do not have to re-apply and it makes my eyes look bigger and it really does make your lashes naturally curl. Only downside is because it stays no almost too well, it is a little hard to get off. I use Neutrogena’s Oil Free Eye Make Up Remover and it works just fine.