’Fashion Sport’

If you set yourself up in Harajuku, you’ll see it.

Competitive fashion sport. These kids live for a single purpose: to make it on a blog. The mouths of the alleys are lined with photographers assistants wearing backpacks filled with lenses. They keep their eyes unblinking on the crowded alleyways, looking for a gem amid the sea of non-ironic Japanese hipsters. They are looking for something different in a sea of similarity. They see the same things on loop. American military inspired jackets, glasses with no lenses, an endless current of plaid. They see scarves that have scarves. But every now and then these fly fishers of cool will find something that glimmers. They’ll pull aside the youngster, make them fill out a form and then have their assistant snap four photos of them at the same pre-determined angles. Then they’ll toss the kid back into the sea of regurgitated trendiness and wait again. Catch and release. Some of these kids walk the alleys for the entire weekend. Making a point to slow down before the row of photographers. They’ll casually spin and turn, hoping to be discovered. Sometimes they’ll dive into a thrift shop, pick up an accessory, buy a bandana or wallet chain or bargain sunglasses, and try their luck again. It’s a treasure hunt for credibility. Trying to crack the latest code of what is new in a city obsessed with reinvention. I’ve been stopped two times. I’m no fashionista, but I do stand out a head an shoulders above the rest of the alley. One time I was ‘dressed as’ a street baller, fresh off of playing at Yoyogi. The other time I must have had the right blend of denims to solicit their attention. But I’m not worthy of their time, there are plenty of kids whose life pursuit is to make one of those fashion blogs. They are living street snaps. Their cool is untouchable. 

They lead the world of fashion and then they break for a Big Mac.