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by Jon Day
TOKYO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Once upon a time the word cute or " kawaii" in Japanese language and culture referred to an aesthetic that was deemed by the masses to posses the qualities of beauty and refinement. But fast forward to modern-day Japan, the word has become so pervasive that it can be used to describe anything from Chihuahua's dressed in doggy Chanel clothes and being pushed around in baby buggies http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Asics Kids Shoes Online , to the way a young lady has applied her eyeliner, or even to express the delight found in the way soft- scoop ice cream that is artfully decorated with strawberry sauce- shaped heart marks.
But, however the word is applied, one thing is for sure, in Japan being kawaii in any of its standard, trendy or outright bizarre manifestations is a good thing. To many, in fact, there's no greater compliment than being called or having something about your person http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Asics Mens Shoes Online , referred to as being "kawaii" and this refers to both men and women.
Such is the deep-rooted love of all things kawaii in Japan, that its constant evolution, particularly in the fashion world, is more science than culture and in Harajuku in Tokyo -- the universe 's spiritual home of all things "kawaii" -- to the uninitiated, kawaii fashion, usually a sub-genre or reinterpretation of one of the many Lolita fashion sub-genres, is just a "quirk" of Japanese fashion and for tourists the chance to snap a pic of something far- removed from wherever they've hailed from.
Take the Gothic Lolita style for instance, which has borrowed heavily from more traditional eastern as well as Victorian Gothic style; comprising knee-length black skirts worn over ruffled petticoats for added volume http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Asics Womens Shoes Online , lace-trimmed white blouses with ruffled collars and cuffs for the Victorian effect, knee-length boots with optional ripped stockings and sometimes finished with bonnets and a parasol to ensure the edgy look is still "kawaii," -- to the untrained eye, odd, to the fashionists an expression of " self."
"I hang out in Harajuku most weekends and as much as I can when I'm not at school because it's not like Japan here, it's a different world; it's a world that we have created for people like us," Sae, 17 http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Asics Shoes Online , a senior high school student, told Xinhua recently through her mesmerizing, yet clearly fake green eyes.
"When I was younger, I preferred the Sweet Lolita style, cause it's more girly and childish and it made me feel really pretty and innocent, like I'd be young forever and never grow up. I used to where a lot of pink pastels and lace and always wear lace socks or stockings under my ruffled skirt."
"My pink 6-inch platform shoes completed my transformation, as a I felt so tall. But of course I carried a pink parasol, even if the sun wasn't out http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Cheap Asics Running Shoes , just so everyone could see how super-cute I was," Sae, who said she plans to study veterinary science in university once she's finished school, said.
Clearly over her Sweet Lolita phase and looking distinctly more edgy in her gothic-inspired outfit and dark-hued makeup, Sae and her friend Chie said they're in no way rebels, as they're sometimes vilified as being in the media, nor are they "freeters" - - young Japanese with no jobs, who don't study and spend most of their time on the streets http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Cheap Asics Kids Shoes , although still rely on handouts from their parents.
Chie, in fact, a year older than Sae, who describes herself as more Punk Lolita than Gothic Lolita, is something of a mathematics prodigy who not only tutors younger students at her school to pass the high school entrance exam, also plays mahjong at an advanced level and while gambling is illegal in Japan, confesses to have taken the odd guy or two for a ride.
"They assume because I'm cute, have long eyelashes http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Cheap Asics Mens Shoes , wear my hair in pony tails and speak in a high-pitched voice -- probably more so when I was into Sweet Lolita-Decora fusion fashion, and my entire baby pink outfits were decorated in tons of cute accessories, so you could hardly see my bag or shirt or anything -- that I must be dumb."
"If I told them which high school I went to, or which university I was likely to attend, they'd have been utterly surprised. So with mahjong booming for younger players like me, it 's kind of easy for me to dupe these old suckers!" she said giggling.
For Sae's part she likes the attention, but knows it's more of a hobby and way to spend her pocket money than a fixed lifestyle, and while she's happy to stop and have her picture taken by foreigners and sometimes poses at the "Lolita bridge" between Harajuku station and Meiji Shrine just next door -- so named for the gathering of hundreds of Lolitas of all descriptions on a Sunday afternoon -- is quick to dismiss any notion of her having ulterior motives for playing dress up.
"When I was a Sweet Lolita and taking the train from my house in Saitama Prefecture to come and hang out here http://www.asicsshoesrunningsale.com/ - Cheap Asics Womens Shoes , I could feel guys checking me out all the time and it made me feel really uncomfortable, because I wasn't dressing for them or for anyone, I was dressing this way because it made me feel really comfortable; putting on my cute outfits and my makeup was like putting on my real skin," Sae said, adding that hanging out with her girlfriends who were all into the same fashion made her feel comfortable, united and . http://www.cheapjerseysbruins.com/ - Cheap Bruins Jerseys http://www.cheapjerseysbluejackets.com/ - Cheap Blue Jackets Jerseys http://www.cheapjerseysblackhawks.com/ - Cheap Blackhawks Jerseys http://www.cheapjerseysavalanche.com/ - Cheap Avalanche Jerseys http://www.cheapjerseypanthers.com/ - Cheap Florida Panthers Jerseys http://www.cheapfinlandjerseys.com/ - Cheap Team Finland Hockey Jerseys http://www.cheapczechrepublicjerseys.com/ - Cheap Team Czech Republic Hockey Jerseys http://www.cheapusahockeyjerseys.com/ - Cheap Team USA Hockey Jerseys http://www.cheaprussiajerseys.com/ - Wholesale Team Russia Hockey Jerseys http://www.cheapoilersjerseys.com/ - Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys
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