JENESYS 2.0 Day 2 : Kawaii Culture and Harajuku
October 05, 2013
Autumn in Japan these days is a mixture of sunny summer and windy winter, including a light rain during the second day. I still haven't seen the red leaves like I thought, but some leaves have left its branch and fallen on the street, leaving the asphalt a little messy in a beautiful way
This is Tokyo, and the second day of my JENESYS 2.0 program ^_^
For the second day, the entertainment category had a lecture by Mr Renato Rivera Rusca, the Assistant professor in Meiji University School of Commerce, about Japanese Popular Culture and Cool Japan
I was very excited to know learn about the lecture and study Japanese Culture further
Basically he explained to us about Japanese Pop Culture right now is linked by their traditional culture. and the Japanese Government is trying to merge Creative Japan and Industrial Japan right now by the project of Cool Japan
And J-Pop Culture that's very popular overseas such as their manga, anime, fashion, and such, are in fact only their sub-culture and not widely known by many people in Japan itself. So they're trying to promote this more, both to local and overseas. Japanese People usually think that those stuffs are normal until someone tells them that it's uncommon to see in other countries
So that's why Cool Japan and Kawaii is all about. To represent and give new insights about what's unique in Japan, and things that you can only get in Japan ^_^
They also have some programs to get their Kawaii Ambassador Program *grins*
And in case you remember, that's Misako Aoki on the picture. She's my friend and Rin rin's friend who's a famous lolita model and becomes the Kawaii Lolita Ambassador in Japan
I've worked with her twice, which is for Marble Wonderland Fashion Collection in Tokyo and AFA ID 2013
And I can say that she's very cute and deserves to be the Lolita Ambassador
I felt like a nice student, listening to the lecture diligently with my friends who came from different countries and cultures
We also had Q & A Session
As I wasn't satisfied with the lecture, I ran to Mr Rusca after the lecture finished and got some nice chat and discussion about Japanese Culture. He's very smart and I got new insights about Japan clearer
Anyway, this is my group. Each group has representatives around 1-3 persons from each country so the background of us are very rich and colourful
I dyed my hair darker this time for this scholarship but in the end still got it lighter than everyone else lol
After the lecture, the schedule was supposed to be going to Harajuku, so I got myself a simple rock outfit from the morning
And I haven't put proper make up yet as the morning was lecture session haha. This is with the leader of the group, Baba, from India~ Namaste!
Our healthy lunch
I always love Japanese Cherry Tomatoes!
Arriving in Harajuku, I quickly put on my blonde wig and did some snapshots. As it's Harajuku la haha.. And I was about to meet Shintaro-nii and a co-worker to talk about a project. And he will be upset if Stella Lee comes with dark hair lol
Taking picture with Michelle, from Australia
And Blake from New Zealand~!
Just did quick shopping like only within 30 minutes. I miss Takeshita Dori, I am so happy by only walking on this street and do window shopping
This time I bought a few Autumn clothes and shoes, I love Autumn-Winter clothes!
After listened to the lecture, I can kinda link that Harajuku Style is really not for every Japanese. No one really knows Visual Kei there, there are only a few people who are into it. Or there are not so many people who dye their hair blonde. To be honest, yes, Japanese people in majority are pretty normal. Both in styles and their behaviour as well as their mind
But only the weird, the cute, and the unique things are getting exposed and it makes people overseas thought that everyone in Japan are like that. But as you can see from the picture above that they're quite normal. Stylish, and have colored hair. But neither as eccentric nor as blonde as everyone thinks about. No one really puts Hatsune Miku outfit and walks on the street lol
Then for 1 hour and more, I just stayed with Shintaro-nii and our client to talk about business at a cafe in Harajuku area. I wish to explore more again, but I will be coming back very soon too, so yeah.. Still have next time hehe
At night we had Tempura for our dinner
Japanese vegetables is always the best and freshest so I really recommend you to eat their veggies when you have chance to come to Japan in the future. Their fruits aren't as sweet as in South East Asia though
I am glad that I got a new insight about knowing the background of Japanese Pop Culture more through this program
I will share about the next day soon ^,^
24 comments
Wah the food looks so mouth watering laaa!~ Also the pictures looks so clear and awesome. Hope someday I can visit Japan too..
ReplyDeletewww.iqbalssi.com
It's so cool that you got to go there!
ReplyDeleteI love Harajuku :)
Thank you! This is taken by my new camera, that I bought just before the trip TwT
ReplyDeleteI'm glad if you like it <3
I always go to Harajuku every time I go there =D
ReplyDeleteWell, no many japanese people who like Oshare Kei (V-Kei) :v
ReplyDeleteWhen my friends (japanese people) asked me who was my fav band, I answered Oshare Kei, they just "......."ed me. lol
I will go to Japan too this 2 weeks again for study. Hope I can see you. Haha :D
ahh cece, asik banget bisa belajar culture nya langsung dari negeri sakura
ReplyDeletesugoii >.<
The thing about this "Cool Japan" is it's artificial lol. And some Japanese might not look they like Visual Kei or certain fashion style, but they just 'hide' it and 'show' in appropriate time. I know many Japanese friends who are "closet-something". Aaaagh I want to join Jenesys too!! I hope I can apply for the program once I return to Indonesia XD
ReplyDeleteI am happy =D
ReplyDeleteYeah I already noticed that since I asked many Japanese friends of mine about that, that it's not that popular.. But then, I just received that it's the real fact lol
ReplyDeleteI am coming back home on 9th, but ill be back again on 17th
hehe iyaa beruntung bangettt :)
ReplyDeleteahhh I know what you mean haha...
ReplyDeleteDo apply for the program when they open the next batch =]
Yeah. The thing is sometimes my teacher decide who will go so even if I want to apply I can't lol wish it's different next year
ReplyDeleteno, this one is you apply personally to the embassy, not through your university
ReplyDeleteEh? I thought it's the one with university affiliated thing? www then I'll try it for sure
ReplyDeleteNo haha, my university never gives me anything LOL
ReplyDeleteI would love to be in such a program it sounds like so much fun! It's always interesting to me how little the Japanese know of the widespread interest of their pop culture worldwide especially coming from someone who is so heavily influenced by it. I'd love for their government to make that merge happen :D
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like such a cute program I'm so jealous! Love the food photos you took (made my jealous...)
ReplyDeleteIf you have any free time, could you please check out my Asian Beauty/ Skincare blog? momopodo.blogspot.com ! Thanks so much and have a great day ~ (^_^)/
ak suka nonton cool japan di channel NHK ,, tiap nonton jd sambil mikir "stella enak bner uda berkali2 ke jepang yaaaa" uda kayak rumah keduaaa >.<
ReplyDeletesukses trus stell ^^
You should check out your country's Japanese Embassy website as they often make programs like this ^___^
ReplyDeleteHaha you should join too next time! do check out japanese embassy website =D
ReplyDeleteok!
awww T____T
ReplyDeleteDlu ak juga gitu kok, cuman bisa ngarep doang. Now it's all like a dream, really =D
you can also do it =D mungkin jalannya beda mungkin sama, just work hard :)
iyah yaaaa, baca2 stories kamu.. aku ngeliatnya kamu jadi kayak living in your dream :)
ReplyDeleteOhh I will! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI also want to attend this kind of events! You should be so happy ~~
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