An Ode to Rachel

Before coming home to LA, we had Shelley's youngest sister Rachel out for a month-long visit. She just graduated from high school and sacrificed some of her last summer at home with friends to be with us. To say we were ecstatic to have her here for a month is an understatement.

Anthon of course glommed onto Rachel, claiming her as his and referring to her as, "my Rachel". He'd say, "I need my Rachel" and "Where is my Rachel?"

As you can see from the pictures below and in the corresponding gallery of Rachel-centric pictures, we kept busy while she was here. We tested her food limits - she even tried sushi - and took her all around the Tokyo area. She got up close and personal with the local women, though we couldn't quite get her to buy a cosplay outfit (like the one below) to wear on the plane home. And, like Shelley, fell for the wiley charms and sugary lips of the Buddah.

Thanks for coming all the way out to see us, Rachel. Good luck at the Y.

More Harajuku Girls...

Sundays mean church, family time and trips to Harajuku. I would have gone the last two weeks, but it's been raining. So I had to stay at home. This was Anthon and Rachel's first trip here and I think it's safe to say that Anthon wasn't too impressed. The people giving out "free hugs" were a bit too forward. They would rush after him in their make up, piercings and goth outfits. If I were his size I would freak out too. Fundamentally, Anthon hates strangers touching him...especially his face (inherited from his mother)and so the thought of getting "free hugs" pushed him over the edge and was a bit overwhelming. One of the girls in a pink little-bo-peep outfit, was actually quite gentle and nice to him...but unfortunately Anthon hadn't warmed up to the scene quite yet.

We showed up a bit late, so I think the crowds of "locals" had died down. But the girl you see in the upper left was by far the most interesting. Dread locks, bandages, tattoos yet striking features. Part of what fascinates me is thinking about what these people do in their Monday - Friday lives. I mean, the girl obviously is wearing a wig and what does she do when the bandages come off, where does she work and do her coworkers know she looks like this on Sundays? Not that it matters, but it's interesting to see how people in Japan express their individuality.

Click on any of the pictures in this post and you'll see a few more photos from the gallery of shots taken that day.

Our Neighbors, the Harajuku Girls

Harajuku is quite a site and probably one of the most interesting places in all of Tokyo. On Sunday afternoons, girls (mostly) dress up in a variety of goth / lolita / anime-inspired costumes and hang out. In a country that's well known for their homogeneity, these Harajuku girls stand out as the antithesis to Japan's group-orienetd culture. You have girls dressed like gothic versions of clowns, little-bo-peep, little house on the praire, and adorn themselves with spiked piercings, tons of white make-up, massive hair, freaky-colored contact lenses, etc.

Certainly these girls come to be looked at. They come to hang out with their friends. Some are there as part of the "free hug club" and freely want their pictures to be taken. The more hardcore set, oddly enough, can be hostile to having their pictures taken. While they themselves won't stop you from taking pictures, they either turn away from you, decline a picture request, or have one of their old-guy fans (also a photographer) tell you that you can't take their picture. Let's see...public place, girls dressed to shock and get attention. Gee, sounds like people who don't want their picture taken! Though it's not made explicit, my Dad thinks that perhaps a few yen will increase their cooperativeness. Though admittedly, no one likes a gothic sell out. So I choose to grab a zoom lens and shoot from a distance. Click on any of the pictures to see the gallery.

This was actually my second time to Harajuku to see the 'locals'. The first time was when Shelley came to visit me in 2004 when I was here on an extended business trip. She arrived on a Saturday and I took her here on a Sunday - all jet lagged and tired. To say she was freaked out would be modest. Admittedly, it was probably a tactical mistake on my part to take her here so soon. We now live two stops on the subway from Harajuku, or about a 25 minute walk. Upon hearing that we were that close, Shelley told me, "I don't know if I want those girls to be our neighbors." She's coming around though. I don't know about you, but I think Shelley's search for a Halloween costume is over.

There will be more pictures to come. I'm certainly going back with Anthon to not only gauge his reaction, but to also see if he can't interact with some of them. Should be some classic moments.