That's right!
You are wearing a checked skirt though.
Japanese celebrate that these clothes express the owners unique character.
And in Japan we accept that.
We have so many symbols in our language.
I see.
Hey guys and girls on Ask Japanese today we have come
to Bunka Fashion college for their
annual school festival.
Today we are gonna go and ask the stylish people here
what they think makes Japan so original.
So let's go and Ask Japanese.
We are speaking about Japan's originality.
What's so unique about Japan in your opinion?
There aren't that many statement clothes out there.
We used to have more extravagant styles before, like eyeball accessories.
But recently everyone is just wearing dark colors.
Even here at Bunka fashion school
I think there used to be
more people who really represented themselves in flashy styles
But recently everyone just wears darker colors.
Look we are both wearing black too. - Both of you are wearing black.
That's right. - You're wearing a checked skirt though.
Does this mean Japan's unique fashion is getting less these days?
It's declining in my opinion.
You say there are less unique styles...
but you are not wearing flashy fashion either...
So what's your reason for that?
Yeah why...
Well it's...
Because that it not in fashion right now.
It's not mainstream right now.
that might be the issue...
everyone is just getting swept away by the mainstream.
So everyone does the same.
They all follow one category.
At Bunka fashion school you see it but...
the Harajuku fashion style and the Neo Tokyo fashion style
those are very unique style genres of Japan.
I see those around. Those are unique styles of Japan in my opinion
When I walk around town I see..
a large amount of people who wear the fashion style they love.
And the people around who see them...
People won't say they look weird or strange,
Japanese celebrate that these clothes express the owners unique character.
In Japan we accept that.
I think that is a very Japanese trait.
Where else do you feel that Japan is very original, outside of fashion.
That would be etiquette.
Greeting people and polite communication.
Comparing Japan to countries abroad...
we are very strict about it.
I think that is quite original too.
I think the shape of our clothes is beautiful.
Japanese materials are of high quality too.
We can create clothes the way we imagined them.
You mean Japan focuses a lot on quality?
Yes.
(Smartphone lady walks through the picture)
Kawaii.
- Japan's kawaii is unique. - Comparing Japan's kawaii and the worlds?
What's different?
We all have our own unique styles.
In other countries, people tend to all wear the same styles.
But we can show our favorite styles.
We have similarities with China but we are still different.
And we are even more different compared to other countries.
We have the Japanese "WA" spirit.
What does that mean to you?
Well WA is...
It's not flashy... not flashy but also not to be found abroad.
It's something as simple as that.
What thing would express that to you?
Pine trees and other fauna.
Things that are not as flowery.
It's hard to express.
I think simplicity.
Green tea and other things like that.
What makes Matcha (green tea) so Japanese?
We have a love for simple things.
Maybe it's that.
It's a bit hard to describe.
Otaku culture is unique.
- For example? - Idols and anime.
Fanaticism and things like that.
We have so many symbols in our language.
Yeah that's true.
We have 3 alphabets, Kanji, Katakana and Hiragana.
True.
How many Kanji are there? - What?
I wonder how many.
I don't know. Japanese people probably don't know.
Uncountable.
(director) What's your favorite Kanji?
What my favourite Kanji.
Kamaboko (蒲鉾)
You said Kanji, you said Otaku, what do you think is unique about Japanese culture?
I think our freedom is part of why we are so unique.
Abroad, because of religions and such... people can't wear the things they want.
But in Japan, we can enjoy different fashion styles, and our freedom.
You're convincing. - Right.
We have freedom.
And having other people respect that, is one of our unique traits in Japan.
Our black hair is unique.
And Kimono right? - Yes Kimono.
I wonder what else. - Raw fish.
Yes eating raw fish and Sushi.
Sushi. Matcha.
Wasabi.
Natto (fermented beans)
What's original about Japan is ...
I saw it at the Paris Collection fashion event. People are dressed very well,
and they wear just high fashion brand.
The models are all really beautiful, super skinny and very tall.
Brands only pick models like that.
Looking at the Tokyo Collection fashion event in comparison
Many places choose models that value their own originality.
Even if they are not that tall,
the models will be unique. They might have their heads shaved,
they might be small but they use models with a cool face.
Or they have models with pink hair.
I think that stands out in Japanese fashion circles.
We value other's unique attributes
and make clothes that tell others about what unique means to us.
It's the skill to show yourself.
The designer's skill to bring out uniqueness in others is part of our skill.
Clothes are clothes but in fashion shows, going on stage wearing clothes with a large silhouette
or a very creative design
Actually the designers might be using fabrics that are not sewn
for our fashion show someone used wall paper for it
Designers are using special materials.
There are many shows like that.
Looking at the Tokyo Collection there are many voluminous items like that.
Rather than clothes to wear on stage
there are many costumes with gorgeous designs.
Thank you so much.
So. What is so original about Japan?
Obviously we asked this question at Bunka fashion college...
And most of the students are interested in fashion.
So the majority of answers came back about fashion
Saying for example, in Japan
a very unique thing is Harajuku fashion.
Or just the very creative fashion styles.
Even if there seem to be a bit less recently.
It is still a very original part
of Japanese culture because you can wear
what you like to wear and people don't give you a hard time
Meaning there is no religion that restricts people
from wearing Harajuku fashion
out on the streets. You can wear it without getting verbally or physically abused
People around you will...
not say anything negative or rather they will say something positive
and support it that way.
So people just let you be.
You can wear what you want to wear, no matter what.
I found that especially interesting, cause in Germany
I got verbally attacked a lot for wearing different things
even once physically
So people will pick up on you and will pick on you
and think it's ok to treat you a certain way
While in the UK what I found people will say "What are you wearing?"
But mostly many people were positive about.
Lots of older ladies saying "Oh is this a hen party? Why are you all dressed up?"
But still the safest and nicest way was wearing Harajuku fashion in Japan.
Because people just let you be.
The more creative you are and the more unique you are people just
go "That is that person. They do this. I do my thing."
There is no going over and actually finding the need to verbally attack someone
because it's that other person's life.
It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with your life.
And other people come to Harajuku to see the fashion styles and enjoy it.
and actually support other fashion people that way.
I know many girls here in Japan love Harajuku fashion
but they wouldn't wear it themselves but they
enjoy seeing other people wear it.
Even if you just go out on the streets...
that's not Harajuku fashion itself...
it's generally the fashion styles. People, girls and guys are dressed so well
Sometimes just sitting here and looking at what everyone else is wearing
is very entertaining. There is so much more creativity.
There is so many more styles.
There are so many more people trying other things.
While I find in the West we tend to have a monoculture
and what is in fashion, pretty much everyone will try and wear that.
Hopefully that part of unique Japanese culture, that creative expression,
their fashion, their styles, is something that is here to stay.
It has been changing recently but
I think we should make sure that it keeps on going strong.
That's what I wanted to say.
I hope you enjoyed this video. There is actually a lot about Fashion on our Ask Japanese channel
If you are curious of finding out about that...
there are lots of playlists and different videos.
We have quite a lot of videos so hopefully you will find your way to a playlist and enjoy
watching that. Thank you very much for watching and I catch you soon on Ask Japanese!
Bye!