The JapanTown Fashion Contest Photos are Up!

The JapanTown Cool Japan Fashion Contest was a huge success! Thanks to all of the fabulous contestants. About 100 people participated dressed in everything from cosplay to yukata to just plain weird. We got a waiter from Ippudo who showed up in his uniform, a bird, a geisha, and a few who didn't even try. Overall, the turnout was great and it's a hard decision for the judges! Yes, we are still waiting for their verdicts, but while they decide, which ones are your favorites and why? Add your comment in the Flickr set!

Additionally, the JapanTown Fashion Contestants had such great outfits that they caught the interest of the New York Times' Fashion & Style editors! Check out the slideshow here.

Get Your Best Cosplay On to Welcome RENI MIMURA to the Cool Japan Festival!

This year at the Cool Japan Festival, JapanTown welcomes internationally renown Reni Mimura! A Moe style performer, Reni is widely known amongst New York’s anime fans for her cosplay singing, dancing, and acting as the epitome of cute. While Reni won’t be singing at Cool Japan due to our needing to respect the residents with the noise level, it will certainly be worth seeing what costume she will be wearing! She will instead be talking to some musicians during a live podcast with Samurai Beat Radio. Reni is well known for her social nature and will be mingling with her fans and signing autographs, so don’t miss her at the festival!

Cool Japan FASHION CONTEST! Winner Will Receive Free Tickets to Japan!

Harajuku Street Fashion (image credit)

JapanTown is seeking fashionable people to participate in our Cool Japan Fashion Contest! Winners will receive a prize of a free round-trip ticket to Japan from IACE Travel.

On Japanese Fashion Subcultures: What Will You Wear to JapanTown this Year?

Lolita girl (Photo by Mike Watts)

While last year’s JapanTown was home to a plethora of foods and activities, it also presented the public with a glimpse of the vastly different world of Japanese fashion. Unlike the fashion of Western culture, Japanese fashion has developed several new subcultures over the past thirty years.

Rikumo.com: Green and Modern Japanese Accessories and Apparel

Another NYC Japan Fair vendor will be Rikumo.com, an new online store featuring eco-friendly and modern Japanese home accessories, apparel, and jewelry.

Te+Te New York

te+te New York offers a collection of original, handmade fashion and home accessories selected for their innate artistry and the attention to detail that goes into their creation. Their collection often reflects the essence of Japan in many elements.

Te means "hand" in Japanese, hence te plus te - two hands. But two hands are not enough. The craftsperson needs a soul, and the objects he or she creates must stir the senses, and fire the imagination.