Tokyo #6; Brides and Goths

While we were looking around Yoyogi Park and the beautiful Meiji Shine, we got to see a couple weddings taking place in the Shine. Or at least the wedding photos because that's all we saw going on. The bride and groom were in very tranditional kimonos that were amazing. Note the subtle pattern in her white robe. It was really warm that day so the bride was often shuffled to the shade and the waiting portable air conditioner. We felt very bad for her because she looked miserable. Plus, because Meiji Shrine is such a tourist attraction, there were quite a few people gawking and taking photos - including us. But the couple had to know that there would be such attention at the shine and probably liked it. It's their 15 minutes of fame so I didn't feel that bad. Linda and I were trying to decide if her hair was completely a wig or if it was her own. Linda thought it was a combination. I thought it was a wig.



In stark contrast to the bride in a traditional weddding kimono were the young girls just outside Meiji Shine dressed up in maid outfits and other fetish wear. Dressing in costumes has been a fad in Japan for a long time and Harajuku has always been a gathering point. In fact, these girls (and occasionally boys) were the inspiration for the Gwen Stafani song 'Harajuku Girls'. This area is probably one of the more bizarre examples of the old world and new world of Tokyo coming together. It's also my favorite spot in Tokyo.