Harajuku fashion outlets Inspire Teens

Written by ONCEKids contributor Aidan Metzger

Designers such as T. Kunitomo and Pas de Calais have opened Harajuku fashion outlets in places such as London and New York, but despite it's increasing popularity, Harajuku fashion is no where near as popular as its fashion epicenter, Tokyo, Japan. 

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Harajuku fashion describes a certain style of dress. It is not one distinct, defined style, but rather a broad range of distinct styles inspired by rock, punk, and gothic music. Harajuku, the place of the style's origin, is the best place to see the true nature of the fashion. Teens from all over the world gather in the fashion center to show off their costumes, which can try and mimic anything from rock musicians to an anime character. Often unusual hairstyles and colors go along with the unique fashion. 

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Harajuku fashion is used by youth as a form of experimentation to utilize their creativity. The craze represents personal freedom of expression and changes as frequently as the teens themselves. Harajuku fashion is distinctive in the way that the designers do not lead the fashion, but rather the overall look directs the designers. 

We LOVE animated film "A Letter to Momo" [VIDEO]

The Sitges Film Fest, located in the Catalonian coastal town of Sitges in Spain, is one of the largest film festivals in the world. This past year was the 44th anniversary and it ran from October 6th through the 16th. The film festival specializes in fantasy, science fiction, and horror movies. Recently, efforts have been made to introduce animated films into the competition. Many other film festivals exist worldwide, including the Toronto International Film Festival, that premiered on September 10th for its 36th anniversary. This year the Toronto Film Festival featured an animated short film that truly wowed and captivated the audience. Due to its success the film, "A Letter to Momo" was featured at festivals in Spain and South Korea, including the Busan International Film Festival, which ran from October 6th to the 14th in Busan, South Korea. The Busan International Film Festival focuses on outstanding works of animation, documentaries, and experimental films.

"A Letter to Momo" was written and directed by Okiura. The animated film is set on a small island in Seto Inland Sea and tells the story of the love within a family. After her father dies in a shipwreck, Momo is devastated as their last meeting was a fight. She and her mother leave the city and return to their remote fishing village. She finds a letter her father had started to write her, simply stating "Dear Momo". She is lonely and isolated. She finds an old book in the attic, then starts seeing mystical shapes around her. She gives herself up to the process of enlightenment and this puts her on a path with purpose. The heartwarming anime will be released nationwide in Japan in Spring 2012. The film was created with a traditional handmade animation style and the result is visually stunning. Great craftsmanship. Below you can find the movie trailer.