KORIYAMA, Fukushima Prefecture--The Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC) 2014 came to Fukushima on April 29 at Big Palette Fukushima convention center, marking the first time that the fashion show--one of Japan’s most exciting annual fashion events--has been hosted in the Tohoku region.
KORIYAMA, Fukushima Prefecture--The Tokyo Girls Collection (TGC) 2014 came to Fukushima on April 29 at Big Palette Fukushima convention center, marking the first time that the fashion show--one of Japan’s most exciting annual fashion events--has been hosted in the Tohoku region.
Only three years ago--in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake--Big Palette Fukushima served as the largest evacuation center in the prefecture. Now, for the TGC event, the convention center was filled with an excited crowd of 9,800 mostly young girls and women who were there to get a taste of the latest fashion on offer for spring and summer.
The countdown started a little after 3 p.m. And the star-studded show began with a bang, with the very popular Karina leading the way. As other favorites including Angelica Michibata, Akemi Darenogare and Hana Imai strutted down the catwalk and struck poses, the crowd squealed. Fans put on their own show waving their pen lights.
The trends for this season are “transparency” and “tropical” marine prints. A lot of the models were sporting light pastel colors, pinks and yellows with tropical floral prints.
The theme for this year’s Tokyo Girls Collection was "Smile! Smile! Smile!"
Wataru Nakatani, project manager for Tokyo Girls Collection planning committee, explained: “We came up with this idea where everyone who experiences TGC ends up with a big smile. And before you know it, all their friends and families are smiling, too. We pictured smiles spreading, smiles catching on. That was what we were thinking when we were working on the concept for the show.”
The show was planned with the recovery of the region in mind.
Fashion model Anna Tsuchiya, who has been part of Tokyo Girls Collection since its inception in 2005, put it this way: “Ever since the earthquake disaster (in 2011), as a team, we had been discussing it would be great if we could bring the show to Tohoku. I am so happy that we realized that dream. And we are seeing a lot of smiles. It’s just wonderful.”
The Tokyo Girls Collection combines Japan’s top fashion brands with popular musical acts and has established itself as a major entertainment event. In the past, TGC has traveled outside Tokyo to Paris, Beijing and Nagoya among other cities. Last year the show was held in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, drawing a crowd of 15,000.
Fukushima Prefecture hoped to bring the major fashion event to the area as a way to jump-start the recovery efforts. Takayuki Shigihara works in policy planning for the Fukushima prefectural government.
“Media reports on the Tokyo Girls Collection in Fukushima remind people about Fukushima and our hardships," he said. "It is a good way to prevent memories of the earthquake, the tsunami and the nuclear power plant accident from fading away.”
He added, “When we think about recovery and reconstruction, we tend to focus on the hardware, the rebuilding. But it is just as important for people to have a good time and cheer up--that is another way to recovery.”
Local elementary school children and evacuees who live outside the prefecture were invited to take part in the fashion extravaganza held in Fukushima. Out of 555 applicants, 13 youngsters were chosen to get on stage and model clothes alongside professionals. Miyuki Honda, 10, and her brother Takamasa, 9, are from Koriyama. The family voluntarily evacuated, and they now live in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. The pint-size siblings came out holding hands with Airi Matsui, a fashion model from Fukushima, to take a walk down the catwalk.
“I managed to walk with a smile on my face," Miyuki said. "I think my friends in Koriyama got my message--Hey, I am doing great!”
The experience proved to be a big moment for Lydia Nagomi Watanabe, 11.
“I used to think I wanted to be a veterinarian when I grow up," she said. "But now? I think modeling is kind of nice, too.”
Backstage, students from the International Beauty & Fashion College, based in Koriyama, were kept busy. They were everywhere, giving massages to models and helping them quickly change into outfits. Nao Momoi, 19, was fitting models backstage.
“My dream career is a fashion stylist," she said. "So it was a great opportunity for me to get to see real professionals in action, up close. I learned that it is important to cast a wide eye and to understand the big picture.”
The event was not all about models showing off the latest fashion trends. It was also a big day for local fashion-conscious women who showed up at the venue in their unique and inspiring fashions.
Yuki Takeda, 21, a student from Koriyama who wants to become a fashion designer, chose a vintage dress from Canada to complete this retro outfit, creating an image right out of a children’s picture book.
“My goal is to bring out smiles with the help of fashion,” she said.
Miku Takeda, 21, a student from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, was doing the trendy all-white look.
“The model Karina was crazy cute," she gushed. "I mean she was seriously 'kawaii' and so pretty.”