As a total Japanophile, I really loved this book! The pictures are beautiful and its just a perfect example of why I love those Tokyo Fashionistas. Unlike North America, where we are slaves to what we think other people want to wear and try to "fit in", a lot of the young Japanese people on the streets where what they want and have no qualms about standing out and looking unique!

The book shows and describes the different looks, and often which district the look is from or originated. The text is mostly narrative, but I would've preferred some more informational style text. Such as a list of what elements compose each style and/or how to recreate the look for yourself.

As a total Japanophile, I really loved this book! The pictures are beautiful and its just a perfect example of why I love those Tokyo Fashionistas. Unlike North America, where we are slaves to what we think other people want to wear and try to "fit in", a lot of the young Japanese people on the streets where what they want and have no qualms about standing out and looking unique!

The book shows and describes the different looks, and often which district the look is from or originated. The text is mostly narrative, but I would've preferred some more informational style text. Such as a list of what elements compose each style and/or how to recreate the look for yourself.

My current ringtone on my celly is a short clip of "Harajuku Girls" by Gwen Stefani - it's been on phone for over a year now. As someone who has spent a formidable amount of my life in Japan, I covet and collect anything remotely "cute" from or even inspired by Japan, ringtones included. So it's no wonder that I love this book. Published by Japan-based Kodansha International, The Tokyo Look Book (2007) is a motley collection of photographs and interviews of Japanese fashionistas and fashion designers. "Motley" is probably a huge understatement, given what Philomena Keet (the author/editor) calls the "fashion spectrum" that exists in Tokyo. The photographs of Japanese guys and gals make me smile knowing that those pictured often follow their own drum beats. Even in the most outrageous and incongruous outfits, the Japanese youth wear their clothes with confidence or paint their faces with layers of make-up without second-guessing why they do it. If anyone has ever wondered who these "Harajuku Girls" are that Gwen Stefani sings about, pick up a copy of this book. They are fantastic!

i love japanese street style! this book gives so many different pictures of fashionable people on the streets of tokyo. it gives a little bit of background information about the culture and background, but if you want to get a more in-depth background and information on japanese styles and and designers and shops, i recommend Style Deficit Disorder by Tiffany Godoy.

Since I'm an author, and my novels often feature both Asian Americans and Asians who have moved to the US from overseas, I was very interested in this book as a research tool. I was not disappointed.

This book is rich with pictures showing the different fashion styles prevalent in Tokyo. For someone who only visited Tokyo a couple times with family (and who didn't meet anyone my age), this was an eye-opener.

I like the fact that there are often several photos showing examples of each particular style, rather than just one photo to show each style. It helped me get a better feel for the trends of the "look" rather than just one person's ensemble.

The book shows the entire breadth of styles, from conservative to garish. I liked the hair and makeup showcased on the people photographed, as well.

The fact that the people were all from off the street gave the book an air of greater credibility, since they didn't arrange a photo shoot with models. I felt like I was getting a slice of Tokyo life and culture.

For me, this was an excellent research tool.

I've never been to Japan, and I read books all the time about how people in Japan love the global luxury brands (Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Dior). But seeing the cover of this book suggested that something else is going on with young people in Tokyo.

Philomena Keet focuses on Shibuya (cool youth fashion), visually avant garde styles, street-defined ensembles, high fashion in a global taste sense, and what the well-dressed man wears to work. The last two seemed somewhat like what I expected, the first three were not.

Each section is a nice combination of explaining the cultural roots behind the way of dressing, focuses on some designers, describes some celebrities defined by the style, and talks about the social implications. These aspects were welcome because I wouldn't have appreciated the logic behind the various looks without that background.

The book has four big weaknesses:

1. The analysis of what's covered is pretty superficial.

2. The photography isn't as good as you usually see in a style-oriented book. I suspect that's because these are often virtually candid shots rather than fashion shots.

3. The layout of the book isn't very appealing. There is an attempt to pick up the Tokyo look style, but I didn't think it worked.

4. The type faces and backgrounds make the text difficult to read.

Net-net, I found the book contained more than enough of interest to keep me reading through the book. I also felt I have a better sense of the role fashion plays for younger people in Japan. To me, the biggest aha was realizing that Western-style clothing is so relatively new to Japanese culture that young people feel a greater freedom to move away from traditional style concepts . . . even when the mixtures of clothes and styles are extremely eclectic.

a fantastic addition to any clothes horse or Japanese fashion fan collection. This tome features many varied styles and I loved the "caught in the act" aspect of the photography-what better way to showcase street wear than in the street. A must for any avant fashion aficionado.

5 stars

My son has lived in Tokyo for nine years, and I've visited him a number of times, and I can tell you that the fashions shown in The Tokyo Look Book are not exaggerations. When it comes to Tokyo youth, these looks are the norms rather than the exceptions. The book profusely illustrates most of the current fashions, but goes much further, discussing the different looks at length and interviewing designers and wearers alike. The design of the book is slick and savvy, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in contemporary style and fashion.

If you want a real conversation starter, have this on your coffee table. The Tokyo youth fashion scene is unlike any I can imagine - the closest might be the 60s London, but with a large dose of glam-rock, punk, and uniquely Japanese influences. Excellent photo coverage, but not really enough text to explain the phenomena to the uninitiated. Still, visually arresting and probably the best one-volume coverage.

Doctor of Tokyo fashion Philomena Keet's Tokyo Look Book takes the reader directly to the streets of Tokyo with herself as our guide and ears, and photographer Yuri Manabe as our eyes. Their colorful book is loaded with photos and such specific cultural and subcultural fashion information that an amateur on the subject, such as myself, will feel quite overwhelmed at first. If you too are a novice, you'll be amazed at the subtle differences the trained eye notices in fashion styles and cliques that rule the Tokyo scene. The book is divided into 5 chapters: Shibuya Girls and Guys, which focuses on energetic young teen styles, Spectacular and Subcultural, which holds more theatrical styles like the popular Lolita, Goth, and Cosplay, among others, Youth Street Fashion, which takes a look at young people whose style is fashion for fashion's sake, The Stylish Female, which is much like it sounds, a section on slightly older, more professionally fashionable young women, and finally, Young Men At Work, which is sort of the male version of The Stylish Female. The book also takes a look at popular locales and interviews various designers who are particularly en vogue.

The Tokyo Look Book is a visually fun read and has plenty of info for someone new to the whole Japanese fashion scene. I, myself, being a professional artist and having noticed how popular certain Japanese styles are in commercial art and illustration today, found it to be quite fascinating, but I also realized that what I would have preferred would have been a book focusing on that second chapter, Spectacular and Subcultural. This is because it's those extreme, theatrical styles that are naturally most prevalent in U.S. illustration these days. I know there are a few books out there that do cover some of those very popular styles specifically, and I'll have to pick some of them up, but for the broader view of styles worn by young people on the streets of Tokyo, The Tokyo Look Book is an excellent guide.

Although I'm not a fasionista, I was immediately addicted to this book. I've never been to Tokyo, but I found the photos of the diverse fashions and the author's descriptions fascinating. Keet divides the book into several chapters devoted to each type of fashion. She begins the chapters with a description of the fashion and the characteristics and interests of the wearers; from there, the book is primarily composed of photos and captions describing the photos.

The photos are bright, colorful and intriguing. As other reviewers mentioned, some photos are not of the best quality, which is disappointing in a book that is somewhat like a coffee table book. The captions are mostly very good, but I found that some photos were missing captions (and these were some of the most intriguing photos!) or some captions were not as descriptive as they could have been (missing what type of fashion the person was wearing, for example). Mostly, however, the book is fun and colorful, and I feel that if I were to go to Tokyo, I could identify the different fashion genres on the street. This is a book I'll definitely share with friends who are interested in fashion or travel!

If you're a Japanese fashion fanatic like me, this book is indispensable. If you're a casual street fashion observer or at least consider yourself somewhat interested in fashion, then this still serves as a great resource. Crisp, full-color photos give the reader a beautiful glimpse into the fashions of Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza, and all over Japan, while the written portion is a great comprehensive study of the evolution of Japanese fashion and those in the cult of street style. I love the fact that the writers were able to get insider interviews from people within the Japanese fashion industry and fandom- everyone from the ultra-hip teenage Gyaru shopping in Shibuya's 109 building to cross-dressing, elegant goths decked out in Moi-Meme-Moitie and h.Naoto, to baby-faced lolita girls prancing the streets of Harajuku in a frilly confection by Baby the Stars Shine Bright. This edition was just recently published, so most of the information about current trends and fashions are fresh and not obsolete. Do yourself a favor and forget about the overpriced knock-offs at department stores designed by certain celebrities, take a glimpse into the real life of Japan's street culture.

To an outsider, who has never visited Tokyo, the lookbook provides snapshots that appear bizarre, curious and interesting. The hues and patterns on clothes, the spikes or dyes in hair, the hats that are hairy or cones, piercings that puncture lip, chip, ear, eyelid, nose, and more: there is a menagerie of things that float before you, as you turn page after page. The text is not as enlightening or funny as promised by the back cover, and yet the text, like footnotes in photo album, serves its purpose of telling us where we are. We travel through times and lives of working men, school girls, wannabes or cool Gothic teenagers as well as of tradition and modernism to produce a kitsch that is hard to capture in words. Hence the book full of images!

The Tokyo Look Book is a picture-filled journey into today's Japanese fashion pioneers. If you have ever wanted to see lots of VERY interesting outfits and ideas for what to wear (and what NOT to wear), this is the book for you. The book teaches you all about the different designers in Japan, how the fashion industry in Japan is kind of Americanized, and the different types of groups there are in the Japanese fashionista culture. All in all, a very informative book for a student of fashion design, or anyone really interested in Japanese pop culture. Buy it just for the pictures if nothing else; it makes an entertaining coffee table book for guests as well!

I have been a fashion designer and makeup artist for quite a few years, having been designing clothing for most of my life. When I saw that I could have a chance to review the Tokyo Look Book, I jumped at the chance.

The Japanese people have long captured my attention with their venturous spirit when it comes to fashion and trends. I find them delightful and inspiring.

The Tokyo Look book is 222 pages long. There are scads of photos in it arranged in the following chapters:

1-Shibuya Girls and Guys
Shopping Mall Shibuya 109
Fashion Designer Riko Nakane of rienda
Fashion Designer Miwa Mochizuki of Glad News

2-Spectacular and Subcultural
Fashion Designer h.Naoto
Fashion Designer Nama of Moi-meme-Moitie
Fashion Designer Takuya Angel

3-Youth Street Fashion
Boutique: Dog
Fashion Designer: Naoyuki Ohira of Team Message
Street Fashion Magazine FRUiTS and TUNES

4-The Stylish Female
Fashion Brand Crystal Ball by GARCIA MARQUEZ gauche
Fashion Brand THEATRE PRODUCTS

5-Young Men At Work
Fashion Designer Kazuhisa Komura of 5351 Pour Les Hommes
Workwear Shop Mannenya

Glossary
Shop List
Acknowledgements

The books bright pink and black cover is delightful and trendy retro looking. The author Philomena Keet and photographer Yuri Manabe just scoured the streets with camera, tape recorder, and clip board trying to capture a well rounded view of what fashions are on the streets of Tokyo in 2007 at the time they prepared the pages of this book.

Each chapter has many many photographs with descriptive captions that are fun and interesting and then there are a few interviews interspersed in the chapters which give a perspective from someone in the fashion industry related to the styles featured in that chapter.

I found the book to be refreshing, fun and delightful to look through. A wonderful conversation starter, this would do well to sit on your coffee table - ready for conversations to start at any time.

Also, this is a wonderful book to pick up after a rough day at work or in the world when you just want to curl up with a cup of tea or coffee and just relax and smile.

Sometimes I laughed out loud, and other times I got great inspiration. One of my favorites was a Japanese girl with ice blue contact lenses and pink long hair.

The fashions range from haute couture to down right goth extreme and everything in between. There are catwalk photos and on the street photos.

I found a lot in this book that inspired me to go out and be daring and different, after all, I don't think anyone can top what some of these marvelous people have dared to do on the streets of Tokyo when it comes to fashion.

I gave this four stars because I felt that the book lacked a little bit in terms of cohesiveness. It was not organized in a retro extreme fashion that would echo the contents of the pages, but it also was not organized severely either- which would give it that edge in the opposite direction.

Had the book a little bit more cohesiveness with graphics and layout, it might be a little easier to read. As it is, it looks a little like someone's layout for scrap book ideas just before they add the embellishments, if that makes any sense at all. It just feels a little incomplete.

Having said that- it is a minor thing- I still enjoyed the book and am thrilled I got the chance to read through it. I know that I will keep it handy to look at again and again.

While the Balinese allegedly are the most musical people in the world and modern Americans certainly have a native genius for bad judgement in fashion, art, and politics, the Japanese seem to be the world's naturals at brilliant style and design with only the Europeans offering much these days in the way of competition. Any book on Japanese fashion, architecture, packaging, toys, etc. is bound to be interesting which can be a problem since plenty of them are cheesy coffee table efforts with lots of slick, page-filling yet haphazardly arranged photos and not a whole lot of insights, if even.

The first things that impressed me about this book were the binding quality and overall look--it's a large format heavier-than-average paperback with a "pop-out" neon-colored and super high-gloss dust jacket. Inside are mountains of terrific color photographs of mid-teen to mid-twenties Japanese youths dressed wildly and creatively and mostly in a way that back in the 80's would have been described as bricolage--a kind of imaginative and very personal assemblage of odds and ends. The phenomenon is so darn interesting it genuinely deserves a good book.

It was the quality of the writing however that floored me. The author is passionate about her subject but clearly approached it in a highly organized way. She also has plenty of substance to say about the meaning of this explosion of youthful fashion creativity. Her text ranges from insightful generalities, to discussions of mid-level trend setters and fashion leaders, to illuminating and engaging commentaries on specific kids on the street. All bases covered and wow. It's a solid and entertaining read and, it occurred to me, not a typical one for these times. The reason?--well, she's a gosh-darn anthropologist and British, meaning she knows what she's talking about and more amazingly she knows how to write. Yet the book is anything but dry and academic.

First rate acquisition for young people of all ages into trendy fashion; just as good (I'd almost argue for mandatory) for a sociologist or marketing person or anyone interested in art, design and culture. Overall in my Top Ten for books I've encountered this year.

Although the subject matter is inherently interesting, this could have been a much better book. Probably the biggest problem is that for a book so reliant on its images, the photography is generally uninspired and the quality of the photos mediocre. Also, though the author fancies herself an "anthropologist," the text consists mostly of superficial descriptions with little insight or analysis. This is an example of a book that might have worked better as a website.

It's been five years since I've been to Tokyo and I'm pleased to see that wonderful place hasn't changed. Well, according to Yuri Manabe's photos, the city I know and love hasn't changed. The young people, the shops, the city, the attitude, the smiles, the stares, the stars in the eyes, it's all here as this book which walks you through the most facisnating place on the face of the earth.

I've had THE TOKYO LOOK BOOK for a couple weeks now and it's waterlogged as all get out, because I've spent several nights in a steamy bath, paging through it and remembering why I love Tokyo so much, better than Paris, Tokyo is, at least to me. Paris is the heart of the planet, Tokyo is the soul. If only I could spend my life between the two. I can't, but this book gives me Tokyo and for many nights to come I'll be laughing, crying, dreaming and remembering, wondering why I can't change my life so I can go back and stay.

Ah well, you can't always get what you want. I'll get back there, but till I do, I'll treasure this book.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

I requested this book through the Amazon Vine program and finished reading it yesterday. Although I am not a fashion junkie, I am interested in ways that people express themselves and I'm interested in other cultures. I admire people who can work with fiber and sew their own fashions. I love seeing people take something old or out of fashion and recreating it into something new and fresh. I also was curious to learn of a fashion scene that is not just copying American fashion in another country.

I really loved it.

In The Tokyo Look Book, anthropologist Philomena Keet writes of the full spectrum of Tokyo's street fashion scene. This is the first book to cover all the types of fashion, to cover everything from Goth to high fashion. The text explains of each subculture and gives a bit of information on the people in the photographs, both about their clothing and a little about their lives. There are also spotlight features on specific designers that go into more detail about how they began in the fashion design business.

The photographs are great, showing the true personality of those pictured as well as capturing their clothing and accessories.

The book has a great aesthetic and is interesting to flip through. The paper is thick and glossy and it has a paperback cover.

I read the entire book cover to cover and found it very interesting. This is not just a book of fashion photos. I found Keet's explanation of the subcultures and of how and why they choose to wear these clothes so interesting. Keet received her doctorate degree in Tokyo's street fashion scene. My only complaint is that I would have liked just a little more information on each sub-culture and a chapter at the end to wrap everything up. It seems that Keet is so knowledgeable about 'the scene' that maybe she assumes the reader knows a bit more than they actually do. Keet states this is the only book to cover ALL the sub-cultures rather than focusing on single sub-culture's or a couple of certain ones (as Fruits magazine and the Fruits books do).

This is so different than the fashion scene with American teens and 20-something's. The idea that they dress to synchronize in small groups and cliques and try not to stand out as an individual too much was fascinating. And the idea that they dress up and hang out on a specific bridge so that spectators, photographers and tourists can see them is just something I didn't even know people did for fun! I found learning about and seeing these fashions fun. I enjoyed seeing the creativity of the people featured in the book.

I imagine that anyone working in fashion and curious about the fashion scene in Tokyo would of course be interested in this book. "Project Runway" junkies may like this book too. Those who love Japanese culture would enjoy it as well. Fiber artists and those who like to design their own clothing or those who re-use vintage garments and turn them into something new will also find the visual stimulation and creativity of the people inspiring. People watchers and those curious of other cultures also will enjoy this book as well.

This is a fun and interesting read! This may be interesting as a coffee table book as one reviewer stated but if all you do is flip through the photos you will miss out on the interesting parts that are in the text!

The Tokyo Look Book is a beautiful and exhaustive guide to contemporary Japanese street fashion. Many styles from post-punk to Gothic Lolita are covered, and insets focus on specific manufacturers. The photographs are full-page and vibrant. It should be of interest both to any student of fashion and anyone interested in Japanese culture--to a point.

I agree with other reviewers that the book does little beyond presenting us with images. It would be interesting to look at Japanese society at large and ponder why these fashions have sprung up, how they define the current generation. One photograph shows a fashionably-dressed schoolgirl and a middle-aged "salaryman" standing at a crossroads, looking in different directions, and the caption muses on this contrast. Such suggestions are tantalizing.

Tokyo has a wide variety of styles, and this book sets out to show a little bit of everything. There are a total of five different chapters, each addressing a different variety.

If you just want a general idea, this is a great book for you. If you're into a specific look, odds are you'll find an example or two as well. Either way, it's a great little introduction to Japanese pop culture styles.

A witty and well written wealth of information on the young, urban fashions of Tokyo. The book sort of drops in on all the fashion spots of Tokyo as well as lengthy write-ups on all the major designers of the current trends hitting the well populated shops. What I liked a lot were the long captions associated with the documentary style photographs that make up every page in the book. They were like a book within a book.

It's also a photography book of sorts, however I was quite disappointed in the quality of photographs. While the quantity was certainly there, and they served the purpose well, far too many of the photos were overexposed, full of harsh flash, or just not sharp. It did not have the look of the intentional blur or effect that sometimes fits fashion photography, and it did not appear as if the printing stage of the book interfered, it just seemed like the photographer was not on his game and didn't exert much effort trying to focus or expose. The compositions were sound, but the quality was real low; odd because it says this photographer has been published in major Japanese magazines, however he certainly doesn't look the part here.

Overall, a huge and entertaining look into Tokyo fashion trends. Just don't expect the photography to be top notch.

The Tokyo Look Book has great photos that are very high quality. It is a must of Japanese fashion lovers! Not only do you get great pictures, but you get an anthropologists views on style and fashion in Japan. I had to borrow the book to my friend who does not really care for fashion after she saw me reading it because of the cute layout and photos in the book. A great book for fashion and art lovers.

A collaboration between an anthropologist and a photographer, "The Tokyo Look Book" aims to be a survey of current Tokyo fashion, using both striking visuals of Tokyo people, designers and shops, as well as interviews and cultural analysis, to give an overview of the subject. So perhaps both facets of the book should be critiqued separately.

Visually, the book is a feast. The art director was smart not to over-design the book, since the images of the young Tokyo fashionistas are so exotic and fascinating. Without even reading the text, the book can be enjoyed exclusively as a coffee table book and conversation piece, and would be worth a look for anyone with even a marginal interest in fashion, design or Japanese culture. The Tokyo style, often borrowed from and imitated, is a kaleidoscopic pastiche of various facets of both Western and Japanese culture. Since Western styles don't have the same connotations of class in Tokyo culture, the young people there are free to use them simply as visual elements to play with and combine aesthetically in often highly imaginative ways.

In terms of the text, the conclusion I came to after reading the book is that young people in Japan and America are really not so different. The book describes the various subcultures of Japanese youth, who use both fashion and music as primary ways to differentiate themselves and explore their identity. As they mature, they may find that their interests in fashion allow them to explore creative careers, or they may find that their generation's fashion sense simply evolves into their own take on their professional or business lives. The styles and youth subcultures are unique and interesting to read about, but the theme of young people expressing themselves and defining themselves through fashion is somewhat universal.

The Tokyo Look Book (TLB) is an interesting sampling of fashion aspects from a city that is both influential in and influenced by western society. It covers some of the history of Tokyo fashion, a few of the social/fashion circles, and contains various full-color photos showing readers the styles. Those looking for new fashion buzz-words can find them here, and there is even a cool little glossary and shop list included in the back of the book. If you are looking for an explosive introduction to the varied and diverse Tokyo fashion scenes, then this book may be for you.

The book's explosion of varied information, however, is also its biggest flaw. TLB is organized into five chapters, each of which covers an aspect of fashion in Tokyo and some of the influential designers associated with it. The problem is, the aspect-themes covered often overlap and conflict with each-other - even within a chapter. Chapter 2, for instance, lumps the Goth, Cosplay, and Cyber scenes together... even though they are very different fashion styles. There also aren't enough photos from each style to give readers a decent understanding of what the dress entails, and those buying TLB as a sort of "Tokyo-based fashion magazine" will be disappointed.

I enjoyed experiencing The Tokyo Look Book, but it left me wanting more detailed explanations and additional photos. Maybe that is a good thing, as it means the book increased my interest in the subject matter; Maybe that is a bad thing, because it didn't provide enough photos and information to satisfy me. Overall, it is a decent book - three stars.

Having studied both a bit of fashion and a bit of Japanese, I was really curious about this book. It's true that in the fashion world you don't exactly hear a lot about Japanese labels, so for some this may well be the first real look they get at Japanese fashion.

The book is well written and the photographs are nice and clear, but still look like pictures of Japanese kids from various fashion circles; nothing too modely, which seems appropriate.
The first chapter, about Shibuya, I found particularly fascinating. Bizarre, yes, but fascinating all the same, and I'd definitely say it was my favorite. The author does a great job of presenting the information and made me want to see some of the places and fashions mentioned for myself.

The second and third chapter were also really interesting, but I felt things dropped off a little after that. Though the articles on designers and boutiques remain intriguing, the last two chapters were shorter and the writer seemed to have less to say about the fashions presented. Which is really no wonder, as they were far less outrageous.

Over all it's a good book for people curious about fashion, Japanese culture, or both. I think the combination of author and photographer worked out great and if they did a more in depth book about the fashions mentioned in one of the first 3 chapters, I'd definitely check it out.

"It's like an attack on the brain": so speaks Kai Satake about his Boutique Dog. The same might be said of much of these Tokyo fashions. Supposedly the Japanese fashion scene was dull in the 1980's: they've made up a lot of ground since then. Being far from Europe may have led to the movement to extremes.

Upon first looking through this book, the photos dominated. Not that they seem that flattering, many are not, but they are eye-catching. Many are of "ordinary" youth found on the streets: few if any are of fashion models.

Once I settled into the text by Philomena Keet, I was surprised just how complex this entire scene is: worthy of an anthropologist with a PhD in "Tokyo street fashion". Let's hope it does not go out of fashion, what will Philomena do then? As it is, there is a lot of reading here which goes along with the photos: the text is not a formal presentation at all nor is there much explicit social science in it but it is informative.

Much derives from music, much of that having come from the West although the Japanese now make their own contribution such as with their "visual kei" rock bands. One remarkable fashion designer (and visual kei performer which perform in costume) is Mana whose androgynous look was one of the more attractive in this book.

Gothic, Lolita, Gothic Lolita, Princess Lolita: lots of subcultures and tribes. Lots of money spent on clothes and many magazines(the amounts seem to be in yen) by youths who want to be "in". Lots of time as well, it seems, shopping and hanging out at well-known places where they can be seen and photographed (sometimes at a price). "Charisma girls" have become well known and apparently well paid, helpful workers in the fashion shops some of whom have gained a national reputation and even been launched in a career as a fashion designer.

A number of fashion designers are presented. One organizes photo shoots at which amateurs gather at various locations. Many fashion shops are covered. There is truly a lot here both in the photos and, to my surprise, in the text. I can only wonder, were I to go to Tokyo, how many youth I would see in such fashions: I'd be disappointed after "The Tokyo Look Book" if the percentage was too small. This kind of fun and freedom seems a good thing so long as the spending doesn't become overdone. But it is not my kids so I enjoyed this book considerably.

"It's like an attack on the brain": so speaks Kai Satake about his Boutique Dog. The same might be said of much of these Tokyo fashions. Supposedly the Japanese fashion scene was dull in the 1980's: they've made up a lot of ground since then. Being far from Europe may have led to the movement to extremes.

Upon first looking through this book, the photos dominated. Not that they seem that flattering, many are not, but they are eye-catching. Many are of "ordinary" youth found on the streets: few if any are of fashion models.

Once I settled into the text by Philomena Keet, I was surprised just how complex this entire scene is: worthy of an anthropologist with a PhD in "Tokyo street fashion". Let's hope it does not go out of fashion, what will Philomena do then? As it is, there is a lot of reading here which goes along with the photos: the text is not a formal presentation at all nor is there much explicit social science in it but it is informative.

Much derives from music, much of that having come from the West although the Japanese now make their own contribution such as with their "visual kei" rock bands. One remarkable fashion designer (and visual kei performer which perform in costume) is Mana whose androgynous look was one of the more attractive in this book.

Gothic, Lolita, Gothic Lolita, Princess Lolita: lots of subcultures and tribes. Lots of money spent on clothes and many magazines(the amounts seem to be in yen) by youths who want to be "in". Lots of time as well, it seems, shopping and hanging out at well-known places where they can be seen and photographed (sometimes at a price). "Charisma girls" have become well known and apparently well paid, helpful workers in the fashion shops some of whom have gained a national reputation and even been launched in a career as a fashion designer.

A number of fashion designers are presented. One organizes photo shoots at which amateurs gather at various locations. Many fashion shops are covered. There is truly a lot here both in the photos and, to my surprise, in the text. I can only wonder, were I to go to Tokyo, how many youth I would see in such fashions: I'd be disappointed after "The Tokyo Look Book" if the percentage was too small. This kind of fun and freedom seems a good thing so long as the spending doesn't become overdone. But it is not my kids so I enjoyed this book considerably.

When I first came upon this book, my first thought was "why Japanese fashion trends?" Having been to Japan four times and having a long association with Japanese culture, I might be able to shed some light on this. The Japanese seem to have absorbed the concept of rebellion in a very matter-of-fact way. In most other countries, those who rebel are forced to live outside the mainstream culture. They are usually no longer invited to travel in the same circles as those who are part of the establishment. They tend to behave differently in many respects, not just in those areas associated with the rebellion. In Japan, however, there seems to be a certain incongruity. Rebellion is treated almost like a hobby. It is not looked upon with the horror that we seem to display, perhaps a reflection of a certain prudishness in our American psyche. So, that's why fashion trends in Japan are worth exploring. In addition, there are interesting influences of various Japanese traditional clothing trends, from kimonos to baggy workpants.
So, how has this been executed by Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe? Wonderfully. The interviews with designers are interesting and to the point, and the photography is gorgeous. I especially liked the way the people wearing the clothes(not professional models) were captured and, at times, posed. They all had great spirit and seemed to enjoy the experience. For some of them, we are given a bit of their background and their feelings about the fashion. This added to the feel of the fashion. Fashion for both men and women are given about equal treatment. This is a really fun book. Rippa na hon desu ne!

I love Japanese culture. I have always been fascinated by Japanese culture since I was a child. I am not a big fan of fashion. I think a lof fashion nowadays is uninteresting. The Japanese definitely have the most unique take on fashion. THE TOKYO LOOK BOOK by Philomena Keet (photography by Yuri Manabe) is a wonderful coffee table book that gives observers like myself an insight into Japanese fashion. Philomena is a cultural anthropologist. THE TOKYO LOOK BOOK is her first book. I enjoyed perusing the book. I liked how Philomena took every day people off the street (as opposed to professional models) and used them as her "models" for her book. It is really difficult to categorize the way young Japanese adults and teenagers dress as because their taste in fashion is so diverse in colors and styles.

Philomena talks to many Japanese fashion designers which includes Mana from the legendary Japanese visual kei band Malice Mizer and now Moi Dix Mois, the only individual I am familiar with (being the goth fan that I am). The photography by Yuri Manabe is fantastic. The vibrant colors in the clothes as well as the make up the young adults are wearing really stands out.

After reading THE TOKYO LOOK BOOK, it made me wish that this country would embrace such wild and diverse fashion styles like the Japanese has done. I like that the Japanese style of fashion is more about creativity and originality. They have taken bits and pieces of their history and somehow created something new and fresh without looking like they had regurgitated the past. This book is a definite must read for anyone who is fascinated with Japanese culture.

If you're the sort of person who wants desperately to bark at kids on the street: "Pull up your pants! Tie your shoes! How can your mother let you go out looking like that?" please don't bother with this book because it's likely to make your head explode. The Tokyo Look,as documented by Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe, misses nothing in terms of influence. From catwalk to traditional Japanese, goth, punk, J-rock, anime, mid-century modern, nothing goes unplundered by the young people of Tokyo. Nothing seems too outré to the street fashionistas, not pink hair, the Lolita look or ersatz vampires.

There is a sense of fun here in spite of the self-conscious, too-cool-for-school attitude that so many teens in all countries seem to project. You can't not comprehend the wonderful silliness of faux fur gloves with long, brightly-colored plastic claws, wicked-witch-of-the-north striped stockings or goth kids with Hello Kitty accessories. There's probably a dark side to all this, but it's not really apparent here, except occasionally within the text. The kids themselves all look like they're having a blast, and I can't blame them. In an anything-goes atmosphere like this, there really aren't many outsiders.

The book is heavy on the photos, a bit lighter on text. Keet gives some pretty basic information on what you're seeing, but prefers to let the looks speak for themselves. And I can't say I think that's a mistake in this case. Fans of pop-culture and fashionistas of all sorts will probably find this book appealing. I certainly did.

Rich people in other countries may have good hair but these ordinary citizens on the street have deeply manicured hair as a matter of course and good shoes. I may not agree with all the looks in this interesting collection of photographs but I can't deny what I am seeing. Also, I think that babies may be too expensive for the Japanese but being over 40% of the world's luxury goods market does not seem to be a problem. It may take a lot of money to look this [fill in the blank] but these guys' brains are working at a very high level to look whatever way they want to look.

This book made me want to go immediately to my closet and put on layers of nearly matching clothes and funky accessories, parade around town, and pretend I was being trendy. But, alas, that doesn't really work here in the USA and probably only works in Japan if you're under 30.

The Japanese culture lends itself to an interesting phenomenon in which many young men and women do not leave home until they get married. Those who have jobs are often able to spend their money more frivolously during this time and often tend to spend it on a myriad of fashion magazines and ever-changing fashions. There are many shops that change their fashions weekly and even create clothing in-shop to keep up with the ever-changing trends. Shockingly, some of these trendsters spend $1000-$3000 (US dollars) on some of these outfits. It's a colorful world full of scarves, bags, hats, accessories, name brands, second hands, remakes, and makeup where nearly anything goes.

The writer and photographer of this book showcase some of the most popular shops and fashion subcultures of Japan in 222 full-colored pages. There are a few familiar styles in the book like goth, lolita, and the kimonos worn by girls on Coming-of-Age Day (for girls who turn 20 that year). But there are also several fashion sub-cultures and styles in the book that I was completely unaware of. I especially found the yamamba sub-culture interesting. Yamamba translates literally to "mountain hag" and its fashion followers tan themselves, wear white makeup around their eyes and on the tops of their noses, and dye their hair various colors. The senta guys (the male counterparts to the mountain hags) tend to wear what looks like pajamas with girls flowered coats. Another interesting style is ero-kawaii style which translates to "erotic cute". There are also the visual-keis who copy the gaudy, costumed style of rockstars. And, of course, there are the cosplayers who dress as their favorite anime or manga characters. The authors of the book show many other styles and crossover styles of the youth of Japan.

Of course, the authors don't just interview and photograph the teenagers and 20-somethings of Japan. They also capture the more upscale fashion styles of those with serious jobs and who have graduated from the trendy young fashion scene to something more chic and sophisticated. Still, no matter the age, there seems to be a need to wear nice clothing in this aesthetically rich culture.

Of all the places and people showcased in the book, the mall called Shibuya 109 and the fashion designer named Takuya Angel intrigued me the most. Shibuya 109 has 118 shops that each try to out-do each other with having the must-have item of the week. They compete with loud music and outlandishness that I think would be chaotic and fun. The designer Takuya Angel and his wife work hard to create new trends like shirts made from kimonos and brightly-colored, furry scarves with fake cloth claws at the end that make it look as if you're getting a hug from a monster when you're wearing one of them. If I were to go shopping in Japan, I'd be sure to seek out Shibuya 109 in Shibuya and Takuya Angel's shop in Tokyo.

I enjoyed all the colorful pictures and commentary of the author and photographer of this book. I only wish that the glossary at the back of the book was a little more extensive to include any Japanese word including city names. There were several times that I was unable to remember the meaning of a term and unable to find it in the glossary. Perhaps even an index would help so that I could have found my way back to refresh my memory by a picture. Also, toward the end, I think some of the pictures were in the wrong chapters. But, frankly, that's something a second edition could easily remedy and doesn't detract from the gorgeousness of the book.

I'd recommend this book without hesitation to anyone with an interest in the Japanese culture, Japanese fashion, fashion in general, or for just something different to read. It's a truly delicious read.

The author, Philomena Keet, is a Brittish anthropologist whose PhD is focused on Tokyo street fashion. One can't help but wonder if this book represents the publication of her PhD Thesis. The full-color book is quite engaging, with tons of photos most of which have a brief comment on the clothing brands displayed and some biographical details on the person pictured. However, I would have liked more commentary on why their clothing was noteworthy or how it represented the particular style in question. The author currently leaves the reader to try to compare pictures and puzzle out why any particular article of clothing is a representative of a particular fashion style. Keet also interviews several Tokyo fashion designers, and profiles several clothing brand companies, trying to tease out the inspirational source for their design philosophy. Overall, the book is fun to flip through again and again, and it appears to provide at least an introduction to current Tokyo street fashion.

The Tokyo Look Book is much more than a "look," it's an eye-popping technicolor parade of Japanese fashions that surprise, intrigue, and sometimes shock. There's no question that much thought (and money) go into the looks adopted by these young fashionistas. Nowhere else have I seen a cute cyclist whose vintage orange and pink Chanel sunglasses match her bike and plastic bag.

Vintage and America are operative words here as a popular shop is Spank! which gets much of its secondhand stock from America, items reminiscent of the eighties. Image is of the utmost importance as we learn that "Some hairdressers get their jobs based on what they wear rather than how they cut." Thus, Meimu, a young hairdressing student, experiments with creating a look, one that will be trendy, appealing, eye-catching, and very much her own.

One enterprising young lady who works at a maid café in Yokohama assembled her outfit from internet stores. (By the way, she looks adorable). The styles are only limited by the wearers' imaginations, and they're amazing.

Also featured are interviews with some of Tokyo's best designers and shop owners. Designer Kazuhisa Komura recalls a show once done for Tokyo Fashion Week that began with :the ritual smashing open of a huge barrel of sake." He added, "We drink our way through these things."

With or without sake what's crystal clear is that Tokyo is on the cutting edge of fashion - take a look at The Tokyo Look Book and see for yourself.

- Gail Cooke

As someone with slightly more than a passing interest in western fashion but no knowledge of the world of the Tokyo fashion scene, I was eager to read this heavy, photograph-rich tome. The book succeeds in showcasing the many different and distinct styles of that world and provides a fascinating glimpse into the huge variety of styles that exist, the role of a shopping mall -- 109 -- in the development of the Tokyo styles, and illuminating interviews with influential designers and average people on the street. The book is best in its colorful and comprehensive showcasing of real people wearing real clothing in their own interpretation of a designer's vision.

I have two caveats to the book. The first one is that the photographs seem rather grainy, overexposed, and lacking in resolution for a book which is so reliant on them.

Secondly, the author states in her introduction that she is an anthropologist and yet the book is oddly devoid of any analysis of the cultural reasons for an individual's fashion choices. It would have been fascinating to learn the reasons why a person chooses to align themselves with one school of TGokyo fashion; what the adherents of one type have in common and how they differ in their goals, economic/education/geographic background, and point of view from othersl and the reasons why these unique fashion styles have developed in Tokyo.

Although the author touched on lightly on some of these issues through the photograph captions, a table or other device to clearly delineate the different styles and its adherents' cultural background and future goals would have been of great help, as would a glossary of terms unfamiliar to those of us who are not fluent in Japanese.

I'm a proud owner of the "Fruits" book (Fruits is a magazine dedicated to chronicling Japanese Street Fashion) so I had to pick this from the list of Vine products. The Tokyo Look book is more then just a picture book of current Japanese fashion, it also contains mini-interviews with the people photographed as well as accompanying essays on the meaning and culture of the various genres of "looks".

I thought this book dovetailed nicely with the Fruits volumes- it gave me a little more background, though at some points I thought some of the commentary was a trifle obvious and maybe meant for an audience that isn't already familiar with the broader outlines of Japanese street fashion.

Def. recommend as a coffee-table type Xmas/holiday present for the casual hipster friend who has a demonstrated interest in Japanese street fashion (and who already owns the Fruits collection book). However, don't expect to have your mind grapes squeezed.

Fascinating tour of the world-renowned hyper-speed Tokyo fashion scene. Almost all the pictures are "on the street" and cover a wide range a genres. Japanese youth fashion seems strange, exotic and weird to westerners and for good reason - they treat dress as we might Halloween. What the clothes represent is not so important as the Japanese club or group that wears that style of fashion. So, someone wearing 1980s Heavy Metal fashion does not actually live the Heavy Metal lifestyle, fashion is a blank canvas into which anything can be mixed with little regard to its underlying meaning or connection to lifestyle - just as we can dress up on Halloween as gangsters, monsters and demons without regard to its underlying representation. As an example, kids wearing a NYC rapper style would go around saying "this is for real, we are real" - not because they are "real" (how could they be), but in imitation of NYC rappers who say those things! It's very postmodern. Another illustrative example, some kids dressed as American biker gangs attacked a police car throwing bottles - not because they were bad biker guys, but because that is what bad biker guys are supposed to do - when the police apprehended them, the kids apologized and just said they were doing what bikers are supposed to do.

Fashion can represent a person, who they are and what they do. It can also serve as a mask, to be someone we are not, and I believe for the Japanese who are otherwise so tightly regulated and controlled fashion is both a rebellion, a way to be unique and different, and a mask to hide ones true self.

In the last ten years there been a rise in interest in Japan's culture. This has mostly been due to the imports of anime and manga, but many people have been fascinated with the fashion of Japan; particularly Tokyo. This book with over two hundred pages pf photos is probably the most extensive book you will find on the fashion in Tokyo, Japan.

If like me, you have been interested in Japanese fashion at all because of anime or manga, or the current influence of their lolita fashion on such stores as "Hot Topic", this book might just interest you. It has five chapters each covering a different area of Tokyo where the fashion is highly influential, or just focusing on a particular sect of fasion.

The first chapter focuses on Shibuya and the influence of "109" a building that has 118 stores with cutting edge fashion that is mostly geared towards gyarus (gyaru is gal in Japanese) or sentas (The male version of gyaru fashion). It goes quite thouroughly into the different sects of gyaru fashion.

The second chapter focuses on subcultural styles such a cosplayers and gothic or lolita styles. It would have been nice if there were a few more pictures of these styles, but the ones that are here gives a good example of the trend and explains where the gothic and lolita style came from as well.

In the third chapter the focus is on Harajuku. This is the district that has inspired Gwen Stefani's label "Harajuku Lovers". A through history of the influence of Harajuku on Tokyo fashion is given, and the designers and stores. It was nice to finally discover that "FRUiTS" is not actually a label, but is a magazine that portrays a particular look in Harajuku.

Woman's fashion is the focus of the fourth chapter and mainly explains the different styles of the older female fashionista. Some opting for the sexy and chic "onesan-kei" (older sister style), as well as interesting design companies such as "Theater Prudcuts" whose clothes look like something a doll would wear. It is interesting to also note that there has been a boom in the wearing of the Yukata (the light summer kimono) recently.

The men in chapter fice range from grungy to the chic. The focus is on men at work, so the are generally wearing nice clothes, and just a personal note, but I much prefer Japanese men in suits to the "street wear", I think it looks a lot less suave on them. Anyway, it also briefly talks about the coming of age (whcih is 20) where men usually where a traditional kimono.

Probably the best thing about this book is the pictures. With a book about fashion you expect the pictures to be the highlight, as is the case here. I am glad that Ms. Keet included information about the background of the designers and the fashions trends, but at times I wish there was less words and just more pictures!!! There was an occasional typo as well, and the written part seemed a little repetetive, but other than that this book is amazing! You can always skip over the written part and just poor over the pictures.

God Bless & *enjoy* ~Amy

The Tokyo Look Book promises to be the New Outsider's Bible for Japanese Harajuku Fashion for those looking for it in this printed and ready-available print medium much like what Araki's Tokyo Lucky Hole did for the club and hotel scene, Joan Sinclair's Pink Box is doing for the Sex Club scene and Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno delivered with earlier this year.

But be advised, while the photos in this compendium are all original, the internet has boasted much larger collections of this type of thing for several years. One just needs to google any of the ready-available terms and scores of Flickr albums will shoot at you from the info superhighway. That is really the true downfall of all these books that are trying to present the uber-new to the Phaidon Reading Public, staying relevant becomes difficult while this content seams to be almost-streaming online and everywhere the ever-consuming teenage eye seems to glance.

The strong-point of this book though is what it should be, and that's the reading. Philomena Keet has thoroughly covered her bases with her own succinct brand of journalism. Keet knows the subjects she's covering and does so very well. What is probably a series of three page essays on modern fashion, theatre, street trends and a brief introduction, the eye strains the page to ingest what would be otherwise good and very well-written information. Something has to be said about 9 point fonts, but gathering that even smaller roman fonts are typical in Japanese culture, too ... it's not wonder that they're put to work here. I just had to find my specs and turn up the lights for this one. I was once given a business card by a Japanese woman that had the smallest font face that I ever witnessed, but that speaks volumes about a culture, and a subculture that screams for your attention. And this is part of what is actually alluded to in Keet and Manabe's go-to Classic. Japanese artists seeking to gain respect and a wider audience, not just on main-land Japan, but the world throughout.

One curiosity though is the prevalent photographs on Ganguro Girls and the Ganguro style, but no chapter dedicated to the fashion mode itself and only a fleeting reference to it in a caption. One can only assume that it was only glassed over due to its diminishing popularity and seen as a thing of the past, much like many American's obsession with Birkenstock sandals or Manolo Blahnik woman's dress shoes. For the record, Ganguro style is a prominent look from the 1990's and equates to about a thousand years in Japan when it comes down to fashion.

This book will be everywhere for awhile, and you'll probably be able to get a much lager version from the author in the year to come. Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe have made an impression in delivering the dry-goods on this societal sub-set.

My nephew lives in Tokyo and I wanted to get some sense of what he might be seeing among the fashion styles of young people his age.

Wow! I had no idea. This book is jammed with amazing photos of kids in Tokyo sporting every imaginable fashion style. Even kids in secondary school are all decked out in the wildest, most colorful outfits you ever saw. There is loads of text to explain the various distinctions and peculiarities of various styles, offshoots, and mixtures of fashion. It is mind boggling.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy great fashion displays. Unreal. It has to be seen to be comprehended.

Its hard to define this book. Is it a study in fashion? Or perhaps it fits best as a book of photography? One thing for sure, it is interesting and entertaining. Interesting in the fact that a normally conservative culture (at least that is most of our preconceived notions) would be home to such a diverse group of people and "looks".
The pages are filled with vibrant photos of people dressed in many many different ways. Its neat to see people who arent afraid to be office workers by day and ninjas at comic conventions by night.
The fashion influences are diverse: 80's, goths, punks, thugs, hip-hop, and just about every gamut of style in between.
Outfits are put together with secondhand clothes, cheap plastic accesories, handmade bits of fabric, and even high end fashion houses that arent afraid to buck the trend. We see blonde hair, multicolored makeup, tanned skin, fishnet stockings, white face paint, silk cloth and sparkling personalities.
This book is a good look at the influences of our global society, things are blended, melded, smashed together and out comes something entirely new. Warmly familiar, yet shockingly different. This book will appeal to fashion students and other people interested in the arts and global influence. Im not going to run out and model any of the looks within, but its refreshing to see people who march to the beat of their own drum and who arent afraid of what other people are going to think. Fresh, funny, eybrow raising and just plain unique.

The Tokyo Look Book promises to be the New Outsider's Bible for Japanese Harajuku Fashion for those looking for it in this printed and ready-available print medium much like what Araki's Tokyo Lucky Hole did for the club and hotel scene, Joan Sinclair's Pink Box is doing for the Sex Club scene and Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno delivered with earlier this year.

But be advised, while the photos in this compendium are all original, the internet has boasted much larger collections of this type of thing for several years. One just needs to google any of the ready-available terms and scores of Flickr albums will shoot at through from the info superhighway. That is really the true down fall of all these books that are trying to present the uber-new to the Phaidon Reading Public, staying relevant becomes difficult while this content seams to be almost-streaming online and everywhere the teenage eye seems to glance.

The strong-point of this book though is what it should be, and that's the reading. Philomena Keet has thoroughly covered her bases with her own succinct brand of journalism. Keet knows the subjects she's covering and does so very well. What is probably a series of three page essays on modern fashion, theatre, street trends and a brief introduction, the eye strains the page to ingest what would be otherwise good and very well-written information. Something has to be said about 9 point fonts, but gathering that even smaller roman fonts are typical in Japanese culture, too ... it's not wonder that they're put to work here. I just had to find my specs and turn up the lights for this one. I was once given a business card by a Japanese woman that had the smallest font face that I ever witnessed, but that speaks volumes about a culture, and a subculture that screams for your attention. And this is part of what is actually alluded to in Keet and Manabe's go-to Classic. Japanese artists seeking to gain respect and a wider audience, not just on main-land Japan, but the world throughout.

One curiosity though is the prevalent photographs on Ganguro Girls and the Ganguro style, but no chapter dedicated to the fashion mode itself and only a fleeting reference to it in a caption. One can only assume that it was only glassed over due to its diminishing popularity and seen as a thing of the past, much like American's obsession with Birkenstock sandals or Manolo Blahnik woman's dress shoes. For the record, Ganguro style is a prominent look from the 1990's and equates to about a thousand years in Japan when it comes down to fashion.

This book will be everywhere for awhile, and you'll probably be able to get a much lager version from the author in the year to come. Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe have made an impression in delivering the dry-goods on this societal sub-set.

Tokyo Look Book is a haute fashion photo catalogue of trendy Tokyo style makers that makes you want to jump on a JAL flight for Narita with a wad of greenbacks to spend. The book gives several profiles of the top fashion houses and their design visionaries which make all the threads these young 'fashionaires' buy up greedily. Every photo and section includes quality text which gives the names and profiles of the subjects. I read all the photos and their captions in about 30 minutes; after that, you can take your time reading the fashion house profiles and the longer essays. One thing is for sure, Tokyo guys are as dashing and Tokyo girls are as sexy and beautiful and cute and sweet as ever, with all their clothes on no less. This book captures the cool chic and cute innocence or sassy attitude that permeates the hordes of shopping juveniles and mallrats on Tokyo boulevards. I can't wait to go back to Japan and fall in love with this fantasy scene all over again, and cry myself to sleep each night knowing most of these girls are just too young for me to ever have or love, or that the mens' styles are too small for me to fit in to. That's the beauty and tragedy and heart-wrenching, heart-aching reality of Japanese fashion and society, which Tokyo Look Book makes light of but never lets us forget.

If you think of fashion photography as being the pictures of clothes draped across beautiful bodies to be shown in advertisements, you will find only a small percentage of the pictures in this book to meet that expectation. Instead here you will find photographs that are striking, that don't really fit with the idea of selling a dress. Indeed if 'fashion' implies clothes, some of the pictures here don't show any clothes at all, just the form of the model. These were attractive people on the street, not professional models and the clothes they chose to wear that day. This is a really nice book and most of the time I like street fashion more than runway fashion being that it's more wearable. This book consist of:

* Many full-color pages of photographs of course
* Witty and informative captions (which there was more)
* A broad range of looks: from Goth to gyaru, from cosplayer to clubber, from office lady to construction worker, from high fashion to street fashion
* Interviews with some of Tokyo's hottest designers and shop owners
*Glossary (in case you get those lost moments)

Yuri Manabe has put together a great collection of photographs that show what the best