Week 4-Uyen Ngo

Like Korea, Japan is a prime example of a nation that was able to rebuilt itself into a powerhouse country after the devastation of a major war. While at this point in the course, it is obvious that nations' development come in many simultaneous forms such as economic development or social development, such as a media industry or food industry, Japan was able to develop its own version of a fashion industry. 

Japan's fashion industry shows that sometimes a nation's aesthetic can be influenced by other cultures. In fact, they were able to create an industry off a trend named after

replicating other styles of clothing, the "replica trend". However, it is important to keep in mind that Japan's success in this way is only possible due to one factor: its people. It is the people and their love for fashion. In the article "How America Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion in Japan Fashionista", it is told that there are magazines in which 95% of the content is fashion.

A prime example of this would be "Uniqlo" which is is a Japanese shop that is influenced by American culture. It is quite ironic as the store started as a way to provide American fashion to Japan but eventually, they expanded to America and are now the largest store in most of the malls they are located in. They ended up creating a business where they are selling American fashion back to Americans. So much to the point that they have become compared to higher end brands like Louis Vuitton.

Works Cited

http://fashionista.com/2015/12/ametora-book-interview

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniqlo

Week 4. Garcia, Moises

In the first years after the war, Japan was merely surviving along with its people. They were taking aid from the US when it came to food and monetary assistance. They needed the assistance because they needed to provide for the citizens and the six million troops retuning from Asia, and on top of all of this there weren’t any available jobs for its citizens. Japan knew they had to make changes, so they decided that they would go through an economic reconstruction. Much of the reconstruction went towards rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure as well as its industrial and manufacturing. Their other goal was to keep Japan as a whole lightly armed; Japan thought that guns were a waste of resources and focused more on the economics of the country. Japan aimed to spend the least amount of money possible on the countries defense, while also not compromising themselves to be attacked by another country. Once Japan gained full independence from the US in 1952, the received pressure to normalize and become similar to countries like the US, but they stayed true to their vision. The “Sekei Bunri” (Separation of politics from economics) was huge to them, as they didn’t want politicians or any political reason as too why a law should be made that only made a few gain. They Kept economics by itself as the sector would focus on gains for the country as a whole and no certain segment of people should prosper over the other. I’d probably love to connect this to a country like the US, but it would be impossible to implement as our country is set up to where politics control every part of this country. Where president now a days can order for a wall to be built that uses up to almost six billion dollars, that could be used on something like healthcare id economics and politics were separate. 

• https://www.canon-igs.org/en/column/macroeconomics/20150213_2951.html
• Man, Tang Siew. Japan’s Grand Strategic Shift from Yoshida to Koizumi: Reflections on Japan’s Strategic Focus in the 21st Century.

Week 4_Yueming Tan,A01

In the article “How American Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion In Japan” by Chantal Fernandez, the author mentions that in the second world strategy, the United States and Japan have wonderful connections including fashion. The success of the Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo in the United States is enormous because it has successfully influenced the style of young Americans. At the same time, I found it interesting that the father of Uniqlo's founder was the first person to create American clothing in Japan. There is no doubt that fashion between the United States and Japan is interrelated and influential. I think the relationship between Japan and the United States has been very subtle after the Second World War. Japan sneaked into the US Pearl Harbor, and the United States used Japan’s large-scale lethal weapons atomic bombs, which later turned into reliable international allies.

• Fernandez, C. (2015, December 02). How American Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion In Japan. Retrieved from https://fashionista.com/2015/12/ametora-book-interview

 

• https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/517949eeecad047c26000011-750-500.jpg

Week 4 - Yufei Liu

Japanese people are well known for their creativity and innovation including lifestyle, technology, and certainly fashion. But it is not very long ago since Tokyo has become a major fashion city. From reading How American Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion in Japan by Chantal Fernandez, it is clear postwar period is a major pivot point in Japanese fashion.

Before war time, Japanese fashion was not globalized or spread worldwide. During war time, no one had time and energy to focus on fashion at all. It is not until after the war, Japanese public had more global exposure. For example, Kensuke Ishizu was inspired by men’s Ivy fashion in the US. However, the innovative Japanese did not take American influence for granted, but came up with their own spin that fits the Japanese population. Ishizu’s idea is not to create a replica but make it their own instead so that Japanese youths can wear his clothes and have the same American feel without wearing actual Levi. Ironically, in a good way, Japanese adaptation on American style became popular in the States as well.

Japan is a intriguing country because how fast they can learn from others, adapt, and create new things on their own. This reminds me of their language. They learned so much from the Chinese language so that a Chinese would have no trouble reading their Kanji. However, the pronunciation is entirely different from Chinese. This also shows the innovative blood running in them for generations. If I were to design a country, I would wish to have the same ability to not only learn from but adapt knowledge from third parties.

You, Stella. (2017, June 29). Five Quirky Japanese fashion brands to check out. Be.

Retrieved from http://asia.be.com/fashion/shopping/where-to-shop/5-quirky-japanese-fashion-brands-check-2-158035.html#item=1

Stump, Scott. (2018, August 16). Ziploc has a fashion line now and it looks so fresh. Today.

Retrieved from https://www.today.com/style/ziploc-fashion-line-inspired-plastic-bags-t135797

Week 4_Toan Tran

It is interesting to read how American culture indirectly influenced Japanese fashion post World War II but is also now having a massive reverse effect on American fashion with influences from Japan. In fact, a relatively new Japanese slang called "Ametora" for "American tradition" is mentioned in the magazine article How American Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion in Japan where fashion styles become "reimported to the U.S. through the success of several denim and streetwear brand" for clothing chains such as Uniqlo (Fernandez, 1). And as a consumer of Uniqlo, I definitely agree as the general style is continuing to have more and more western fashion culture influence present. As a result, fashion became a huge factor in developing Japan's national aesthetic although "inserting themselves in the American consciousness [was] never their goal" (Fernandez, 1). Something like this pair of jeans from Evisu, a popular clothing brand from Japan, where I had no idea the history and intentions it had until now—to give the Japanese people the feeling of wearing something like American jeans. However, nowadays the article mentions that the American culture we have an idea of is "very much informed by foreign [countries] reimporting it back (Fernandez, 6). 

And this one example of the overall process Japan went through was called the Yoshida Doctrine where its primary goal was to advance Japan's economic growth while keeping its security developments at a reasonable minimum (Man, 1). To develop their sense of national aesthetic, Japan tried their best to stay on good political-economic terms with the U.S. while remaining less armed in their military and providing bases for the U.S. military forces. It is impressive to see how far Japan has gone with this method with its huge influence on the entire world now but nothing comes to mind for how I would improve its current aesthetic. For Japan's current brand in something else other than fashion I am not too well versed in but I am looking forward to hearing more about it possibly in class. 

References:

Evisu - Google Search. https://www.google.com/search?q=evisu&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS789US789&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9l6DE54ngAhVJwMQHHSs9CVIQ_AUIDygC&biw=1439&bih=722#imgdii=AdRy3pRhFl3wNM:&imgrc=si5E3C-zf42nzM: Accessed 27 Jan. 2019.

Fernandez, Chantal. “How American Style Fueled Postwar Youth Fashion in Japan.” Fashionista.

Man, Tang Siew. Japan’s Grand Strategic Shift from Yoshida to Koizumi: Reflections on Japan’s Strategic Focus in the 21st Century.

Week 4 - Samantha Soleta

The relationship between Japan and the United States has been long intertwined. Postwar relations set the precedent for America to have a permanent presence within Japanese land and culture. This American presence stretches from military and economic dependence to the appreciation for American fashion following the second world war. This presence is a very apparent part of the Yoshida Doctrine which had called for the redevelopment of the Japanese economy as well as minimal military and security measures as the presence of American military bases in Japan would cover that. Entering the 21st century, Japan's shift into the Koizumi Doctrine had emphasized a need to preserve Japanese peace while also pushing Japan to become an international power that could stay competitive in the global economy.

A part of this push to become a global presence was the Japanese influence in fashion. The famous school wear uniforms that Japan is known for actually stem from the American influences that resulted from the way. Ametora, Japanese slang for American traditional, had created a new basis for basic ready-to-wear fashion inspired by young students across the world in America. This influence has transcended into the success of Japanese fashion throughout the world with brands like UNIQLO. 

This was particularly interesting to me because UNIQLO is such a widely known company, I had never expected it to stem from the Ametora styles that Japan had molded in postwar times. Some people have even called it the "Ikea of clothing stores" as it offers a range of different styles that are all simple, pleasing, and affordable. It serves as a reflection of the nation's growth politically and culturally as we can clearly see the place Japan holds in international relations today.

http://wonder-wall.com/project/287/

Week 3_Yueming Tan

In the article "Living Luxe" by DeJean Jones, the author mentions that since the 16th century, France has dedicated to creating its fashion era. From diamond rings to luxury handbags to champagne, all show France's status as a dominant player in the world of fashion. I can relate this because every time I listen to people talking about France, I always think of perfumes and luxury goods from France. For example, Chanel, a famous brand for girls, and even girls all over the world. Every girl I know has lipstick, perfume and luxury handbags from Chanel. It's not just lipsticks, perfumes or handbags, and they are also our symbols. The girls around me generally believe that having Chanel products represents wealth.

I chose this picture because this is the brand that Chinese girls are now pursuing. 

• https://www.yslbeautyus.com/dw/image/v2/AANG_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-ysl-master-catalog/default/dwf69e649c/RCP-Custom-Cap/3365440595477.jpg?sw=640&sh=846&sm=fit&q=70
• DeJean Joan. 2005. The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour. Free Press: New York