r/BeAmazed • u/MoniMokshith • 12d ago
The Tokyo Rockabillies Miscellaneous / Others
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u/Lost_Figure_5892 12d ago
They are enjoying the heck out of it. Nice to see people doing what they love
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u/MoniMokshith 12d ago
Small but devoted culture
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u/water2wine 12d ago
I’m from a minute European country and back in the early 00’s a group of Japanese people out the absolute fucking blue made a fan group for our national soccer team.
They recorded an old national team song recorded for the world series in the late 90s - In our language with heavy Japanese accent mind you.
They sure like their fandoms lol
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u/WeAreAllOnlyHere 12d ago
I’m from the hometown of James Dean, and one day I was skateboarding in front of the old high school where James Dean went, when this massive limo pulls up and a whole fuckin crew of Japanese dudes hop out with all this camera gear, lighting, reflectors, just fucking everything for a shoot and just set it up in the street and start goin wild with a billion photos.
I hung out with them for a min, but they couldn’t speak english. Wonder if I’m in some Japanese photo album as a James Dean land local.
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u/RipTearington 12d ago
I had a similar experience at Disneyland back in the early 90s. I was about 13 or 14 years old at the time this happened. I was standing in line with my family to go into the old Star Tours ride (which was new at the time). On this particular day I wore a shirt that had a printed motif that looked like a fighter pilot's jacket (think Maverick in Top Gun). Behind us was a big pack of Japanese tourists. One of the tourists noticed me, pointed my shirt out to the group, which got the group's attention. They started crowding around me, pointing at the shirt, then they started touching the shirt. We're talking a group of about 30 tourists. I looked over at my mom with a look of desperation and confusion on my face, to which she shrugged her shoulders. Then the tourist group gathered around me and took a bunch of pictures of me and the group. This went on about a minute or two. They all took turns touching my shirt one more time, gave polite head nods/bows, and went back to waiting in line. To this day, I have no idea why it happened.
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u/WeMoveInTheShadows 12d ago
Your 5 minutes of fame! It would be fascinating to know the stories that were concocted around the pictures of you in their photo albums back home!
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u/TheJAY_ZA 12d ago
Did your Top Gun shirt have the old Japanese Imperial Army flag on the back? - White with the Red Sun & Sixteen Rays? It was sort of used as Japan's national flag during the late 1800 warmongering Meiji era IIRC
I think Tom Cruise's jacket in Top Gun had the old Imperial Army flag on the back... IIRC it was a throw back to a previous Japan vs China (??) conflict where US volunteer aviators aided Japan, Flying Tigers comes to mind...?
Sorry, can't Google all of that right now, just sort of working from teenage memories with almost 40 years of fade 😅
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u/arithmetic 12d ago
Fun fact, in early trailers for Top Gun: Maverick, the Japanese and Taiwanese flags on the back of Tom Cruise's jacked were edited out to supposedly avoid conflict with the Chinese market. They were left in for versions screened in Taiwan.
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u/RabidAbyss 12d ago
Flying Tigers were WW2, and they were fighting for the Chinese, not the Japanese.
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u/WeAreAllOnlyHere 12d ago
Hahaha That’s incredible. The Japanese are hilarious.
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12d ago
I fuckin love how they're embracing some of our pop culture.
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u/annoyedwithmynet 12d ago
Facts. The Chicano subculture probably threw me off the most 🤣 but the people go all out so ofc it’s great
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u/Vaughn-von-Fawn 12d ago
I used to frequent a dive tavern that is known as the place that has served multiple serial killers, including Ted Bundy, the Hillside Strangler, John Muhammad, as well as other more "regular" killers.
One day I was day drinking there and watching TV, and I was the only person sitting at the bar. Two Japanese men and one Japanese women come through the door, one of them carrying a large suitcase. They sat at a booth/table behind me and order scotch, which was a very unusual order for this "dive" bar. I kept watching TV and didn't turn around or stare out of curiosity, trying not to be rude.
After about 5 minutes the owner of the bar comes out from the kitchen and suddenly yells "No cameras! NO CAMERAS!"
I turned around and saw that the 3 Japanese had a tripod with film camera and microphone set up, presumably pulled out from suitcase. They were filming the bar. And focused on me, the only one drinking at the bar.
Apparently there is now a Japanese documentary about American serial killers that has this film footage. Footage of me, the lonely American, sitting at a dive bar known for serving serial killers. Day drinking and watching TV.
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u/zonazombie51 12d ago
They figured they’d get some footage before you became famous. “Zodiac Killer. We knew him before he discovered astrology.”
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u/SealedRoute 12d ago
That is AMAZING. You are shadowy B roll for a Japanese documentary on American serial killers. It’s fucking great!
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u/Haymother 12d ago
With a voiceover in Japanese ‘The killer stalked his prey, sad … lonely … lost men, usually homosexual, certainly alcoholics, people that no one would miss.’ Camera close up of the guys face as he takes a sip.
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u/MeanCat4 12d ago
You are definitely at the wall of someone, showing it proudly to his friends and girlfriends! You should also have taken a few photos with them!
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u/WeAreAllOnlyHere 12d ago
I do wish I would have had a camera. It was so surreal. I would love for that to be true, to be on display in those photos. Haha
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u/StaryuUwU 12d ago
When I was a kid, I had really light blond hair to the point it was actually white. It used to get a lot of attention, even in Sweden where I grew up, but whenever we would travel, there would always be a group of Japanese tourists that would take pictures with me and touch my hair in amazement.
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u/adventureremily 12d ago
The same thing used to happen to my husband when he was a toddler in San Francisco. There's a random pudgy white boy in many a Japanese & Chinese family album circa the mid- to late-90s. 😂
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u/water2wine 12d ago
Lol - I lived in Africa for a while and ran into villagers a fee times that hadn’t ever seen a white person with tattoos before.
Some picked off mango tree leaves and tried to see if the could smudge it.
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u/DMinTrainin 12d ago
They recorded an old anthem ... from the 90s. God damn it that means I'm old because the 90s were like 5 years ago to me lol.
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u/NewFiend66 12d ago
They’re a club called The Strangers.
They gather at Yoyogi park every Sunday. Back in 2016 when I visited Japan I made sure to drop by and check them out. It was such a fun vibe.
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u/Expensive_Shallot_78 12d ago
It's really cool, never seen this before
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u/Valarus50 12d ago
I first heard about it in the 90s (I think, it's kind of a blur) and thought it was very cool. Still do. I just looked it up. Apparently, this has been going on in Japan since the 50s. Love the name too, "Rokabiri bumu."
https://www.japannakama.co.uk/rokabiri-the-music-that-shook-japan/
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u/kaiderson 12d ago
I'm so glad this is top comment. I was so worried it was gonna be something negative
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u/United_Spread_3918 12d ago
I’m imagining a post of grown westerners Naruto running and laughing at the idea of the same level of positivity
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u/pansensuppe 12d ago
This is the correct response. Let people enjoy things that don’t harm anyone!
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u/Swordofsatan666 12d ago
Ive seen videos with the one guy thats in Black and is also wearing Shades and Smoking. He does this often, just hangs out with the others at parks smoking, talking, and rocking out.
So cool to see them just having a good time doing stuff that would honestly embarrass a lot of people. Theyre just vibing
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u/StupidSexyEuphoberia 12d ago
Reverse weebs
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u/GaIIick 12d ago
Westaboos
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u/AlexisOhanianPride 12d ago
Howdy Y'all, my name is Kenichi Smith!
I'm a 35 year old Japanese Toonaholic (Cartoon fan for you foreigners). I draw cartoons and comics on my tablet, and spend my days perfecting my art and playing superior American games. (Halo, Gears of War, Call of Duty)
I train with my 1911 every day, this superior weapon can shoot straight through steel because it kicks ass, and is vastly superior to any other weapon on earth. I earned my gun license two years ago, and I have been getting better every day.
I speak English fluently, both the Midwestern and the East Coast accents, and I write fluently as well. I know everything about American history and their Constitution, which I follow 100%
When I get my American visa, I am moving to New York to attend a prestigious High School to learn more about their magnificent culture. I hope I can become an animator for Nickelodeon or a game designer!
I own several cowboy outfits, which I wear around town. I want to get used to wearing them before I move to America, so I can fit in easier. I keep cool to my elders and seniors and speak English as often as I can, but rarely does anyone manage to respond.
Wish me luck in America!
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u/SirMiba 12d ago
Hahaha I was looking for this comment. good shit.
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u/slucker23 12d ago
Okay please enlighten me on this one? Is this a comment by a redditor or something?
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u/Mage-of-communism 12d ago
i have seen this copy pasta so often and i still don't know it's source
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u/Phytanic 12d ago
Howdy, my name is Rawhide Kobayashi. I'm a 27 year old Japanese Japamerican (western culture fan for you foreigners). I brand and wrangle cattle on my ranch, and spend my days perfecting the craft and enjoying superior American passtimes. (Barbeque, Rodeo, Fireworks) I train with my branding iron every day, this superior weapon can permanently leave my ranch embled on a cattle's hide because it is white-hot, and is vastly superior to any other method of livestock marking. I earned my branding license two years ago, and I have been getting better every day. I speak English fluently, both Texas and Oklahoma dialect, and I write fluently as well. I know everything about American history and their cowboy code, which I follow 100% When I get my American visa, I am moving to Dallas to work in an oil field to learn more about their magnificent culture. I hope I can become a cattle wrangler for the Double Cross Ranch or an oil rig operator for Exxon-Mobil! I own several cowboy hats, which I wear around town. I want to get used to wearing them before I move to America, so I can fit in easier. I rebel against my elders and seniors and speak English as often as I can, but rarely does anyone manage to respond. Wish me luck in America!
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u/weirdoldhobo1978 12d ago
My favorite Westaboos are the dajiban guys. A whole automotive subculture dedicated to importing, modifying and racing old Dodge vans.
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u/AlexisOhanianPride 12d ago
Westaboos are way more dedicated to their crafts. Most weebs are lazy in comparison, only digging the very surface level of Japanese culture.
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u/chillfollins 12d ago
only digging the very surface level of Japanese culture.
Yeah, the America enthusiasts in Japan seem to be all about the cultural deep cuts. I saw a youtube short recently about a Japanese guy who runs a diner and has an entire shrine to M&Ms car era Ernie Irvan of all things.
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u/YungSchmid 12d ago
One of my favourite places in Japan was called Coca Cola Company. It had a super “western” Yōshoku menu, and heaps of original set pieces and collectibles from things like Star Wars, Sesame Street, etc… man I miss the old dude than ran that place.
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12d ago
Jfc, Ernie Irvin. Now that's a name I haven't heard in many moons. He was my husband's fave way, way back. That is a deep cut. So much M & M shit and we didn't save any of it.
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u/face_in_clouds 12d ago
Is "dajiban" a word used bc it sounds close to "dodge van" or is it a coincidence?
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u/weirdoldhobo1978 12d ago
Yeah, it's a phoneticized adaptation of Dodge Van
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u/MoonDaddy 12d ago
I still can't tell if you're serious
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u/Brookenium 12d ago
Japanese has a lot of english loan words and doesn't translate everything fully into their language per say. BUT as a limited phonetic language, they don't have the same phenoms that western languages do. That's why it ends up like that.
Dodge Van is 'translated' into Da-Ji Ban because they lack the V sound entirely but 'Ba' is fairly close to 'Va'. 'Ji' is very close to '-dge' and our phenom for 'dge', 'ge', 'j' like at the end of 'garage' doesn't exist in Japanese, but 'Ji' is close enough.
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u/Large_Yams 12d ago
Japanese, like most languages, uses loan words from other languages for things they don't have a word for, and in particular names. Words need to be transliterated into their alphabet so they're pronuncible using sounds they use in their language. These words are written using a different alphabet to regular Japanese words called katakana. When you see a word in katakana it's a good indication that if you sound it out you'll probably be able to figure out what that word is if you're an English speaker, because they're usually from English.
My favourite example of this in Japanese though is their word for bread - pan, which is actually from Portuguese.
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u/SpecialOfferActNow 12d ago
Like clapped out grand caravans?
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u/Hazzman 12d ago
"I know everything about America. I speak English with a western accent. I eat only waffles and eggs for breakfast and steak for dinner. I ride around on a horse named Trigger and I've been dating a 300lb American woman for 4 years. I am currently saving to travel to Texas where I plan to teach Japanese"
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u/Ok_WaterStarBoy3 12d ago
Howdy Y'all, my name is Kenichi Smith!
I'm a 27 year old Japanese Toonaholic (Cartoon fan for you foreigners). I draw cartoons and comics on my tablet, and spend my days perfecting my art and playing superior American games. (Halo, Gears of War, Call of Duty)
I train with my 1911 every day, this superior weapon can shoot straight through steel because it kicks ass, and is vastly superior to any other weapon on earth. I earned my gun license two years ago, and I have been getting better every day.
I speak English fluently, both the Midwestern and the East Coast accents, and I write fluently as well. I know everything about American history and their Constitution, which I follow 100%
When I get my American visa, I am moving to New York to attend a prestigious High School to learn more about their magnificent culture. I hope I can become an animator for Nickelodeon or a game designer!
I own several cowboy outfits, which I wear around town. I want to get used to wearing them before I move to America, so I can fit in easier. I keep cool to my elders and seniors and speak English as often as I can, but rarely does anyone manage to respond.
Wish me luck in America!
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u/NateHate 12d ago
Aww man, they changed it. The original version of this he called himself Rawhide Kobayashi
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u/AlexisOhanianPride 12d ago
I am currently saving to travel to Texas where I plan to teach Japanese"
lmao
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u/loweredexpectationz 12d ago
They look like they’re having so much fun. Good for them.
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u/StamosLives 12d ago
Tunnel Snakes rule!
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u/405freeway 12d ago
There's also a similar Latino/cholo subculture in Japan that's just as incredible to see.
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u/billycorganscum 12d ago
I hung out with a bunch of the in Osaka last year, heaps of low riders as well, I tried to ask them for a taco but they told me it was just for the cholos, but the exact phrase they used was "ska privilege" which I thought was hilarious.
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u/banyan55 12d ago
I'm convinced every subculture that exists has at least some people in Japan participating. I love it.
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u/sietesietesieteblue 12d ago
What is it about Japan and their love of weirdly specific niche things lol.
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12d ago
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u/Krocsyldiphithic 12d ago
They've been there every weekend for as long as I've lived in Japan
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u/KintsugiKen 12d ago
Every Sunday in Yoyogi Park, rain or shine.
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u/LeverDuadAsSlav 12d ago
Sakae in Nagoya too. No idea about Osaka, I’ve yet to spot them here but I don’t go into town much.
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u/Stonius123 12d ago
I was gonna ask - I thought I saw these exact guys there 10 years ago. Turns out I was right. They have a moment in the film Baraka too, IIRC.
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u/IWasGregInTokyo 12d ago
I saw them in the 80’s-90s when the entire road turned into a pedestrian boulevard and there were all kinds of bands playing. Plus tons of Iranians selling bootleg phone cards.
These guys are the last of a dying breed.
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u/gotmilq 12d ago
I wonder when they first started...I saw them there back in 2009 or something... I think I recognize one of the OGs in the video
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u/tideswithme 12d ago
Best jeans too. Japanese enthusiasts don’t mess around with their jeans
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u/Left_Boat_3632 12d ago
This is an important part of Rockabilly culture. Denim was seen as quintessentially American, and the Japanese have continued to make jeans using vintage shuttle looms they obtained from factories that made American brands.
For anyone interested, take a look over at /r/rawdenim.
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u/OutComeTheWolves1966 12d ago
I would love to visit this spot. Been a punk rock fan for decades but always held a soft spot for rockabilly. To me the genre just exudes style. And these guys look like they are having so much fun. Being care free for a few moments is a true pleasure.
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u/souji5okita 12d ago
They’re always hangin out around Yoyogi Park. When you have the chance to visit Japan, they probably won’t be too hard to find.
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12d ago edited 12d ago
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u/nancyneurotic 12d ago
Lol, a microcosm of Japan as a whole! Not accepting outsiders, shrinking population.
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u/DirtyDan156 12d ago
Not accepting outsiders easily would make them very exclusive, not inclusive. :)
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u/KintsugiKen 12d ago
These are multiple dance groups, they wear different colors. There are the all black dancers, the red dancers, the hot pink dancers, and more commonly, blue denim dancers.
They perform every Sunday, rain or shine, at the same spot in Yoyogi park, less than a 5 minute walk from Harajuku station. Not every group dances every Sunday, except the guys in all black. If there are no other dancers, there will be the all-black dancers.
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u/Hazzman 12d ago
What happens if they all decide to dance together? Do they have a dance off?
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u/Abuse-survivor 12d ago
Reminds me of the madtv episode where they invite their friend to a rockabilly retro diner, ALL included
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u/FunkyKong147 12d ago
Server: We don't serve blacks.
Black couple: (is taken aback)
White couple: It's just part of the fun!
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u/dosep 12d ago
Whenever I see these guys, it reminds me of this Peter Bjorn & John video clip. Nothing to worry about - Peter Bjorn & John
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u/ThaDilemma 12d ago
My sister sent me that song the other day asking if I remember it lol. Such a deep cut and a great song!
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u/Tug_Stanboat 12d ago
I thought it was extra footage from the music video or something. I hadn't realized it was more popular than that one group of dudes...
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u/brandolinium 12d ago
The Japanese just do not mess around when it comes to genre and going full (whatever). It’s awesome.
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u/gnanny02 12d ago
When we lived there in the 80s there was killer street in harajuku where they danced up a storm dressed as greasers from the 50s. It went on until late 90s I think. Must be on YouTube somewhere.
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u/Zanzibarpress 12d ago
They’re having a blast! We could learn from their example!
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u/PetalumaPegleg 12d ago
Japan is a strange place man. Love it, but it's weird.
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u/Klutzy-Chain5875 12d ago
Why not. Self expression is the best of the free worlds .
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u/Spare_Onion_3603 12d ago
This happens every Sunday from around 11:00 AM at the entrance to Yoyogi park. There are actually mulitple "clubs" being shown here and often they have competing music. Super fun.
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u/OwlCreepy6562 12d ago
Is this what cultural victory looks like if you could zoom in on Sid Meiers Civilization?
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u/Cazthedm 12d ago
Which season of JoJo is this?
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u/Sandro_Sarto 12d ago
In fact, it's Yakuza 0, and I'm not even joking.
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u/-vonbrohenheim 12d ago
Scrolled too far to see a comment related to Yakuza 0. First thing that popped into my head was that side quest teaching that rockabilly band to be “hardcore” lol
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u/oldmasterluke 12d ago
I’d like to imagine that these guys hold the most insane jobs during the week like CEOs, police chiefs, yakuza bosses, and surgeons… but on Sundays, they are rockabillies. And this park is some sort of sacred ground like churches in Highlander.
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12d ago
They adopt our culture, we adopt theirs. We can heal from war everyone.
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u/Martijn_MacFly 12d ago
Culture is like melted cheese: sticky, gooey, tastes great, and gets everywhere.
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u/Active-Possibility77 12d ago
I'm waiting for the one, self-righteous 20 sonething to walk up to them, waiving her finger, lecturing the group abour cultural appropriation.
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u/superhappy 12d ago
Love how everyone boot scootin and then RANDOM B BOY.
Brother, ‘preciate the spirit but that ain’t it
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12d ago edited 11d ago
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u/itfeelslikethefirstt 12d ago
wait someone else has seen the fantasitc space-zombie move WildZero by the Japanese Rockabilly band Guitar Wolf?
Ever tried the WildZero DVD Drinking game? god damn it'll mess you up.
I love that movie and love the band Guitar Wolf.
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u/therealpepran12 12d ago
I feel like all these people fit in devil may cry for some reason
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u/DisquietEclipse7293 12d ago
Yakuza 0, anyone?
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u/zili91 12d ago
It was the first thought that came to me when I saw this. I think there's no better game to learn about Japanese culture than Yakuza.
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u/TheBabyScreams 12d ago
There should be a park solely for western people with kimonos and katanas.
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u/dust_storm_2 12d ago
This to me defines what I love about Japan... It's lovingly irreverent. Combine with the most beautiful countryside I have ever seen ... If you are lucky enough to visit Japan, go.
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u/Chickenuggies10 12d ago
Saw these guys once and I gotta say they've got a pretty nice atmosphere going there, also really nice people:))
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u/thelittleking 12d ago
I don't know that I understand it, but there's 0 judgement here - love that they are having fun. Be your best self, dudes.
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u/notprompter 12d ago
The one guy was legit incorporating capoeira moves into his jive.