Bursts of Color Brighten Winter Fashion | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Winter fashions are usually characterized by dark tones, but this season patterns are in, with brightly patterned dresses and tunics topping the list of must-have items. Brightly colored tights in such hues as pink and red are a popular complement to these ensembles, with a cute hat adding the finishing touch.

Showing Some Skin | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Young Japanese women are walking the streets in highly revealing styles, from bare-back dresses and tube tops to low-rise hot pants and super-mini skirts.

Shibuya Men Change Style | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Until recently, trendy young men with brown dyed hair and tanned skin were a prominent fixture on the streets of Shibuya. But now many of these men have graduated to a new style that has been dubbed onii-kei (literally "elder brother style").

Psychedelic Revival | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The psychedelic fashions that were all the rage in the United States from the late 1960s through the 1970s as young people engaged in various forms of social protest have made a comeback.

Year of the Yukata | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Unlined cotton kimono called yukata have long been worn by people attending traditional summer events held around Japan. But men and women have also begun dressing up in yukata to attend soccer and baseball matches, club events, and outdoor parties.

Riding the Avant-Garde Wave | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The streets of Tokyo's trendy Harajuku and Daikanyama districts are awash in black, white, and shades of gray this season as young people affect an avant-garde style by combining monotones.

Goodbye To Pointy Toes | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Round-toed pumps and boots are the favored footwear among women in their twenties this winter. This marks a big change, given that pointy-toed shoes have more or less ruled since the mid-1990s.

Black is Back | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
For nearly a decade now, trendy Japanese women (and a considerable number of men, too) have been coloring their hair various shades of brown or blonde. But this winter, black hair is back in style.

Fur Vests Complete The Winter Look | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Fur vests are an ideal way to complete the layered look that is currently in vogue. The vests can complement a range of styles from dressy to casual, and this versatility has made them so popular that stores are having trouble keeping them in stock.

Stepping Out in Wedge-Soled Shoes | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The wedge-soled shoes that were popular among Japanese women in the early 1980s are making a comeback in the summer of 2005.

Return of the Tiger | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Onitsuka Tiger, Japan's first sports shoe brand, has been revived after almost 30 years and is enjoying immense popularity in Europe and elsewhere.

Wild Yet Refined | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Until last year, long boots with simple designs that gave the legs a sleek silhouette were all the rage, but this year lavishly ornamented or Wild West-inspired boots are flying off the shelves. The new must-have footwear is being adopted in different ways by women in different age groups.

A Ribbon Runs Through It | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Fashions of the past few seasons have been marked by a natural look with an emphasis on femininity and cuteness, and high-quality ribbon made in Japan has been at the heart of this trend.

Gold Rush | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Gold is this year's trendy color. Gold buttons are being used on pea jackets and trench coats, gold chain bags and belt buckles are all the rage, and gold-toned clothes and other small items with a touch of gold are now prominent.

Style Below the Knee | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The layered look has been experiencing a revival this year. This past spring and summer, the focal point of this trend was the upper body. Now the focus has shifted to the legs. Particularly notable is a craze for leggings.

Knee-Length Cardigans | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
This winter, many fashionable women have been sporting knee-length cardigans. The long button-front sweaters are finding favor among a wide range of ages, from teenagers to women in their forties.

Empire Babydolls | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Just in time for the hottest days of summer, a new style of skin-baring camisole known as the empire babydoll has caught the imagination of Japanese women.

Sun-Blocking Chic | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
For Japanese women, this is the season of worrying about ultraviolet rays. This year the standard arsenal of protective gear that includes parasols, hats, and gloves has been joined by an array of new accessories like "ray sleeves" and arm stoles.

Big Is Beautiful | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Balloon skirts that circle back to a gathered hemline, blouses with puffy leg-of-mutton sleeves, and draping bolero jackets with three-quarter-length sleeves cut and sewn with copious frills are among the items now in favor as big-looking clothes take the spotlight.

Dressed to Impress | Fashion | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Young women in their early twenties are going ga-ga over pink babydoll dresses, white lace dresses, and other cute, feminine clothes. This cutesy style has become a favorite look for dates and parties alike.