In the most recent edition of our ‘1616’ series, i-D investigates the lives of young people thriving in Japan’s buzzy metropolis.
With a city that has as strong a mythology as Tokyo does, only meeting a teenager like Azusa could alter your view of it; convince you that maybe it isn’t the picture of modernity its neon-dappled skyscrapers conjure.
“Japan is quite behind on everything,” she says straight-forwardly, “even in terms of gender and sexuality. ‘Cause you never see gay couples, lesbian couples, on the streets of Tokyo. I want that to change.”
16-year-old Jun might disagree with her views on queer visibility, striding proudly through the bustle of the city, brandishing a white-gold compact mirror and daubing his skin with a powder puff. “I feel much better when I have make-up on,” he admits, “I feel like I’m being myself.” His introduction to make-up didn’t stem from the influence of any IG-certified MUAs, but came in childhood, through attending ballet classes.
It’s true that Tokyo has always teemed with fashion and style subcultures, long before the advent of the internet. No one understands this better than Yu, who has just started making her own clothes. “It’s so much fun, I feel so excited when I’m doing it.” She continues: “Regardless of gender, we can express our emotions through design”.
What emerges is a complex picture: it’s clear that some teens feel more restricted than others. “There are things I don’t like,” says Shinnosuke, “People make rules for everything here.” It’s understandable that in a city as colourful and multifaceted as Tokyo, it feels like anything could be possible. That is, until it isn’t.
Hyo, a Tokyo skateboarder, explains the injustice of his friend’s overnight arrest: the police said that the Swiss Army Knife he was carrying — in case one of the boards needed fixing — was subject to the “Firearm and Sword Possession control law”. And it’s teenagers who are associated with overreaction? Come on!
Watch the video in full below: