Tweet
Follow @asianbeat_en

Misako Aoki I first noticed you, Anna-san, when you appeared in the magazine “KERA” wearing a lolita-style ribbon on your head and casual clothes. I thought it was really Kawaii!

Anna Yano Why thank you! You can use lolita accessories and just wear a headdress, for example, and from there down, wear a t-shirt, pannier skirt and sneakers. You can convey a lolita style just by incorporating elements like a headdress alone.

Aoki It’s a good idea for people who are new to lolita fashion and don’t have many lolita clothes yet. Can you tell me about the standout feature of your outfit today?

Yano It’s the pastel colors. I love pastel colors! I’ve got on a pastel blouse but I wanted to maintain a casual feel, so I paired it with this white long skirt. Pastel colors go well with other pastel colors, but it’s just as easy to coordinate them with whites, blacks and denim as well.

Aoki What fashion genres do you like?

Yano I like all forms of Harajuku fashion. I’ve worn used and vintage clothes, I’ve been through the eccentric fashion stage, and I’ve done lolita fashion as well, of course. Now I decide what styles to wear depending on how I feel on that particular day. If I feel like going casual one week, I’ll wear denim for the entire week. When I come across a cute girl on Instagram, it gives me ideas and I think, “Ooh, this is a look I want to try,” but the following week I’ll be looking through the various Harajuku fashions with a friend and then I’ll be like, “I like this style, too” (lol). But when it comes to colors I can’t go past pastels, so no matter what genre of fashion it is, I always try and incorporate pastel colors into it some way or other.

Aoki I quite liked the part on your blog about coordinating your legs and feet.

Yano I have all different kinds of weird and wonderful socks. Sometimes I pick out my shoes based on what socks I want to wear. Today I’m wearing yellow glitter socks.

Aoki When do you go shopping?

Yano I’ll have a look around Harajuku when I’m in between jobs mostly.

Aoki I know you also do some modeling for the lolita brand, “Innocent World,” but are you a fan of lolita fashion yourself?

Yano Yes, of course. I love it.

Aoki What style of lolita fashion in particular do you like?

Yano The sweet style!

Aoki I knew it!

Yano I like the classical style, too. If you’re talking about incorporating lolita fashion into daily life than the classic styles are probably easier to wear. When you wear lolita clothes you suddenly feel smart and stylish and very feminine.

Aoki Can you tell me about your makeup?

Yano I’m really into the natural look at the moment. Some days I don’t even use eyeliner. But I do my makeup differently everyday.

Aoki You’ve been to a few places overseas, haven’t you, Yano-san? Are there any countries that you still want to visit?

Yano I know you’ve been to Mexico and Brazil, Misako-san, but Latin America is one place that I really want to see as well. I love interacting with the local people when I go overseas. Even when they don’t know who I am, they’re all still so friendly and welcoming.

Aoki Are you okay with the food?

Yano I enjoy eating everything. How about you?

Aoki I can also eat anything. I’m the type to want to try the local foods.

Yano What has stood out for you so far?

Aoki The time I visited Qatar with Sakurai-san and we were taken to the home of a friend of his over there where we ate Arabian cuisine with our hands was pretty memorable.

Aoki Harajuku is well known, even to people overseas, but what do you think is the appeal of Harajuku?

Yano I think it’s the whole “anything goes” approach. The people that come to Harajuku are the ones who are drawn to that scene, so it’s full of really fun people.
You’re one of the representatives of Harajuku, Misako-san, but I think it’s incredible that you’ve been able to establish your own style amongst all of that. Girls all over the world look up to you; you’re like the god of lolita. Even I studied up on how to coordinate lolita fashion after visiting your blog, Misako-san. So it actually feels a little bit strange to be talking to you like this right now (lol).

Aoki I would love to go to Harajuku with you one day, get some kawaii sweets and talk about fashion. You’re pretty into anime as well, right?

Yano Yes, I love it!

Aoki I don’t think I would be able to keep up with you on anime, sadly (lol).

Yano Is there anything in particular that you really focus on or work towards in your daily activities?

Aoki Everyone’s always looking for new fashion topics, so I try to be as active as I can in writing about fashion and coordinating outfits on my blog and on Twitter. When I see something I think is cute, I buy it with my own money and straight away post pictures online of me wearing it. After gauging the response from people I can get an idea of what items are likely to be popular for the year.

Yano What does lolita mean to you, Misako-san?

Aoki At the moment, it’s my entire life. Both lolita and my job as a nurse are indispensible parts of my life. Anna-san, thank you so much for being my guest today!

I first met Anna Yano at an airport in Paris in 2014. We were both on our way to “Japan Expo” and a mutual friend of ours introduced us. Since our paths crossed we’ve been involved in various projects together, and she’s also a huge anime fan to say the least. She wants to travel the world as an anison artist and as I sat and listened to the two girls happily chatting away, I thought it would be great if one day we could go somewhere overseas together and put on a concert and fashion show with Misako Aoki. I’m going to make it happen!

Takamasa Sakurai

Interview premises provided by: Digital Hollywood University