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It's now July and it feels like Summer is finally here! The Summer months are quite tricky for lolita fashion enthusiasts as we usually wear layers of panier to add volume to our outfits. We have to really fight against the heat! But I love lolita clothes and want to wear them all year round, so I make sure to carry a portable fan, which I can use if it gets hot. They have become pretty popular recently. Things are so convenient these days!

By the way, at the end of June I held an event to celebrate my birthday and mark 20 years since I first got into the lolita fashion! Some of my friends who work as models in the industry, such as Midori Fukasawa, AKIRA, and Yui Minakata were there to celebrate. They helped make it a fun, lively party! All the people in the photographs are close friends. We have participated in events outside of Japan together and have lots of great shared memories. The event gave me the opportunity to reminisce about my experiences in the world of lolita!

It all started when I was stopped by on the street of Harajuku. That interaction proved to be a launchpad for me. It helped me get into modeling lolita clothes and onto the pages of "KERA!" magazine. It is now 20 years since that meeting! I was appointed a "Kawaii Ambassador" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan during this period of time and have been trying to promote lolita fashion around the globe. I am now 36 years old, which means that I have been associated with lolita fashion for more than half my life. Quite some time has passed, but I am still so happy that I had the chance to encounter this world. When I was in school I had a lot of hang-ups and lacked confidence. Lolita fashion gave me the confidence to believe in myself. That is something I will never forget! I always want the world of lolita to be in my life! The party helped me reconfirm my love for lolita fashion!

There are a lot of overseas events and activities currently taking place. We have now entered the summer holiday season. Right now I am attending events outside of Japan almost every week! There a lot of the activities in China. The country is huge. There are so many regions to explore! In early July, I participated in a tea party organized by a Shanghai-based boutique called "KILE" that sells lolita fashion brands! The company also recently opened a cafe. I attended a special event they held celebrate the occasion. Tea parties are practically synonymous with lolita fashion. These kinds of events provide lolita fans with an opportunity to gather in a cute setting and make friends! There were lots of spots to take photographs inside the venue. It looks great on social media! The cafe serves delicious pasta and cakes. There is also a nail salon on the premises. The atmosphere is so kawaii! The interior is practically overflowing with cute things! I got my nails done during my visit. I was really happy with the design. They looked super cute... Perfect for lolita fashion!

A lot of lolita fashion boutiques now sell traditional Chinese Han-style clothes, and I found them in KILE as well! You can find lots of photographs of people in Han-style outfits on the Chinese social media "weibo." Han-inspired lolita designs are very popular at the moment! I tried to wear Han clothes for the first time! The design was so elegant and super kawaii! My hairstyle also matched the outfit! The clothes are very cool in the Summer. The garments are available in all kinds of designs and colors. I think I will end up addicted to Hanfu!

Overseas events are so much fun. You can learn about local, traditional cultures! There are so many events outside Japan during July and August. I need to take care of my body and remain grateful for every meeting! I am determined to continue promoting cultural diplomacy and lolita fashion while having fun!