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Day Out at Hyper Japan
Today’s blog is all about my recent day out at Hyper Japan and some of the cool brands I saw there that I’d like to share with you. As usual, I have not been sponsored by anyone to write this, I just want to!
Since high school, I’ve been pretty into Japanese culture. The creative and fun street style, cute and quirky fashion have inspired how I dress myself. I haven’t yet gone to Japan though I hope I can soon. In the meantime I try to go to Hyper Japan whenever I get the chance.
Hyper Japan usually takes place in big event spaces like the Excel Center or Olympia. This year for the first time, it was held at Evolution in Battersea, their first in-person event since the pandemic. And this year’s comeback was just as good as it’s always been.
Even though I live on the Northern Line, I hadn’t actually explored Battersea yet. This was a nice opportunity on the way to and from the event but I look forward to properly having a day out there. It looked really modern and I could see they have quite a range of places to eat and nice river views to stroll along looking at.
Hyper Japan suited this new location. The hot food stalls were all outside for the first time which was perfect for the warm weather. A stage with performers was situated nearby so we could watch and listen to people sing and dance as we ate. Indoors felt smaller than the past but it wasn’t too full of people which was nice. Having an outdoor space regulated and separated the shopping from eating well too.
As always, there was lots of street food vendors to go to. Like a Japanese summer festival, you can find yakisoba (fried noodles), takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (savoury pancake). Yaki means fried in Japanese and they had plenty of that. All in a brown vegetable sauce by Otafuku which I love and put on everything at home. You can also get cute matcha deserts and drinks from Matchado to cool you down.
Throughout the day, there was entertainment and workshops you could take part in. Try many varieties of Sake, watch a maid dance, see martial arts performances or even compete in Rock Paper Scissors. Cosplay (dressing up as your favourite character) is always a big deal. There are competitions and catwalks especially for those who’ve put in lots of effort.
Many people are dressed in the style of Japanese subcultures such as Decora (bright colours and lots of accessories), lolita (victorian inspired dress either gothic or sweet styled) and gyaru (extreme makeup with Y2K vibes) to name a few! Everyone dressed up loves having their pictures taken, if you like how someone looks, don’t feel shy to ask for a snap of their outfit.
I always pay a visit to Artbox (character-based homeware and stationary), Dreamy bows (cute Japanese fashion and accessories) and Tofu cute (fluffy characters and sweet snacks). If you’re into Kawaii (cute) or know someone that would like a fun and unique gift, they have a big broad range of products that are pretty affordable and are actually imported from Japan. Not all of us can go on holiday!
Hyper Japan is also great at supporting small businesses inspired by Japanese fashion. I find it a fantastic way to discover brands I may not have known before and can now share with people like you! It’s always nice to have something unique that can become a good talking point. I’ve bought many fun pieces over the years and always like knowing that I’m the only one that has them.
This year, I was particularly drawn to Sorayraya who have really cool edgy yet cute accessories. All of their designs are hand-made one-off items, in patterned colourful materials coming a variety of shapes . Definitely great statement pieces that’ll liven up a look. If you’re looking for some quirky earrings, cute necklaces, fun hair clips or a sassy tote go check them out.
A really beautiful designer I also fell for was Hana Mizuki London. Their accessories are dainty, feminine and floral in a traditional Japanese Style. These pieces are hand-made and feel really special which is also perfect for gifting. I was blown away seeing their intricate flowers in person and am sure you will be too.
Another cute brand definitely worth a look is SoCuteCompany. They have so many handdrawn items with cute characters from artwork, stationary, pins, t-shirts and ceramics. You can even commission your own works from them. Perfect for gifting someone something personal and meaningful. And they are pretty cute too, what’s not to love?
I hope you enjoyed this blog and have come away inspired with a few new brands under your belt. If you’d like to go in-person to Hyper Japan, look out for them next year around the end of July. They usually run for 3 days from Friday to Sunday. More details are available on their website and social media so keep your eyes peeled!
Like learning about new brands but would love more of a personalised experience from me tailored to your taste, skin-tone, body shape and price point? Arrange a FREE discovery call with me and we can start you on your Personal Style journey together!