In this update I wanted to talk about my time in the Japanese magazine limelight, which was sweet and short-lived. The magazine world in Japan is completely different from anywhere else. Of course it is an unavoidable fact that the world of print media has seen better days, but that all seems irrelevant when you enter any bookstore here. There are so many publications and print genres, especially women's fashion. They dominate the storefront. Once the allure of the pink and purple colored covers catch your attention, you'll soon feel tempted. Oh this model is cute...oh I love this magazine, maybe I'll just....
Hair magazines are very unique. I feel that the salon business is definitely a culture within itself, having had the opportunity to model for a few magazines. It works like this:
The hunt: Almost everyday, particularly on Tuesdays, hair stylists go out a scout for models. Usually they go to fashionable areas, like Harajuku, Shibuya, Omotesando, etc. The peak time for scouting is typically around early-late afternoon, like from 12-5pm. You can usually sense who they are. They're stylish and cute, but curiously just standing on the side of the street, or next to a train station. If you strike their interest, they're approach you. You're especially vulnerable if you are alone and don't seem to be in a hurry.
The approach: They're not rude, in fact, in my experience they are very polite. But yes, they are kind of pushy. If you say that you're busy, the stylist might plead, "Oh it'll only be 3 minutes!" It usually takes around 10 minutes, but all they need is a snapshot of you and your contact info.
The phone call: Sure enough! They contact you! And if it's a girl stylist, she'll use the cutest emoticons in her text as she re-introduces herself and explains that there's a photo shoot for a magazine that she hopes you can be in. If the time and date works out, as well as the hair length requirement for the photo shoot, you're in! You might be asked to come into the salon so that the head stylist can check your hair, but if it seems like they like you, you got the job.
The photo shoot: Normally, photo shoots are very early. Sometimes I had to get to the salon by 7am, in time for a 9am shoot, and then try to make it in time for class by 11am!! That was tough. But the stylists and photographers are very sweet people. It's amazing how chic and pretty they all look considering how stressful their work schedules are. Imagine having only one day off a week, working long hours, and having very dry, skin-chapped hands from dealing with hair chemicals all the time. It's a hard knock life.
But I'll be perfectly honest, I'm a lousy model. If I had to grade myself, I would give myself a C- because in comparison to all the hair model regulars, I'm an amateur at best. Still, modeling in Japan was a very special experience and I'm so glad that I got to be a part of it. Recently I haven't been modeling because my school schedule is so hectic, but I hope to be in a few more shoots before I leave Tokyo.
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