Tokyo Rockabilly

The music and fashion of the American fifties live on…. with a twist.
In Yoyogi park, steps away from the busy shopping streets of Harajuku, Tokyo, trendsetters and the slightly off-center meet to strut their stuff. And they are not all just Tokyoites, either. Some catch the early morning train from neighboring prefectures to spend their Sunday showing off their meticulously coordinated outfits to curious passersby. This series highlights the rockabillies of Yoyogi Park for whom fashion counts as much as the music. Their outfits and street performances demonstrate a unique mix and match of past and present, East and West: pompadours, leather jackets, and wide swing skirts are paired with designer jewellery or a Chinese-inspired tattoo, while the repertoire of the performers range from renditions of Grease to Elvis Presley to contemporary Japanese rock ballads.

Tokyo, Japan, 2007