I chose freedom of expression.
I think some of it is really cool.

Harajuku isn't a fashion style or trend. Harajuku is a district in Tokyo where young fashionable Japanese teens go to flaunt their unique style. But I'm pretty sure everyone knows that by now. lol

I choose Freedom of Expression from the poll. To me, Japanese Fashion is all about being unique and showing your individuality. Stand out from the crowd and be wild with it! That's why Japan is my fashion capital! Japanese Fashion is so creative and colorful and different from the fashion styles and trends I'm used to seeing over here in the U.S. Especially all the Hollywood styles. I much perfer Japanese Fashion to Hollywood Fashion.

Also, I really don't think anyone in the U.S., expect maybe Anime fans, would publicly flaunt their wild and crazy style. It might come off as weird. lol. But in Japan you can be as unique as you want to be!

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well i just now started getting into harajuku and stuff and i personaly think its as much a freedom of expression as any clothing style evr invented. the way you dress is only the way to express and show everyone who and what you truly are. and if you only dress like that for shock value than i suggest stopping because that makes you a poser and noone i repeat noone likes posers. well thats all i have to say. XD

Freedom of expression XD

I would think it's the opposite. Doesn't Japanese society encourage people not to stand out too much, like the nail that sticks out gets hammered down? And there are plenty of Americans with crazy styles, just not so many who wear harajuku- type stuff.

I'm just getting into doing the Harajuku, Visual Kei type thing myself. I have to say Meeting and seeing people on this site helped me expand my mind to reach a much wider veiw of things.

I haven't gone out in public or done much with Visual Kei but when I started to really look at the style and how it works and how you do it. It facinates me, the level of expressions and things you can say with that style. If you're really into it, your paticular look will be different from anyone elses. You might be lumped together with similarities but when you really get down to those that really like the style for the right reasons you find that it moves and changes with them. And that kind of freedom is amazing, and is something I don't think should be taken lightly.

I wouldn't define them as "outcasts", if you look at them on any day but Sunday, they dress and look like anyone else. At the end of the day they change their clothes and pack their costumes in the little suitcases which they all wheel around. Dressing up and going to Harajuku is a social thing, whereas Goth/Punk are rather anti-social self-outcasts.

And they are not entirely teenagers, you'll find people there of all ages, even some in their 50's, men and women.

This is why i like all of the Japanese fashions and subcultures because people get to be what they want and dress and act how they want. It's like a breath of fresh air cuz usually every1 conforms to the norm so the freedom's nice. I really wanna visit Japan 1 day!