JSG shop girl says “be like me!”
On the next episode of Kawaii International TV we had three of Japan’s top clothing shop sales assistants on the show to talk about about their fame and fortune.
…?!????! Sales girls have fame and fortune??!
More than you could imagine, in Japan.
次回放送のカワイイ・インターナショナルの収録を先日終えてきた
おっと、その前に。海外にいる方もしくは海外から来た方にはすこ
日本では、海外のどんな国とも比べ物にならないくらいこのショッ
Girls of one-spo in 109
Just think; you start a part-time job at a trendy store like Urban Outfitters in the mall. You start a blog dedicated to snapping yourself in outfits from the store, and letting your readers know about sales, new items and other special deals. You have great posing and your style is always on-pitch. Next thing you know you’re designing limited pieces for the store which sell like hotcakes thanks to your dedicated fan base, then you are whisked away from Urban Outfitters. Your customers come in looking for you but you are MIA. Then you announce you have been stripped of your sales duties and are given YOUR OWN brand, like LottaChicMuch or something, which you are now the creative director for. BOOM! BAM! You’re a designer, then you model for magazines, walk in runway shows, life is GOOD when you’re a hot Japanese sales girl. If that were a viable outcome you’d be ALL OVER working retail, right?
Instead “retail” is one of the most hated jobs in the Western World. Ugh, I cringe at the memories…
例えばアメリカでは到底想像もつかないかもしれないが、日本では
その一方でアメリカでは販売員は最も嫌われる業
An article about the trend of shop girls in Japan from 2000 in the New York Times newspaper.
2000年にNYタイムズ新聞で掲載された記事でショップスタッフのトレンドが報道された
Not in Japan. In Japan, you better be HOT STUFF to be able to work retail…and if you are, you could be a superstar.
This is not hyperbole, this is the culture of shop girls in Japan. Specifically, the Shibuya-based ones like in 109, as they have the power of fast-fashion to produce new lines quickly and sell a lot of stock.
Think of superstars like Ena Matsumoto (the face of EMODA), Nao Nakaba (Laguna Moon), Momoko Ogihara (MURUA) for Shibuya. They are bona-fide celebrities and who knows, they could go on to become actresses or singers easily.
Think of BIBA in swinging London…Anna Wintour was working there and many others who became popular just by being associated with the store. After that, it’s tough to find any retail-to-riches success stories.
しつこいようだが、日本で人気のショップで働くショップスタッフ
この傾向が特に強いのは109などの渋谷系ブランド。やはりこれ
具体的な例を挙げるとすれば、EMODAの顔マツモト エナやJouetieのアミアヤ、MURUAのオギハラ モモコなどがいるが、彼女達は既にこの先の例の最終地点まで到達
歴史を遡ってみれば60年代イギリス、当時のスウィンギングロン
Shop girl turned superstar, Ena Matsumoto
Murua’s Momoko even wroked with superstylist Kate Lamphear
For Harajuku style, the girls who get famous at shops for their style don’t get nearly the benefits of a Shibuya girl. They may be asked to be in magazines and appear at luxury brands’ parties and get gifts, however they don’t usually become full-time models, designers or actresses (maybe we’ll see it happen this generation? Look what happened to Kyary Pamyu Pamyu who was too young to have started out as a shop girl before getting famous).
We have U and Reico Bunny of FALINE, Coi at BUBBLES, Momo and Juria at Avantgarde, Hirari at DOG, ENO at Galaxxxy, Kaori at Grimoire, Kanami at CANDY, Fuyuri at Sister, Tavuchi at SPANK!, new face Yui at Kotobuki, Yuri at Nude Trump and Vani at 6% DokiDoki.
ところ変わって現代の原宿。先の渋谷ほどの分かりやすい恩恵を受
こちらの例としては、ファリーンのUやレイコバニー、Bubbl
Momo and Juria from Avantgarde
Eno from Galaxxxy. Photo by Mami Tanabe.
Yuri Matsumoto from Nude Trump
For the Kawaii International TV show, the three guests were Mika from 109 gyaru brand RIENDA, Ayano from “princess gyaru” brand La Pafait at O1O1 in Shinjuku and Ainyan from WC in Shibuya. These brands are totally out of my scope of expertise so it was fascinating to hear their stories. For example, some of the incredible things they get asked or now ask potential sales girls at job interviews, and even what a girl who wants to work at 6% DokiDoki has to go through to get the job (let’s just say you better have some rhythm!!). And you’re competing against hundreds of other wannabe shop girls for the same store a MONTH.
When I first started studying at Bunka Fashion College my American sempai was working at 109 as a part-time job and her customers would come up to say hi to her while we’d be shopping in Shinjuku. I was so taken aback..”You’re FAMOUS!” I said. Yeah, in way…definitely.
So check out the show and find out more about this particular (and particularly peculiar) side of Japanese fashion.
今回カワイイ・インターナショナルの収録で招いたのは、109ブ
そして私が文化の生徒だった時にアメリカ人の先輩が109で働い
このことについてもっと深く知りたいという方は是非放送を見て下さい
Left: Mari Sekine, Melody Yohko, Misha Janette, Akira, Mika Shindate, Ayano, Ainyan
Also, this isn’t a shop girl, this is AKIRA who is a girl but looks like a “bishounen” or pretty boy and has become super popular with a certain set for her kimono-mix fashion. She also appears on the episode and I just think she’s pretty awesome so here’s a pic.
最後に、こちらはショップ”ガール“では無いのですが、今回の収
番組名:NHK WORLD 「Kawaii International #4」
July 28, 29th (Sat & Sun JAPAN TIME!!)
7/28 8:10 12:10 16:10 20:10
7/29 0:10 04:10(Japan Time)STREAMED REAL-TIME ONLY: http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/index.html
放送日 7月28日 8:10 12:10 16:10 20:10
29日 0:10 04:10(JST 日本時間)7月28日 0:10: 04:10 8:10 12:10 16:10 20:10
(GST グリニッジ標準時)ストリーミングページ:http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/index.html
内容:今回はカリスマショップ店員をゲストに招き、世界でも類をみない
日本の「ショップ店員」の幅広い活動や採用現場などの舞台裏までを紹介。
またボーイズファッションで人気を博しているモデルで音楽家・AKIRAさんが
審査員をつとめたコンテストの受賞者を発表。
加えて、カリスマメイキャップアーティスト・双木昭夫さんのドーリメイク講座や
カワイイの現場で活躍する人達をフォトジェニックに紹介する
TokyoPhotoBookなど盛りだくさんの内容でお届けします。詳細は Kawaii International ホームページで。
http://www.nhk.or.jp/kawaii-i/facebook kawaii.iでは出演者の皆様と番組情報を随時お届けしています。
https://www.facebook.com/
I don’t think I would do very well as a shop girl… it would annoy me to have to wear the same brand all the time (haha). Case in point, I`m wearing:
時に私はショップガールに向いていないと言い切れる自信がある。ファッションに対してのスタンスがあまりに短気過ぎるから。同じショップやブランドを代表するというのはなかなか大変なこと。リスペクト!
そんな短気な私の今回のコーディネートはこんな感じ。超ごちゃまぜ!
Hat bought on Takeshita-dori
“Daphne” wig by Plumb
Dress by Sleeping Pills
Necklace by ZAORICK*
Necklace from DOG
Miu-Miu belt
Bracelet is YSL
Tights from Harajuku and pink ones from American Apparel
Shoes I bought in Florence, Italy
Lastly, I am also a guest on the Music show “J-Melo” hosted by May-J where I talk about the “KIMO-KAWAII” (gross cute) style that’s really popular now as a host representing KAWAII Intl. I had some ZAORICK (above) pieces on me for it, including the choker above, and this crazy insane ring (“That’s not cute, that’s just gross” said someone from the studio. HEY! I think it’s cool! )
そしてそして、またちょっと話がかわりますが、NHK国際で放送されている音楽J-POPS番組J-meloでKawaii TV Intlの代表としてゲスト出演させていただき、そこでは今ははやりの「きもかわいい」トレンドを紹介しました。ZAORICK(上載)のリングとチョーカーを持って、みんなにびっくりさせました。ww BSで国内放送もあるので、是非みててください!
J-Melo (J-pops Music Show):
7/28 (sat) at 2:15 am on NHK BS Premium
●国内放送 7/28(土)深夜26:15~ (日曜未明) BSプレミアム
5 comments on 日本独特な文化:スーパースターを目指す「ショップスタッフ!」を海外ではなぜいけない? ONLY IN JAPAN: GETTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW ONE CAN GO FROM SHOP GIRL TO SUPERSTAR. PLUS, KAWAII INTL. EP. 4!
Mannequin
I never really thought about it before, but yeh, the contrast between retail in the Western World and Japan seems pretty stark. My job in retail was the most dreadful I’ve had. Yet, I see girls from places like Bubbles having fun in and outside of work as if there is no distinction between work and play.
I have to imagine, though, that shop girls don’t really function in the same capacity outside of Tokyo.
mishajanette (author)
Except that when it comes to work they work long and hard hours and aren’t protected like they would be back in the US. If you watch the show you’ll see some of the ridiculous lengths they have to go through to get the (minimum wage-paying, but often leads to full-time retail position) and the sacrifices as well. They end up LIVING for the shop.
Mannequin
I guess no matter how much fun (or glamorous) a job is, if you want to work it, you need to work at it.
Busy weekend, but I should be able to catch one of the later time slots for the show. Looking forward to it, as always.
Chaudie
Do you think it will be possible to create an American charisma staff?
mishajanette (author)
I think it’s totally possible, but the girls would have to be actress/model material. Perhaps like popular bloggers. But, the attitude towards retail is just so bad… but with the economy down, people will do anything! It’s a great time to experiment with it!