Create meetup in Tokyochevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Brew Lab
want to meet at fmd_good Vintage Avenue
want to meet at fmd_good Local House
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Oddly specific request: genderqueer kimono purchase?
Budget isn't an issue, and I suppose second-hand is fine. Ideally I'd like to purchase two (one for women, one maybe a bit more androgynous style).
I'm fine having an initial conversation with the shop about crossdressing/gendered clothing too if that will facilitate the transaction easier.
for the more androgynous one check out the omotesando area, specifically shops that carry oshima tsumugi or meisen, the patterns on those read neutral enough that nobody questions it. also worth knowing that most kimono shops care way more about your measurements and season (single vs lined) than your gender, so if u lead with "awase" or "hitoe" and your height they just get to work. tansuya in kichijoji is solid for secondhand & the staff are chill, just bring cash since some smaller places dont take card
shimokitazawa has a few vintage kimono spots that dont gaf, like tokyo kimono style ichiba on sundays or the small shops along ichibangai. staff there are used to stylists and tourists buying for photoshoots so they wont blink at who its for. for new stuff tbh just go to a department store kimono floor like isetan in shinjuku, theyre professional and the whole transaction is basically scripted, no weird convos. if u want the androgynous one look for meiji era haori or mens haori, those read neutral and pair with anything
If you want zero conversation at all, look into kimono rental shops that also sell off their stock, places like VASARA or Kyoto Kimono Mura sometimes clear out pieces cheap and the staff are trained to just process you through. Another angle is the online route: Yahoo Auctions and Mercari have tons of secondhand kimono listed by measurements only, no gender labels, so you can just buy by size and skip the shop interaction entirely.
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
load 2 more replies