What is there to say about fashion in Japan? While I have no hard figures on how much is spent on designer goods by the Japanese, a stroll around Tokyo will show that it must be a vast amount (or maybe not, read below). Personally, I don't know Valentino from Vuitton, but if I am with a more informed Japanese friend he or she can spot a bag from 20 meters, name the designer and give a rough price. You won't catch me spending 70,000 yen (around 600USD) on a handbag, this photographer is a real blue jeans and T-shirt kind of guy. Funny thing, though. Once well-suited pedestrians enter their work place, they often remove their shoes in the entrance hall and don something more comfortable--like a pair of tennis shoes. And what's up with those salesmen in the bright purple suits? I'm not kidding! This popularity of designer goods brings with it a concomitant crime spree. Counterfeit goods are being smuggled into Japan at ever increasing rates, both by individual travellers and organized crime rings. In their efforts to control the violation of copyright or trademark laws, the customs officials at Narita, an international airport, have confiscated tens of thousands of counterfeits. The rate of seizures is increasing rapidly, with 29,000 pieces seized in 1998 versus 11,000 in 1997. If you are determined to get a high-quality fake designer product and get it into Japan, you still have hope. First, buy your product in South Korea. The items produced there are typically of higher quality than those from other countries, which means you get a better product and you have a better chance of getting it through customs. And second, it might be a good idea to carry a bag and its metal fittings separately. |
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Copyright © 1999 by Ed Kaspar |