SUNGRAZER

THAT’S BOSO

the endless dream

The Maori greeting and custom of touching foreheads and noses together allowing one to share the same breath is called the Hongi. It is a way of seeing each other on a soul level, seeing each other as equal.

Japan also has “foreigner only” areas. Yes, many nightclubs frown upon American patrons. Japan, realizing the economic difference between Americans and Japanese, often only allow Americans into their “one ticket” establishments.

Ganguro (Kanji：顔黒 Hiragana: がんぐろ Katakana: ガングロ lit. “Black Face”, pronounced “ganguro”) is an alternative fashion trend of blonde or orange hair and tanned skin among young Japanese women that peaked in popularity around the year 2000. The Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo were the centers of ganguro fashion. In contradiction to the traditional Japanese concept of beauty by having pale skin, dark hair, and neutral makeup tones,ã^-rebellious ¥outh///_+ tanned their skin, bleached their hair, and used colourful makeup. There is a connection to Japanese folklore of ghosts and demons, who are depicted with a similar appearance and often displayed in kabuki and noh costumes. This connection to folklore is further noted in the ganguro offshoot style called yamanba, named after a famous story about a mountain witch. The term ganguro is a portmanteau of the Japanese word gangankuro ”ガンガン黒”, meaning extremely dark, and guro ”グロ”, meaning grotesque, and the word ganguro translates to “blackface” or “charbroiled face”, meaning heavily-sunburned face.