Adidas Originals Jeremy Scott + Kozue Akimoto = Fabulous Fall/Winter 2013 Catalog/Video Shoot

*** Yes, I will be a translator!

Out of the blue, the celebrity manicurist Ms.Emi Kudo (She works for many Hollywood celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Janet Jackson, Anne Hathaway, etc.) asked me, “Yoko-san, would you like to work for a photo shoot project as a translator for a Japanese model?  I know this is not like your regular project or your regular fees, but it might be fun for you for a day? ”

Emi introduced me to a producer, Mr.Frank Roller at GLAMPR LLC (www.glampr.com). At this time, Frank coordinated the project of the Adidas Originals Jeremy Scott Fall/Winter 2013 Catalog/Video Shoot with a Japanese fashion model.

Many times I wrote about Adidas for Senken-Shimbun (major Japanese fashion trade newspaper, similar to WWD and California Apparel News) at Project Show, ASR Show, Agenda Show etc, but I have never written about Adidas Originals Jeremy Scott or met Mr.Jeremy Scott yet.

Sounds like fun!

Sometimes I work as a translator for this kind of project. I love photo shoot. Meet nice people, Watch nice things and Eat nice food, the photo shoot project is not like a job, just like a fun party.

Yes, Of course, I will do it!

 

*** Am I a journalist? or a translator?

Working with a fashion designer, Mr.Jeremy Scott and a Jeremy’s favorite fashion model, Ms. Kozue Akimoto, it was fun!

Due to a contract, I can’t write about the detail about the photo shoot & video shoot, but I can write something on here without scoops.

As I am a journalist/writer, I have a habit of asking questions… I couldn’t be a just translator… ha ha…

I needed to ask questions like, “How many items she will wear?” (Kozue will understand how much she need to use her energy for each cloths, she can adjust her energy, right?), “Does she need to jump with this shoes?” (Again, she can adjust her energy for her shoot) etc…

What if I am the model, I would like to know the detail before shoot, so I asked many questions for Kozue to a photographer, a videographer, a fashion designer, a stylist, a makeup stylist and a hair stylist.

I was trying to make Kozue happy & easy.

She told me, she doesn't have a jet lag, but she just arrived in L. A. a night before the shoot, so I wanted her to have a nice day!

 

*** One word… FABOULOUS!

FABULOUS PLACE: MILK STUDIOS (http://www.milkstudios.com/) knows what is the high maintenance of art work. A Fabulous place to work!

FABULOUS FASHION DESIGNER/ART DIRECTOR: Mr.Jeremy Scott (http://www.jeremyscott.com/) knows what fun for fashion. I love his colorful items. His clothes have been worn by pop stars and celebrities including Madonna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Gwen Stefani etc… A Fabulous Fabulous fashion designer!

FABULOUS JAPANESE MODEL: Ms.Kozue Akimoto (http://ameblo.jp/kozue-akimoto/) knows how she can be a sexy, beautiful, cute, pretty and fun girl. A Fabulous Fabulous Fabulous fashion model!

Like Attracts Like… Fabulous Attracts Fabulous.

 

*** Do what you love!

Moreover… I broke the rule… I am sorry, but I am a Japanese woman (even though I live in U.S.A. for 25 years)…I couldn’t drop her at the hotel without dinner… so I drove/took her dinner (Oops… she treated me for a dinner…).

TALK+ LAUGH+ EAT… We had a fabulous time at CHIN-CHIN (American Chinese Restaurant) in Sunset Plaza.

I told her that “you will be more successful in the world!” 

Then, after dinner, her fortune cookie said same thing what I said.

She wrote a wonderful blog about the photo shoot & video shoot at http://ameblo.jp/kozue-akimoto/day-20130510.html

Regarding the photos in her blog, 12 hours photo shoot & video shoot later, she still looked fresh & beautiful and I looked tired & old… I guess I am not a fashion model… ha ha ha…

Kozue and I had an amazing time. She is a very professional & cool fashion model, but she is very cute, fun and smart. It makes sense that she has many fans in Japan.

Anyway, we had a fabulous day in Hollywood :)

Life is fabulous!

 

By Yoko Fujimoto

Los Angeles May 11, 2013
Copyright © 2013 Yoko Fujimoto

7 hours in San Gabriel & Monterey Park

The other day, I had a wonderful time with two new Chinese friends (Ms.B & her sister, Ms.K).

Just 20 minutes driving from my place… there is suburban Chinatown/ new Chinatown (San Gabriel & Monterey Park in Los Angeles County) and I had an amazing time for 7 hours.

I have been to San Gabriel & Monterey Park a couple times in the past with American friends and a Taiwanese friend, but I guess I didn’t have enough experience of Chinese culture…

***

Ms.B treated me for dim sum at NEW CAPITAL SEAFOOD RESTAURANT in San Gabriel. There were so many people (about 100 people) waiting for dim sum, but it was worth of an hour wait. They served us very delicious dim sum.

I had eaten dim sum so many times with American friends in Los Angeles or my Japanese family & friends in Japan, but I ate new items with Ms.B & Ms.K the other day. Beef Tendon and Chicken Claws…it was my first time to taste those…! Ms.K told me, “These are good for our skin!”…Oh…nice… :)

Now I understand how my American friends feel when I eat my favorite “Fried Sweet Shrimp Heads” at sushi bar… :)

 

Culture shock #1: When I was eating Chicken Claws, I was almost eating everything (I mean, bones), thank god… Ms.K told me, “Yoko, don’t eat bones, just eat skins”. If I eat Chicken Claws with my American friends, I probably eat everything…!

Tips #1: Eat Chinese food with Chinese friends. More fun and more delicious.

***

After our dim sum, Ms.B and Ms.K took me to Focus Store. OMG… there are so many products from Japan, Taiwan and China. Compare to Gelson’s (I usually shop at Gelson’s) or Japanese super market (I go to some Japanese super markets once in a while)…amazing prices! I’ve got two bottle of Nigori Sake, a cooking knife and a ladle from Japan (they are “made in Japan” products). I was looking for that “made in Japan” stuff with reasonable price for such a long time…!

Then Ms.B and Ms.K took me to 99 Ranch Market, and I’ve also got some stuff there. I’ve got a 5 pound bag of Japanese rice for $4.99! … I can’t get a 5 pound bag of Japanese rice for $4.99 at Gelson’s.

Ms.K said to me,  “Yoko, you should get this bag of Japanese rice (15lbs) instead of that (5lbs)”.

Me: I am ok… that (15lbs) is very heavy. I can’t carry that.

Ms.K: I can carry this (15lbs) to your car, so you should buy it!

After I bought a 5 pound bag of Japanese rice…I saw a 15 pound bag of Japanese rice at the front of the store…

Me: Oh… no… same brand??? One bag for $5.98???

Ms.K: I told you! This 15 pound bag of Japanese rice is $5.98 and yours is $4.99 (5lbs). You should exchange your 5lbs bag to 15lbs bag.

Me: Oh…it’s all right… It’s heavy…but…wow…so cheap…!

Ms.K: Let’s go to exchange them!

Ms.K is so kind that she helped me to exchange my rice and she brought bag of rice (15lbs heavy) to my car.

I thought I am good at negotiation, but Ms.K is a super good negotiator!

Ms.B went back to the store as well. She got a great deal strawberries.

Wow, what a smart & kind Chinese people.

 

Culture shock #2: There are reasonable price Japanese products in new Chinatown (San Gabriel & Monterey Park).

Tips #2: Compare the prices, don’t hesitate to exchange products.

***

One restaurant and two stores later, Ms.B and Ms.K took me to LEE’S SANDWICHES (leesandwiches.com) for an iced coffee. Wow… a real Vietnamese iced coffee!  So tasty! Again, Ms.B treated me for an iced coffee and cookies.

What a nice coffee time… I was so happy in San Gabriel with two wonderful new Chinese friends.

Culture shock #3: The best strong & sweet iced coffee is at LEE’S SANDWICHIES.

Tips #3: If you like strong coffee, go to Vietnamese coffee place.

***

Ms.B asked me, “Yoko, you wanna buy a Japanese style roll cake right? I know the great place for you!”

Ms.B and Ms.K took me to the Bakery, KiKi Bakery. “Ok… I will get a roll cake!”

Me: OMG… So cheap!  $3.50 each?

Ms.B: No… three breads for $3.50.

Me: What??? I bought many breads at Gelson’s yesterday, so I can’t buy many breads today…Oh… you know what, I can freeze breads from Gelson’s, and I can eat these breads this week, right?

I bought some breads and a roll cake.


Culture shock #4: Tasty Japanese style breads and cakes are in new Chinatown.

Tips #4: Go to new Chinatown when you are hungry.

***

Ok… time to go home…

Ms.B: You wanna see DAISO JAPAN in Monterey Park?

Me: I’ve heard about the store, but I’ve never been to the store yet. Is that store nice?

Ms.B and Ms.K took me there… I’ve got a cute pink salad bowl, cute white & pink salad server tongs etc… we’ve been there for about one hour…

Culture shock #5: I thought Japanese products are very expensive (excuse me, I am Japanese from Japan!)… but there are very cheap & cute Japanese stuff at DAISO JAPAN…! “DAISO JAPAN” = “99 Cents Only Stores” + “IKEA”

Tips #5: If you want to buy reasonable price Japanese products, go to DAISO JAPAN.

***

I was just going for lunch in San Gabriel, but I spent 7 hours in San Gabriel & Monterey Park with two wonderful new friends. It was an amazing day & wonderful culture shock day.

Life is fun & delicious.

I hope you are having a fun & delicious life too :)

 

P.S. If you are looking for a house or condo (want to buy, sell, or interest in real estate), Ms.K is a realtor. Call Kerri at Keller Williams Realty in Pasadena (Office: 626-204-3300). Remember, Kerri is a very smart & beautiful woman, and I am a little bit a psychic (read my post on April 21, 2013) which means, I can tell “Kerri will help you to find your nice home or sell your home in Los Angeles”.

 

By Yoko Fujimoto

Los Angeles May 1, 2013
Copyright © 2013 Yoko Fujimoto

Am I a psychic or an actress?

******** Am I a psychic?

A couple of months ago, I was at the fashion trade show “D&A” for my work (write for a Japanese fashion trade newspaper) and I met a beautiful woman.

This beautiful woman was at the front at D&A.

I asked her, “how do you make beautiful hair style like this?  It looks amazing!”

The beautiful woman: Oh… thank you. It’s easy to do it.

Me: Oh… I love your hair style!  You look like an actress!

The beautiful woman: Oh… I’m actually an actress!

Me: Wow, I knew it!!!

I am a psychic sometimes. I always have a good instinct, especially for people.

The beautiful woman…her name is Anne Schmidt. She is an actress (www.imdb.me/anneschmidt ).

 

The other day, Anne had sent me a nice email ,and she invited me to a play “BURN THIS” (by Lanford Wilson directed by Holly Gagnier & starring Jim Parrack) at PLAYHOUSE WEST (http://playhousewest.net/repertory-theater/ ).

Today I went to see this play “BURN THIS”.

Jim Parrack, Anne Schmidt, Phillip Pruitt and Lincoln Hoppe were great. I enjoyed the play very much.

They did well.

Especially, Anne is a really talented actress. She did a great job.

 

The story is very realistic and simple, but romantic and moving.

Love is beautiful, I felt strongly after I saw this play.

 

******** Am I an actress?

I used to act at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in West Hollywood long time ago (When I was in 20 something)… so I know how to act…

Today at the theater, I had to act…

When I was standing and waiting outside of the theater before the play, a nice guy started talking to me and asked me, “Are you single?”

I had to act (pretend) … like…I was mishearing (Circumstances may justify a lie, right?)… and I said, “Oh… I am a writer!”

The guy: Oh… you are a writer!  You are so beautiful!  Are you single?

Me: Ah… yes, I am single. (I couldn’t lie to this guy… I guess, I am not a good actress…!)

And the guy asked me out…Oh… no… Oh… yes! It’s time to go to inside and get the seat! My seat was reserved by Anne, so I told him… “I have to go now”…

 

***

During the intermission, I was in the line for the bathroom…The guy came up to me and he was very kind again… he said to me, “You are very beautiful! Kawaii!”  Oh… he made my day… but… I like being alone right now… ha ha…

***

Three hours and a half later…I went to outside and I saw the guy…the guy was outside… I wanted to wait for Anne and tell her, “Thank you, you did a great job, and good night!”… but…I thought I should leave right away…

The guy: Hey, what are you going to do tonight?

Me: Oh… I have to work (shoot… today is Sunday…Oops…)… I mean I am going to write (Yes, I am writing this blog right now, so I didn’t lie to him 100%…maybe 80% I lied to him)…

The guy: I hope I am hearing from you!  (he gave me his business card…)

I couldn’t act 100% perfect (I guess, I am not a good actress)... I am sure that the guy got my message… “I can’t go out with you”…

Today’s play (BURN THIS) was happy ending, but my real life story wasn’t happy ending with the guy…

 

***

Now, I feel like… I want to write a “simple, but beautiful” love story… yes, I am alone at home and I am writing happy.

Most of my day is happy ending by myself :)

How was your day?  I hope you had a happy ending day too :)

 

By Yoko Fujimoto

Los Angeles April 21, 2013
Copyright © 2013 Yoko Fujimoto