Wash Heights 5

What Became of Wash Heights? 5

Cobblestone walkways lead up to the spectacular stadium. The administration office of Yoyogi Stadium. The Yoyogi National Stadium is an architectural marvel.

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This road bisects Yoyogi Park, through what was once Washington Heights.	You can tell it's right before noon on Sunday .. the quiet before the tsunami.	The whole idea of dressing up for Sundays at the park is to be looked at .. and no one is ever disappointed.

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The vast majority of Japanese kids are too conservative to dress wildly, and just come to watch in their designer duds. Anything foreign seems to be the rage. This design, which was painted on French fighters, is very popular. There's no way this kid holds a job in a regular Japanese company .. bosses are too tight-assed for that hair!

The dance party in full swing! Everyone has their own boom box. You hear everything as you walk past each group. The '50s "hoods" all gather in one spot and dance to early rock 'n roll .. nice split!

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There are so many hoods, you think you've dropped through a time warp.	Contrast these two groups of girls .. the poodle-skirted, bobbysoxed "nice girls" .. "Grease" in real life ..	.. to the hoods' female equivalent .. black fishnet stockings, tight leather skirts and lots of attitude.


Bands are literally everywhere .. all hoping for their big break.	Some bands are lucky to have ten people looking on.	Here's another bunch wearing their foreign influence .. the British flag.

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Getting ready for the big show .. if the drummer ever shows up!	The bands that draw the most crowds are those that put on a real theatrical event.	Japanese fans love a band that goes all out in music, costumes and stage presence.


This guy does a nice side business on Sunday, just putting on outrageous makeup for passersby.	A fashion attempt: spiked hair and a British flag on the back of his jacket. The music was .. uhh ... not too awful.	An aerial view of Yoyogi Park.


The "nice" girls and the "hoodlum" girls overlap their dance turf. Call John Travolta to keep them from tearing each other apart!!		A sweeping ducktail that tourists were photographing all day.


This guy embodies the Japanese leather rock 'n roller ethos.		Elvis has NOT left the building.


These are the "Bobbi Boiz," named after rap singer Bobby Brown. Baggy, baggy clothes, caps on backwards .. just like the U.S.		On weekdays, the park is filled with schoolgirls.

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This is where they hang out with their friends after school.		These leg warmers, that used to be worn only by ballet dancers, is a HUGE fashion in Japan.


Cobblestone walkways lead up to the spectacular stadium.	The administration office of Yoyogi Stadium.	The Yoyogi National Stadium is an architectural marvel.


The vast majority of Japanese kids are too conservative to dress wildly, and just come to watch in their designer duds.	Anything foreign seems to be the rage. This design, which was painted on French fighters, is very popular.	There's no way this kid holds a job in a regular Japanese company .. bosses are too tight-assed for that hair!


The dance party in full swing!	Everyone has their own boom box. You hear everything as you walk past each group.	The '50s "hoods" all gather in one spot and dance to early rock 'n roll .. nice split!