Thursday, November 13, 2014

Interview with Junko Wong: 10 Years of Junie Moon Part 1

We are happy to be celebrating 10 years of fun and cute with Junie Moon. It was just a decade ago we brought Junie Moon into the world and made it a hub for Japanese doll culture in the heart of Tokyo. We are over joyed to have made so may friends over the years.

This is the first part of a series of interviews with Blythe Creative Producer Mrs. Junko Wong. She is also the founder and president of the retail shop Junie Moon.

Here she speaks about the original and exclusive dress sets "Junie Moon Dollywear".
Junie Moon Dollywear "Plum Blossom" kimono set


* Why and how did Junie Moon Dollywear develop?
I always wanted to start a fashion brand for dolls. The idea came to me in 2004 so it has been almost 10 years in the making and is still growing in ideas and styles. We first started right here in the office in a little room with a sewing machine.  In fact we still have that sewing machine and make our samples here ourselves.

* Who is behind the design?
I have a seamstress and pattern maker here and a factory in China. We have several girls who come up with designs and I supervise them.  We meet and discuss the line up of the styles for each season and the colors and the textures.  
* How do you organize themes?
We organize them mostly according to seasons and holidays. 

* A word about collaborations
We have 2 or 3 collaboration in a year with popular doll fashion designers. This year Momolita designed two dresses for Halloween for both Neo and Middie. And Miyuki Odani did too. We will be launching a collaboration with a Lolita designer next. 

Check out more Junie Moon Dollywear at our online shopping site:

www.juniemoonshop.com

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Halloween is around the corner and Lorshek Morseh is dressed for the occasion





Halloween is around the corner and Lorshek Morseh is dressed for the occasion.
It's a scary world out there.  Halloween is really popular in America I know and it's only recent that it is eventful in Japan.  Well, mostly in the big cities of Japan.  There really is no trick or treating though but the stores are filled with Halloween goods and  displays.  I have seen people dressed up to go to parties in Tokyo but not as crazy as I have seen in the states. Hmmm maybe we should have a Halloween party at Junie Moon and a costume contest to see who can be 1) the scariest, 2) the funniest and 3) the most stylish. Any other categories?

もうすぐハロ ウィーン。
ローシェックモルセーにモモリタさんのドレスセットを着せて見た。外は怖いよ!アメリカではハロウィーンはとてもポピュラーだけど日本はまだま だイベントは少ないし、トリックオアトリートも皆やってないし。でもお店の中はハロウィーングッズがたくさんあるディスプレイも黒と紫が多い。さいきん、東京の電車の中でハロウィーンパーティー帰りの人を見る。でもアメリカと比べると少ない。ジュニームーンでハロ ウィーンパーティーを企画してコスチュームコンテストでもしようかな。。。皆来てくれるかしら?コンテストのカテゴリーは、例えば、1)一番怖い、2)一 番おかしい、と3)一番ファショナブルを選ぶのはどう?他どんなカテゴリーが良い?

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Country Summer becomes Country Autumn







She's one of those dolls that got stuck in between some exclusives and a bit overlooked. So I am going to make a point to play with her to show that she is worthy and beautiful and great to have in your collection. WHY? Because she is really cute and takes great pictures. She has that vintage feel in her face and is one of those girls that represent the original Blythe look. She's fun to play with too!
Maybe I shouldn't have named her Country Summer? Never mind, because I am going to take pictures of her in the fall and she can be Country Autumn.  Later I will shoot her in cold months and call her Country Winter.  And then Country Christmas.
So anyway, here is the first of my photos. A look at Country Autumn.

カントリーサマーがカントリーオータムに変身
カントリーは幾つかの限定の間に挟まり、
見落とされてしまった子。だからこそ私はこの子と遊ぶの。だって,可愛いし、とてもフォトジェニックで自分のコレクションにしたい子だと思う。ちょっとビンテージのカオリがして、ブライスらしさを感じる。遊んでみたけど、たのしかった!!もしかしたらカントリーサマーってなまえが良くない?いいの!季節に会わせて遊べる子だから。まずカントリーオータム。次はカントリーウィンター、そして、カントリークリスマス。写真見てね。皆もカントリーの写真が有れば、見せて!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Seattle 2014 Blythe Con by Junko


Blythecon Seattle 2014 was the first Blythe Convention organized by Blythe fans that I’ve attended and I’m so glad I went. The city was beautiful, the weather perfect and the food I ate I still dream about and try to replicate in my kitchen. Everyone we met was friendly and nice including the cashier at the supermarket and the waiter at the restaurant. The Blythe fans who came from all over the world were beautiful and talented. Each vendor and each participant was truly in love with Blythe. But the most important reason for making the trip to Seattle was to see Allison Katzman again. She is the original designer of Blythe and without that original idea there would not have been a BlytheCon Seattle 2014. 

On my first day in Seattle, Allison and I went on a date. When I stayed with her in Chicago, we went to the Art Institute and this time she took me to the Seattle Art Museum to see the Northwestern Modernist Exhibition. She said that this was a very important show featuring two of her favorite artists, Mark Tobey and Morris Graves. As we walked around the gallery, Allison talked about her life, when she was growing up in Seattle, being inspired by these artists and becoming an artist herself. She told me that her mother had a restaurant in Seattle, just as my mom had a restaurant in Honolulu. We both loved food. The second time I met her, she treated me to a home-cooked dinner, which I remember well. I shared that memory with her and then told me about a soba and tempura dinner.  So we both remember what we fed each other.


After we saw the exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle, we drove to Volunteer Park where another exhibition on Japanese Art Deco was held. But we decided to just sit down in the park to talk and take in the beautiful day.  This was a chance to give her the latest Anniversary Doll.  I took a picture of Allison in front of a huge tree with a dynamic trunk and more trunks growing out of it. I told her that in Hawaii where I grew up, the trunk of the tree is called a KUMU. But it is also the same word for teacher/ Master of knowledge. So for me, Allison is my Blythe Kumu and the photo captured her perfectly.


The next day, the Seattle Blythe Con organizers put together a panel discussion for us. They moderated the conversation and guided the discussion giving us both a chance to share our relationship to Blythe and what our roles and responsibilities were and our thoughts were for the future of Blythe. I was very grateful for this chance to speak publically with Allison’s insight and support.  I’m glad to be able to perpetuate Blythe with Allison’s blessing. I heard that the discussion was broadcast on TV that night but I couldn’t get the chance to see it. Instead we went to a park and saw a beautiful sunset and some kids running around the fountain getting wet.



The Blythe Con itself was amazing. The passion, the joy and the excitement were apparent. The organizers were clearly experienced, running the convention smoothly. They were happy about what they were doing and they were a tightly knit group. I respect them and appreciate them for their hard work and the amazing outcome of this event. It was an emotional time for me, and I got choked up a few times with happy tears. I was truly moved.





I hope to go to another BlytheCon and see all the people I met in Seattle once more. Everyone was so kind and reached out to us. I am bringing home to Japan a part of you and leaving with you a part of me. I have never felt so close to the people who love Blythe as I have felt here in Seattle. Thank you so much to Diem, Brian, Valerie and Sara letting me be a part of the Seattle Blythe Convention 2014. Love Junko 


More pictures of the Blythe con below!







Saturday, August 2, 2014

Seattle Blythe Con 2014 Panel Discussion

The organizers of the Seattle Blythe Con 2014 gave me an opportunity to share my story with everyone.  They are incredible people, hard working and generous. But more than that, Allison had the chance to share her story of how she came to design Blythe and that was the highlight of the day. I am honored and grateful to be able to sit with her and continue this learning process and this remarkable journey that would never have occurred if Allison did not create the first Blythe. I will keep working hard, day through day to keep Blythe alive. Thank you to Seattle and deepest gratitude to Allison. PS Allison loved Middie! So happy!


Friday, August 1, 2014

My Day with Allison

I arrived in Seattle late on Wednesday night but woke up bright and early as I had a wonderful day to look forward to.  Allison picked me up and we went to the Seattle Art Museum to see an exciting exhibition titled "Modernism in the Pacific Northwest". It was a huge show and featured two of Allison's most inspiring artists Mark Tobey and Morris Graves. We had a light lunch at the museum and drove to Volunteer Park and took in the beautiful weather and gorgeous landscape of the park. I liked the duck in the pond! We spent the whole day together. I cherished every minute of it.





Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Blythe Birthday Party at Osaka Junie Moon

Neo Blythe made 13 years old on June 23.  In Osaka at the Junie Moon Salon a birthday bash was held and lot's of people came to wish her well.


Everyone took pictures in the rose garden ( photo booth) and ate delicious rose cookies, shopped for new wardrobe created by artists just for this event.







The next tea party will be in September and guaranteed to be a lot of fun as well!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Regina Irwin and Contessa Margarita are coming to bring happiness to your day!


I took them on a stroll and had a great time taking their photos. These are special places in my home town that made wonderful backgrounds that reflect their regal personalities. One of the places I used as location was the high school I graduated from! And another location was the royal palace of the Hawaiian King and Queen. 









It was a good day! We can't wait to share these lovely girls with the world.