Hollywood and Vine Metro StationI honed in on Mie Kanai and Kokichi Tahara at the Hollywood and Vine Metro station when Kokichi's bright blue puffer jacket caught my eye. The couple graciously stopped to chat and pose for a few photographs. They didn't speak a lot of English so I was thrilled to resuscitate some of my now almost-moribund Japanese to further the communication.
Metro Profiles LA: Where are you from?
Mie: We are from Japan - Tokyo. It's our first time here.
Metro Profiles LA: Why are you taking the subway today?
Mie and Kokichi: It's cheap, reasonable, and convenient. The subways here are very quiet. Much quieter than the ones in Tokyo.
(I concurred with this. I'm hard pressed to think of anything more lively than the many subways that crisscross Metropolitan Tokyo - they teem with hustle and bustle not to mention the fabulous people-watching opportunities. But I did point out to Mie and Kokichi that during rush hour, the LA Metro system can be pretty energetic itself.)
Metro Profiles LA: You both look quite stylish. Kokichi, it was your jacket that really caught my attention. Where did you get it?
Kokichi: I bought it in Japan - at a store called Beams. I liked the color.
Metro Profiles LA: Yes, me too. The color's great. What are your fashion influences?
Mie and Kokichi: We read fashion magazines.
Metro Profiles LA: What do you think of LA as a style center.
Mie: Hmmm...we don't pay so much attention to that. People in Hollywood seem a bit more fashionable...
