Huge beards made from red beans are the new fashion in Japan [gallery]
No one here needs more proof that Japan is a place full of bizarre things. The latest trend coming straight from the Land of the Rising Sun is to use beards made from adzuki beans, the traditionally Japanese version of the legume.
From the name of the bean, the word “azurer” was formed, which refers to all those who got into the game and incorporated the fun beards into their daily lives. To bring the new fashion fans together, even a website was created that explains:
“Azurer, which started in Japan and spread around the world, is the latest fad and consists of wearing a beard made of azuki beans. There are currently over 1.72 million azurers in Japan and the numbers are also growing internationally. This site serves as a photo archive of the azurers we visit around the world. ”
For a good cause
We are so used to the weird things coming from Japan that we would not doubt that people are buying different models of bearded beans to go out on the streets like nothing is going on, right ?!
But in fact, the fashion of azurers is just a joke. The name behind the idea is creative director Takao Sakai of Tokyo University of Arts. As part of the project, Sakai photographed more than 1, 600 people in different locations using the weird beards he makes with clay instead of beans.
The real goal behind the “new Japanese trend” was to get people's attention and help others. Part of the azurers ' photographs were sold and the proceeds were all earmarked to help earthquake and tsunami victims who hit Japan through donations to the Japanese Red Cross.
Most recently, Takao Sakai has also collaborated with Purple Eyes - an organization that works to prevent domestic violence - through the project “No Domestic Violence: The Azurers' Oath” ( No to Domestic Violence: The Vote of Azurers ). where couples come up with messages that show what they consider most important for maintaining respect in a relationship.
The success of the game was so great that the adzuki beans were also used in equipment, decorative objects and even nails. Check out:
Azurer # 1
Azurer # 2
Azurer # 3
Azurer # 4
Azurer # 5
Azurer # 6
Azurer # 7
Azurer # 8
Azurer # 9
Azurer # 10
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