I stumbled on it totally by chance. While shooting street fashion in Harajuku I heard the sounds of lots of drums and some flutes. A large group of people was coming down the street dancing and playing music.

Before they crossed Meiji Dori, quite a few of them climbed the stairs to a balcony right at the Meiji Dori/Omotesando crossing. For some ten minutes they serenaded the crowds before finally crossing the streets.

That gave me just enough time to finish off my last street shoot. By this time I was immensely curious what these people wearing funny hats were all about.

I first thought that perhaps they were advertising some Halloween party, but I was completely off the mark. It was the 100% Love and Peace Parade organized by Japanese head-wear designer Rumiko Hikaruno of the brand Ruu Ruu.

Hikaruno, or Ruu-chan as she is called, immediately invited me to the party that followed the parade. Lots of dancing, and lots of people wearing cool clothes, or funky as they used to say back in the days when events like these were really common.

The head-gear was especially great. Not too surprising as most of the creations were designed by Ruu-chan .

As I got to know the people in the parade and later at the party I found out that almost all of them were involved with creative work: musicians, designers, painters, you name it. So I made some great contacts as well as a few new very nice friends. I had a lot of fun, too. Thanks!

See all the photos!