Modeling

If you have ever been to Japan (or seen Lost in Translation), you know that modeling here is completely different than in the states. Actually, that has been changing somewhat in recent years, now that I think about it. More and more movie stars in America are modeling for commercial products like they have done in Japan for many years. However, even though US celebrities are starting to do more commercial modeling, not all of them would do the same kinds of ads that they will do here...

Heeeey, Tommy Lee Jones on a billboard for canned coffee:

 
Anyway, what is still different in Japan is that normal people can often be in national ad campaigns here - not everyone on TV or in print looks like supermodels here... because they aren't! If you are western, you are in demand here, no matter what you look like. To that end, on base every spring and fall there is a Modeling Fair, where all the agencies from Tokyo come and take pictures of you and your kids to see if there might be a place for you in ads. You can make really good money doing this, so of course a lot of people get involved in this.

I took the boys to the modeling fair in the Fall - it was a complete mad house, and the boys did not cooperate well. I didn't expect to hear anything and haven't... until recently. I just found out that Anthony might have his first audition for a stroller company's catalog! They originally asked about both boys, but Jackson is too tall for their height requirements. So, hopefully Anthony will elbow out the competition and become the next superstar of Japan. First he has to pass the photo selection. If that happens, we have to go to Tokyo for the audition.

The chances of this are small, but it is fun to think about, and it could be really fun if he actually gets it!