Ponytailed idols, artists, models also honored

February 2 was Twin Tail Day in Japan, a day to honor the girls who wear their hair in two ponytails and encourage others to imitate them. It was marked by the Twin Tail Awards, a series of prizes given to celebrities who best exemplify the twin tail style.

Yume Miyazawa, author of the light novels Gonna be the Twin-Tail!! , which were later adapted into an anime series in 2014, won a special award for his contributions to twin tail culture.

The other winners were:

Mio Masui of PASSPO ☆ in the Idol category

☆ in the Idol category Yūyako Kurosaka of Silent Siren and Pikarin Shiina in the Artist category

and Pikarin Shiina in the Artist category Kumiko Funayama in the Talent category

YURA in the Model category

The ceremony was held in DUO Music Exchange, a concert venue in Shibuya, Tokyo at 6 PM. Concerts by 32 girl groups, many sporting twin tails, were also held at the adjacent Tsutaya O-East and Tsutaya O-West venues. Performers included Lovely Doll, Akamaru Dash☆, Honey Spice, Akishibu Project and Luce Twinkle Wink☆ .

The Twin Tail Awards are given by the Twin Tail Project Japan, whose slogan is "Making Japanese Women More Beautiful, More Energetic, and More Fun with Twin Tails." According to their website, boys are supposed to give girls they're infatuated with two rubber bands on Twin Tail Day. If the girl returns the affections, she has to use the bands to make twin tails.

[Via Otaku.com, Ameba News and Twin Tail Project Japan]