A 51-year-old male schoolgirl? Meet Tokyo's inspirational cross-dresser

Hideaki Kobayashi took the courageous step a few years ago of dressing up -- like a 15-year-old schoolgirl. Complete with ponytail, knee-high socks, penny loafers and a cute red kerchief, his outfit is the epitome of Japanese girls' school uniforms.

By and large, he's found that his unusual appearance, which he says makes him "feel comfortable," is accepted on Tokyo's streets.

For such a conservative country, the capital does have pockets of individuality, especially around the Harajuku area, where tourists often gather to snap pictures of some of the city's more out-there residents. Cosplay is a big thing in Japan, and many enthusiasts gather in the neighborhood's Yoyogi Park to show off their ensembles. But even here, the 51-year-old stands out.

Certainly Kobayashi's style is unique, and draws a lot of attention, even in Harajuku. He tells me that it took him two hours to walk from Shibuya's famous crosswalk to the neighborhood, usually a 15-minute stroll, because of all the people stopping to take photos with him.

Kobayashi is a patent-holding computer engineer, an accomplished photographer and a presumptive music producer.