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is an alternative fashion trend among young Japanese women which peaked in popularity around the year 2000, but remains evident today. The Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo are the center of ''ganguro'' fashion.

Contents

Characteristics

Yamanba

Etymology

References

External links

Characteristics

In ''ganguro'' fashion, a deep tan is combined with hair dyed in shades of orange to blonde, or a silver gray known as "high bleached". Black ink is used as eyeliner and white concealer is used as lipstick and eyeshadow. False eyelashes and sparkling face powder are often added to this. Platform shoes and brightly-colored outfits complete the ''ganguro'' look. Also typical of ''ganguro'' fashion are tie-dyed sarongs, miniskirts, and lots of bracelets, rings and necklaces.
The deep ''ganguro'' tan is in direct conflict with traditional Japanese ideas of feminine beauty. Due to this, as well as their use of slang, unconventional fashion sense, and perceived lack of hygiene, ''ganguro'' gals are almost always portrayed negatively by the Japanese media.
Fashion magazines like ''Egg'' and ''Cawaii'' have had a direct influence on the ''ganguro''. Other popular ganguro magazines include ''Popteen'' and ''Ego System''. The ''ganguro'' culture has evolved its own synchronized dances, called ''Para Para''. Participants do predetermined moves at the same time, usually as accompaniment to J-pop music. ''Para Para'' events are held by ''ganguro'' circles, and involve either going to clubs to perform ''Para Para'' or gathering to learn new dances.
People generally associate the ''ganguro'' look with the old style. The newer style consists of a mid- tan, natural makeup, long white to brown hair styles with curls or straightened and backcombed. Current clothing trends include mini shorts knee socks, tanktops etc.
One of the most famous early ''ganguro'' girls was known as Buriteri, nicknamed after the black soy sauce used to flavor yellowtail fish in teriyaki cooking. ''Egg'' made her a star by frequently featuring her in its pages during the height of the ''ganguro'' craze. After modeling and advertising for the Shibyua tanning salon "Blacky", social pressure and negative press convinced Buriteri to retire from the ''ganguro'' lifestyle.^[1]

Yamanba

, is a newer term often used to describe extreme practitioners of ''ganguro'' fashion. ''Yamanba'' feature darker tans and add white lipstick, pastel eye makeup, tiny metallic or glittery adhesives below the eyes, brightly-colored contact lenses, plastic dayglo-colored clothing, and incongruous accessories to the ''ganguro'' look. Some ''yamanba'' wear stuffed animals as decorations. The male equivalent is called a , a pun on the name of a pedestrian shopping street near Shibuya Station in Tokyo where ''yamanba'' and center guys are often seen.

Etymology

The etymology of the word ''"ganguro"'' is disputed. Some academics claim that the name derives from the word , but ''ganguro'' practitioners invariably say it derives from the phrase . The term ''yamanba'' derives from Yama-uba, the name of a mountain hag in Japanese folklore whom the fashion is thought to resemble. It is sometimes shortened to ''manba'' in Japanese slang.

References

★ "Blackfaces, Witches, and Racism Against Girls", by Sharon Kinsella, in ''Bad Girls of Japan'', Laura Miller and Jan Bardsley eds., Palgrave, 2005.

★ Klippensteen, Kate, and Everett Kennedy Brown (photographer). ''Ganguro Girls: The Japanese "Black Face"''. Cologne: Koenemann, 2001. ISBN 3-8290-7926-5.

External links

★ A detailed reference of all the Gyaru GAL Styles with photos.

★ Japanorama Video of Japanese Female Subcultures including Ganguro