Once upon a time, there was a fashion trend in Japan called 'gyaru' — named after the Japanese pronunciation of 'gal' — where girls would slap on fake tans, bleach, and the kind of outfits worn by Snooki from 'Jersey Shore'. But in recent years, this valley-girl chic has fallen by the wayside, making space for the next big counter-culture movement.
And it looks like 'neo gyaru' is it; news broke in Japanese media circles last week about this up-and-coming fashion trend, pioneered by foreign-savvy models and actresses like Alisa Ueno. Combining pale skin, pastels, and an interpretation of foreign culture only the Japanese could conjure, neo gyaru fashion seems to be borrowing heavily from the likes of Kesha, Lady Gaga, and in some cases, even Miley.
Neo gyaru is still a very new development, so it's difficult to tell at this point whether it'll be sticking around or if it's merely a fad with a short fuse. However, seeing as how it's already received media attention and entered the public consciousness, I'm willing to bet on the former.
