The Ganguro Girls (Blackface) Fashion Trend or Racism?

FACT: Did you know that there was a whole sub-culture of Japanese people who are obsessed with black people? The fashion trend they hide behind is called: Ganguro (meaning blackface).

Ganguro peaked in popularity in the late 1990s. The basic look consists of bleached hair, a deep tan, both black and white eyeliners, false eyelashes, platform shoes (usually sandals or boots), and brightly colored outfits. Also typical of the “Ganguro Gal” look are cell phones covered with purikura stickers, tie-dyed sarongs, mini-skirts, hibiscus flower hairpins, and lots of bracelets, rings and necklaces.

Extreme trend followers further bleach their hair up to a platinum blond shade, get even deeper tans, wear white lipstick, multi-colored pastel eye shadows and tiny metallic or glittery adhesives around the bottom rim of the eye sockets.

No one really knows the origin of the Ganguro; some say it’s a form of revenge against traditional Japanese society, built on a resentment of neglect, isolation, and the constraint of Japanese life. This is their attempt at individuality, self-expression, and freedom, in open defiance of school standards and regulations. Then there are others who speculate it was started by a group of girls infatuated or fascinated with Janet Jackson or black American musicians or perhaps Naomi Campbell.

Some question whether the Japanese obsession with blackface is about being infatuated with the African American culture, or whether it’s just blatant racism. Either way, it’s pretty interesting that they go so far out of their way to emulate a race that’s not their own.

[mashshare]

Comments

Jennifer

You’re taking something out of its context and adding your own cultural bias. The trend was started by Tokyo girls who vacationed in Hawaii, you failed to depict that Hawaiian flowers were also part of the culture tribe’s look in summer. The style is a loose retaliation of traditional Japanese ideals of beauty such as the white makeup used by geishas.The cultural idealization is still seen within a Japanese framework outside of American race politics. Ganguro girls are also not interested in “black music” or Naomi Campbell, as your bias lead you to assume.
- JSS00
  
  Nah, most of those “gyarus” are into usually “black culture”, and by black culture, I mean the dominant and stereotypical African American culture like rap music.
  - sik3xploit
    
    And yet people are so self-absorbed to the point where they see a hint of themselves represented in everything and feel like they must claim it to be some culture-appropriation or racist nonsense. It’s disgustingly shallow.
    - apedap
      
      Please quote where someone claimed it was “cultural appropriation” or racist please.
      - yb
        
        this article.
      - apedap
        
        It’s either satire or just stupid.
yb

don’t write about shit you don’t understand, the darkening of skin is to go against the traditional beauty standard of being pale, and so is the bleaching of the hair.
yb

don’t write about shit you don’t understand
they aren’t trying to look a different race, they’re going against traditional japanese beauty standards by darkening their skin
Azeenan J

I agree with this article but I’m confused about the Naomi Campbell part, is she popular in Japan ? I’ve never heard of this.
memester

lmfao shut up
- mikasawife
  
  mad
  - memester
    
    american
    - miugal
      
      idc…