Gyaru

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Gyaru (ギャル?) is a Japanese transliteration of the English word gal. The name originated from a 1970s brand of jeans called "gals", with the advertising slogan: "I can't live without men", and was applied to fashion- and peer-conscious girls in their teens and early twenties. Its usage peaked in the 1980s and has gradually declined. The term gradually drifted to apply to a younger group, whose seeming lack of interest in work or marriage gained the word a "childish" image. It is now used almost interchangeably with kogyaru and younger generations may consider it clichéd or even archaic.

[edit] Varieties of gyaru

There are various subcategories of "gals" depending on the choice of fashion, and also gender.

  • Ganguro gyaru (ガングロギャル) - a gal with an artificial deep tan and bleached hair.
  • Kogyaru - generally a high school student (高校生 kōkōsei).
  • Oyajigyaru (オヤジギャル) - from oyaji and gyaru. A gyaru who behaves in a masculine way, who drinks beer and uses rough language.
  • Onegyaru (お姉ギャル) - a gyaru who has graduated from high school, and thus become a more mature onee-san (literally "elder sister" but, here, "young lady"). The style is more sophisticated.
  • Ogyaru (汚ギャル) - a dirty or disheveled gyaru who may forsake daily baths or takes little care in her behaviour and dress, even by gyaru standards.
  • Gyaruo (ギャル男) - the gyaru's male counterpart. See Gyaruo.
  • Manba (マンバ) - deep tan and contrasting white make-up. Their hair is usually pastel-coloured or blonde, and very long and back-combed. Their clothes are neon and layered.
  • Kigurumin* - wear kigurumi, a type of pajama-suit that resembles an animal and sometimes cartoon characters.
  • Bibinba (ビビンバ) - this look usually includes a lot of gold and jewellery. Similar to b-gal.
  • Banba (バンバ) - barbie-gal, with differences such as their wearing of slippers and stilettos. They also use more glitter, and have a neon touch to their hair. They use more extreme-looking types of false eyelashes and coloured contact lenses. The most respected Gal-cir is Angeleek; there are 22 members in their Tokyo group, and they have many other groups throughout the country.
  • Kyoba bo-i - the male banba. The make-up is similar to Sentaa-gai's, but the eyes can be made up to look bigger. They accessorize excessively and commonly don bangs.
  • Himegyaru (姫ギャル) - girls who dress as princesses. Hair colours vary from blonde to brown and is usually very big and teased. They wear expensive clothing from brands such as Liz Lisa and Jesus Diamante.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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