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Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno: Tokyo Teen Fashion Subculture Handbook | 
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| Authors: Izumi Evers, Patrick Macias
Creator: Kazumi Nonaka
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy New: $11.42
You Save: $5.53 (33%)
New (4) Used (6) from $10.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 636520
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 148
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.6
Dewey Decimal Number: 305.23520952135
ASIN: B00196PDAG
Publication Date: May 10, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Japanese schoolgirl fashions and subcultures have sprung up, burned out, mutated, and evolved into a pop culture phenomenon gone global from Gwen Stefani's "Harajuku Girls" to Gothic Lolita-fueled manga and the deadly schoolgirl in Kill Bill, it's no wonder that international fashion designers look to the streets of Tokyo for fresh inspiration. This playful and thoroughly researched handbook examines the key styles and subcultures past and present: sailor-suited gangsters, Pippi Longstockings risen from the dead, girls in blackface, teens sporting giant hamster costumes, and more. Each fashion profile is packed with photos and illustrations, history, ideal boyfriends, and must-have items. Also included are a gatefold evolutionary fashion chart, resources, and makeup tips. At last, an in-depth guide to what the girls are wearing and why on earth they're wearing it.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Harajuku Girls July 14, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I lived in Japan for a long time, and while I got used to many strange things something that never ceased to turn my head was when a tribe of schoolgirls would come walking by dressed in bizarre outfits that looked more like Halloween costumes than actual clothing. I'll never forget my first encounter with the kigurumin, groups of girls dressed in full-length pajamas of popular characters like Pikachu and Winnie the Pooh. The nice thing is these girls are always happy to pose for pictures with an astounded foreigner, and I took more than a few over the years.
"Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno" is a fashion-guide to some of the more outrageous outfits to come in and out of popularity over the years. I know from personal experience that these are all real styles, worn by guys and gals who put considerable time, energy and money into creating the perfect effect. As is true in most Japanese culture, it is all about fitting in with the group, and making sure that everyone is matching. They might like to stand out, but individualism is the last thing on anyone's mind, with choreographed dance moves and coordinated colors declaring your membership in each tribe.
The book starts in the 1970's, with the Sukeban fashion inspired by and inspiring the Pinky Violence genre. These tough and sexy girls were the devils of Japanese streets, managing to be both cute and dangerous at the same time. The trends continue with the Takenoko Zoku in the 80's, the schoolgirl prostitutes known as Kogals, and the incredible Panda-women that haunted Shibuya, Tokyo and were known as Gonguro. All of these fashions were supported by the infamous Egg Magazine, which laid out the rules and costumes for each group.
After seeing these fashions live and in person, it was cool to get the run down on the styles and attitudes behind them, as well as the history and inspirations. "Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno" is more than just a photo book, and does a great job showing the culture necessary to spawn these complicated fashions. Of course, there are photos as well, as well as fantastic illustrations by Nonaka Kazumi that give greater details on the costumes, the type of guys favored by each tribe, and the era in which they were popular.
 Cosplay Study Guide July 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great book to add more idea to your cosplay collection to POP at next Event
 the title is decieving, and way cooler than the book itself January 7, 2008
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
this book is not really for otaku or fanboys. although the book does provide some interesting information, it is over all a pretty lame book.
2 stars is probably generous for how awful the pictures and general layout is. trash.
Well designed book November 24, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a very well-designed book (if you're into that sort of thing). With dimensions just slightly larger then your average Japanese manga book, this paperback feels weighter then it should thanks to its use of high-quality, glossy paper stock. The pages are in full color and there is a plethora of full color photos and cartoon style sketches to complement the smatterings of text.
As far as the actual content of this book - if you're at all interested in the concept of the Japanese 'school girl' as a cultural icon - this book does cover the various sub-cultures of this iconic demographic spanning the 1960's through the present and covering everything from the biker-gang type delinquents to the glam Material Girls of today. A very easy book to breeze right through if you have a couple of hours to kill.
 cute, but kind of a novelty November 9, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I could have gotten the info off of a website or magazine. This doesn't really feel like a book to me.
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