Kyary Pamyupamyu: New Harajuku starSanae Nokura,
Daily Yomiuri ~ Jun. 3, 2011
It's no secret that Harajuku is a hotbed of style. On weekends and holidays, the Tokyo district is populated with fashion-conscious girls and women who flock to the area in colorful attire. One of the latest trends to hit Harajuku's streets is "aomoji-kei" or "blue ink type." A bubbly girl who calls herself Kyary Pamyupamyu is representative of the style.
According to Kyary, who recently graduated from high school, aomoji-kei fashion is not tied down to any particular style. "It's fashion enjoyed by people who like Harajuku and come to the area. Aomoji-kei can be very colorful--like what I wear--vintage clothes or Lolita fashion," she explains.
The style-free aomoji-kei trend is believed to have evolved as a reaction to akamoji-kei (red ink type), a term invented to explain the elegantly casual yet conservative fashion favored by female college students and young office workers. (The titles on magazine covers featuring such fashions are often printed in red.)
When asked what aomoji-kei means to her, Kyary says she is a fan of Barbie dolls and '60s fashions.
The distinctively dressed 18-year-old was "discovered" on the Harajuku streets when she was 16 and asked to be photographed for a magazine documenting fashion worn in the area.
Kyary, whose big eyes and fair skin stand out, began modeling and appeared in magazines such as Zipper and KERA, where editors hoped the girl noted for her peculiar sounding name and sartorial style would identify with readers.
The doll-like Tokyo native gradually expanded her activities and is now a regular fixture in magazines and on radio.
Despite her busy schedule, Kyary's enthusiasm for fashion is palpable. She often visits her favorite secondhand clothes stores and collects photography books on vintage fashion.
Decked out in a short tunic printed with teddy bears and hot pink shorts, her theme when this reporter met with her was "child's pajamas worn in a foreign country." Platform sandals found at a visual-kei boutique completed the picture.
Kyary shares her daily style in her blog (
http://ameblo.jp/kyarypamyupamyu). "I dress according to my personality. I enjoy dressing for my own pleasure rather than worrying about how I look to others," she says.
Her official Web site (
http://kyary.asobisystem.com) also introduces fashion items she has produced such as T-shirts, hoodies and false eyelashes.
Kyary said her dream is to become a "charismatic Harajuku personality." In summer, she is expected to debut as a singer.
"Harajuku is where fashionable people get together. It's lots of fun. I'm going promote the town and aomoji-kei fashion to the world," she declared, making a weird face for fun.
