why do they all have the same hair?

Seems to be in vogue with young movie and TV stars, singers, etc. and their followers. And it's reflected in their animé, far as I can tell. Or vice versa.



It's not just the hair. It's the entire stylized facial appearance. Of course these performers are selected and made popular precisely for that reason. That is, they represent an artificial "ideal" which is currently highly marketable. Not that they lack in talent, but they are still products of marketing.

I just thought the comparative imagery was interesting.

didn't it start with Cloud?

Cloud:



No idea. Don't follow it that closely.

how did this happen...

I think the US could be in the same boat.

OMG don't even get me started.

I think the trend stareted with anime + manga.

The manufacturing of cartoonish pop stars (a trend which has grown all over Asia) is about separating young girls from their money. (And young guys at arcades from their 100 yen coins.)

It has also spilled over into popular fashion styles. You see guys all over the place with these Naruto hair cuts. But talk to women (over the age of 25, anyway), and they'll tell tell you that as a ploy to attract potential mates, it's a non-starter.

Grit + sweat > puffy hair-do's + make up

Really? That's not what I see when I go to Japan.

Isn't this kind of like saying those New Jersey (and parts of Brooklyn/Staten Island) guidos who gel their hair to insane levels and get spray tans represent all of America?

I'm far more disturbed by the trend of nice Asian ladies deciding to go red/henna. WTF? You have perfect black hair! Why do you want t look like an American skank?

@akumen - Not really.

If you hang out in Akihabara sure you'll see a shit ton of 16-20 year old kids dressing like clowns - maybe even with a girl on their arms.

But if you talk to people in the "real world" category - ie, actually working for a living and looking for a long-term partner - the story will change.

Of course, factor in the 25+ year old otakus of either sex, and it all goes out the door!

I think the red hair trend (which started around 5-6 years ago) is different. It doesn't have anything to do with America (very little does in Asia, actually, though folks often assume otherwise ). It's just about being a little bit differerent. (If 100% of the people around you have the same color hair, that's some impetus to be a bit different, eh?) Typically the shades or burgundy/red/etc are very subtle. You rarely see people who go overboard, but sure it does happen

That's exactly what my wife and i thought about the many highlighted heads in Nippon, that they must be bored with everyone having the same coloured hair.
I've forgotten what the Japanese name for them is, but it translates to "White Witches". These are the girls who have really, really blonde hair(usually loads of it) and loads of sky blue and pink make-up on top of the fakest tans ever. They dress like American trash(Brittney??) and usually go out with lads who have the same hair and tans, minus the make-up.
The lads in the first photo, up top of the thread, are relatively normal compared to the mob i'm talking about

I think what you're talking about is more along the lines of the freakish marmelade chicks who used to tan heavily and/or cover themselves in orange makeup. (Maybe these are the same as the White Witches? Name seems apt enough. )



Looks pretty outrageous at first, but then you see 10...20...100 of them, and you realize it's just a uniform like a lot of people in "punk" getups, complete with mohawks, leather jackets and Borax white T's.

Japan is definitely the place where you can get your freak on and blend right in, since everyone knows it's a fresh from the catalogue look.

When I look at the photos of both American and Japanese stars, all I can think is somewhere our balls/barusu got removed.

but ball removal is kind of metal I guess...I'm so confused.

It's been said, but the power of teenage girls is a hell of a thing.
Though 10 years ago when I was a teen, I think the the gooey haired flamingo band boy pop star image was emerging, though normal kids seemed to reject it.
Now I think the majority of kids want to look like these pop sensations, or at least it seems like it, maybe I'm wrong. I have some advice for them, they can take it to heart when their sacks drop. Go to the barber sit down, tell them 2 on the sides, 4 on the top. Repeat every month.

Andy, well done for finding a picture. How fucking scary is that. You can see what i mean about making the boys at the top look very normal.........haha, you could'nt make this shit up

I'm with Vombie. There has been a collective neutering which I have dubbed 'bitchification'

What?! The Tenma is clearly different from the Shidou! Sheesh!

who cares what their hairstyle is! they are smokin' hot japanese chicks!

Excellent advice!

Y'all should have seen Japanese youth culture magazines like Hot Dog back circa 1981 ... the punk-influenced hairstyles (and colors) were outrageous. These more recent (and "prettier") styles seem like an extension (no pun intended) of some of what was going on back then, with the obvious added influence of manga/anime spikiness.

It's the street fashion I like the most. Nobody does street fashion like Japanese youth.

yeah, for a fuckin' reason!

sorry, Dean--I had to take it.

no, I agree--japan has style--or maybe the women do because the guys are totally biting it. but it'll bounce back (not talking about their hair) no doubt. just gotta wait for puberty to hit...or something.