kogyaru

Noun Kogyaru is a subculture of conspicuous consumption among girls and young women in urban Japan which emerged in the 1990's. Kogyaru are known for wearing platform boots, a miniskirt, copious amounts of makeup, hair coloring (usually blonde or brown), artificial suntans, and designer accessories. If in school uniform, the look typically includes skirts pinned very high and loose socks. Kogyaru are also known as kogal, or kogaru. References: Episode 6 third Season of BBC's Japanorama documentary. Japan Forum website http://www.mynippon.com/gainippon/kogal.htm