| Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno: Tokyo Teen Fashion Subculture Handbook | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 16 reviews)
Sales Rank: 1050343
Category: Book
Authors: Izumi Evers, Patrick Macias
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Studio: Chronicle Books
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
Label: Chronicle Books
Format: Bargain Price
Language: English (Published)
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 11 more reviews...
 Good descriptors, not for if you're looking for inspiration October 18, 2008
Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno is pretty in-depth with its description of the history of certain fashion movements in various districts of Tokyo. However, if you are looking to get inspiration for your own fashion, as I was, there are other books that provide more information. However, the quiz at the end was very fun!
 Macias Strikes Gold Again September 10, 2008
The image of the Japanese schoolgirl is one that many a Japanophile fantasize over and romanticize to ridiculous degrees. But really, who can blame them? With the way that these girls are presented in anime, manga and games, you'd think they were were angels straight out of heaven. However, those of us keen enough to realize that Japan isn't at all like its cartoon counterpart know that such an image simply doesn't jive with reality. However, upon opening this book, one notices quickly that the reality behind these girls is much stranger than the fiction.
Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno takes us straight into the belly of the beast without any warning. The introduction throws you into a club with Patrick and crew as they do some research for the book you're holding in your hands. The image painted by this opening text is one of youth, excitement and energy. Nothing too strange, really. But as your eye scans these opening pages and actually starts to notice the accompanying photographs, you realize that this whole affair is anything but normal. And once the introduction ends, things really get weird. In the best possible way, of course.
Spanning from the late 1960s to the present day, Inferno covers all the major movements in Japanese girls' fashion, complete with interviews, photos and Macias' unique brand of writing. In each chapter, Macias puts you right in the middle of the movement, involving you with these girls and their era personally. Simply put, it feels like you're there. This is actually pretty incredible, considering Macias himself wasn't even around to experience some of these movements, which just goes to show how great this book is.
It's evident a meticulous amount of research and love went into writing this, as each chapter contains a comprehensive history of each movement, but at the same time is presented in a very conversational manner. Macias talks to you. He knows this stuff back to front. He's seen some of this stuff happen, and for the stuff he missed, he talks to people who were there, reads old magazines and just digs around. Then he just tells it all to you, and you simply can't help but be mesmerized.
This book isn't all a history lesson, though- as the title states, it's a handbook. So, between Macias' witty and entertaining discourses on various fashion movements, the book comes with various "how to" guides, "a day in the life" segments, interviews with current/former Gals, and each chapter ends with a list of "must have" Gal items complete with "Ideal Boyfriend." This mixture is one that produces a most entertaining read.
Another notable aspect about this book is the design and illustration work. Izumi Evers, the designer, lays out the book very well, and pushes the aesthetics appropriately over-the-top to compliment the subject matter. Similarly, Kazumi Nonaka's illustrations are detailed, colourful and have a doll-like look to them that works well with Macias' witty writing style, and interacts nicely with Evers' design work.
Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno is simply a great book. It's fun to read, informative, and just nice to look at. If there needs to be complaints to make this review complete, the ending of this book is a bit abrupt. It would have been better if there was a closing statement after the final chapter- a section where Macias could reflect on all this and provide some witty opinions. But that's being nitpicky. It does come with this "WHAT GAL ARE YOU" test at the end, which is clearly hours of fun for the whole family.
Go out and buy this if you haven't already. You don't even have to care about fashion or Japan at all- this book will make you care. Because it's that good.
Harajuku Girls July 14, 2008
3 out of 4 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 5 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.
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