View source for Gyaruo

{{Short description|Japanese youth subculture}}
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[[File:Gyaru-o misc historical image b 2007-7-2.jpg|thumb|Typical ''gyaruo'' in associated dress, 2007.]]
'''''Gyaruo''''' (which can be written as ギャル男, ギャルオ, ギャル汚 in Japanese) are a sub-group of modern [[Japan]]ese youth culture.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Japan_Echo/YjYTAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=%22Gyaruo%22%20-wikipedia |title=Japan Echo |date=2005 |publisher=Japan Echo Incorporated |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref> They are the male equivalent of the [[gyaru]].<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=荒井 |first=悠介 |title=渋谷ギャル・ギャル男サークルのエスノグラフィー : 社会的成功のための勤勉さと悪徳資本 |date=2019 |access-date=12 November 2024 |degree=PhD |publisher=Hitotsubashi University |url=https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1110849933594878848 |doi=10.15057/30278 |language=ja |trans-title=Diligence and vice : an ethnography of gyaru and gyaru-o's subcultural group in the Shibuya Center Street}}</ref> The ''o'' suffix that is added to the word is one reading of the [[kanji]] for male (男). And recently, the kanji for 'dirty' in Japanese (汚), which also has the same reading, is often used by ''gyaru'' and ''gyaruo'' in a light hearted way, poking fun at themselves because of the reputation that their subculture has gained within society due to their dark skin, hairstyles and often gritty, rough style of clothing that they wear. ''Gyaruo'' are characterised by their deep tans, dyed hair, party lifestyle and a liking for all different types of trance music including [[Para Para|para-para dancing]] music, [[Eurobeat]], etc.
== Lifestyle ==
Most major cities in Japan will have certain streets or districts within the city centre where ''gyaruo'' and ''gyaru'' are most likely to be hanging out. Using the two biggest ''gyaruo'' culture influencing cities as example: in [[Tokyo]] two of the popular places to hang out are around the [[Shibuya, Tokyo|Shibuya]] or [[Shinjuku]] areas. In [[Osaka]], [[Amerikamura]], which is often shortened to Ame-mura (アメ村), and the [[Shinsaibashi]] areas are popular places for ''gyaruo'' to hang around.
In 2005, Tokyu Hands opened up a second branch of their popular girl's ''gyaru'' fashion shopping complex, [[109 (department store)|109]], called 109-②. Two floors of the [[Shibuya, Tokyo|Shibuya]] located 109-② store are dedicated to ''gyaruo'' brands such as Vanquish, Jack Rose, Varosh, Diavlo, Roi Franc, and Gennaro. The rise in ''gyaruo'' fashion has led to openings of other 109-② stores featuring male brands in [[Fukuoka, Fukuoka|Fukuoka]], [[Machida, Tokyo|Machida]], [[Shizuoka, Shizuoka|Shizuoka]] and [[Nagoya]]. The 109-② in Shibuya has since been renamed 109-mens, with all floors dedicated to ''gyaruo'' fashion instead of the initial two.
==Magazines==
''Gyaruo'' fashion can be seen in certain magazines such as ''[[Men's Egg]]'', "Men's Roses" or ''Men's Egg Bitter'' (for ''gyaruo'' aged 23+) and a fairly new magazine called ''Men's Digger''. Then there is the popular ''Men's Knuckle'' magazine which is aimed at wearers of the more mature looking onii-kei fashion (お兄系), hosts (ホスト) and ''gyaruo''.
''Men's Egg'' is the most popular magazine amongst ''gyaruo'', and is often described as the "''gyaruo'' bible". It is this magazine that has arguably had the largest influence on the development and constant change of ''gyaruo'' lifestyle and fashion. Men's Egg magazine which is published monthly, has everything from the latest fashion to articles about the sex lives of the readers. It was this last part that got the magazine a temporary ban by the government, due to complaints by parents and disgruntled traditional politicians who had heard news of the magazines content. Every month this magazine hosts ''Men's Egg Events'' at different clubs around Japan keeping its customers entertained by inviting along the magazine's most popular models along to the events to be adored by the excited crowd. The events which are called 'Men's Egg Night', is often shortened to just 'mennai' (メンナイ).
== Fashion ==
Within the ''gyaruo'' fashion There are a number of sub fashions, which can be roughly broken down into the following groups:{{fact|date=December 2011}}
*Military (ミリタリー系)
*Rock (ロック系)
*Biker (バイカー系)
*American Casual (アメカジ系)
*Surfer (サーファー系)
*Adult (お兄系)
== Reputation ==
Since the ''gyaruo'' youth culture sprang up in Japan alongside its female counterpart, it has gained quite a negative reputation with the older members of society and through the media, which has led a lot of people in the Japanese public to look down upon the ''gyaruo'' lifestyle due to what they have heard about it, and from what they have learned through the media.  Since ''gyaruo'' do not fit in with the normal Japanese tradition of blending into the crowd because of their appearance, they are associated with youth rebellion.{{cn|date=December 2016}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070510035620/http://mrmiss.jp/pc/mrblog.html The online blogs of the top ''Men's Egg'' magazine models (in Japanese)]
{{Japanese subcultures}}
[[Category:Japanese words and phrases]]
[[Category:Japanese subcultures]]
[[Category:Japanese youth culture]]
[[Category:Slang terms for men]]
[[Category:Japanese fashion]]
[[Category:Gyaru]]