Forget Harajuku And Cosplay, Here’s Japanese Goth!

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The Japanese Fashion scene is a most interesting theatre for the far-lookers. I’m far rom being a specialist in all things Harajuku and Cosplay but it seems a new trend has developed in the backstages of Japanese Street Style: the Japanese Goth.

Being a special mix, it cannot be reduced the old boundaries of Gothic. The Japanese Goth tea is a special infusion of Goth Lolitas and Goth Punk with a special Visual-kei scent. (the story continues right after the jump! Don’t miss the gallery with pictures from the Japanese Goth book by Tiffany Godoy)

Japanese Goth by Tiffany Godoy


Though it may not seem serious enough, the Japanese Goth sums a pretty vast array of fashion and style trends, past and present. That (and not only) qualifies the author of this special book, Tiffany Godoy, to announce to the world the new (street) fashion style.

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You can find a piece of everything in the Japanese Gothic courant: the creative freedom of the 70s, the bold tech wave of the 80s, Hello Kitty and the coordinated mangas, Marilyn Manson and traditional Japanese aesthetic forms, and, most of all, high art! The new artists (Fuyuko Matsui, Kokushoku Sumire, h. Naoto, Mana and others) have a place in the new Japanese Goth review by Tiffany Godoy.

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The 240 pages visual encyclopedia of Japanese Gothic was written by a fashion journalist living in Japan from 1997.

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Tiffany Godoy’s collaborations with V, Vogue, WWD, NY Times Magazine, Composite and Studio Voice (Japanese magazines where she was fashion editor) helped her into researching and putting together this Japanese Goth reference book. (not to mention the previously insightful book: Style Deficit Disorder Harajuku street fashion Tokyo!) (via 1, 2, 3)

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7 comments

#1 Adriana on 04.11.09 at 5:48 am

Oh wow, this looks amazing to me! It’s so hard to regonise or name all these Japanese styles.
In the early 90’s I’ve seen so Japanese films -often very violent- though always breathtaking to watch because of the clothing styles. And hairdo’s of course.

#2 Ellington on 04.11.09 at 9:17 am

All of these styles are like Manga come to life. : )

#3 TR on 04.11.09 at 6:21 pm

I like the second black and white image from the top. It would make a fantastic book cover for a novel or a horror film poster. It’s strangely pretty.

#4 Adriana on 04.12.09 at 6:32 am

I’ve seen such film posters. Lots off them. I love the posters (plus the clothes) always more than the films. I can’t take my eyes of this one either.

#5 kpriss on 04.13.09 at 4:49 pm

That black & white picture has something that reminds me of The Ring. I think it’s because of the colors. And the overall expression. I loved Harajuku and Cosplay more because they seem more alive, colored and inspirational than the dark, almost monochromatic goth thing. It’s their emo-correspondent?

#6 Virgil Allen Moore on 01.02.11 at 8:26 pm

Japanese people have always had a great flare for creativity. It doesn’t surprise me that they can do Goth better than anyone else.

#7 knowitallb**** on 01.15.11 at 8:36 pm

correction :

These fashions are visual kei and gothic lolita

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