Book 'Japanese Schoolgirl CONFIDENTIAL' that summarizes the images of 'high school girls' seen by foreigners

The word 'high school girl' that appears in the news more than the name of any key person in Japan. Despite having an influence in all fields, I rarely care about them, probably because they are too close to us Japanese.

However, when viewed from a foreign country, there seems to be no such mysterious race, and along with samurai and geisha, 'high school girl' has become an inevitable keyword when talking about Japan. The newly published 'Japanese Schoolgirl CONFIDENTIAL' is an interesting book that depicts how 'high school girls' influence Japanese pop culture from the perspective of foreigners.

Details are below.
School Girl Confidential: Kodansha International

Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential

This 'Japanese Schoolgirl CONFIDENTIAL' was co-authored by Kotaku 's Brian Ashcraft and Shoko Ueda, who serialized the column 'Japanese Schoolgirl Watch' focusing on Japanese girl culture and high school girls in 'WIRED'.

Brian realized how they influenced Japanese pop culture through the writing of the column. While having an influence in all fields of pop culture such as anime, comics, games, and fashion, he was interested in this elusive group and started writing.

The cover looks like this.

The contents are quite graphical.

table of contents. Divided into eight chapters such as fashion and music, the relationship between 'high school girls' and Japanese pop culture is clarified. The contents to be taken up are quite thorough, such as 'discovery of sailor suits', 'development of mobile phones', 'BL culture' and 'definition of moe'.

1. Uniform

Based on interviews with the uniform museum of Tombow Co., Ltd., a major uniform manufacturer, it is an important factor for 'high school girls' from the birth of sailor uniforms due to modernization after the Meiji era to the fashion of blazer uniforms at the end of the 20th century. Introducing the transition of 'uniforms'.

The background of the sailor suit. The lower right is the very early 'Bulma'

About the development of blazer uniforms and the 2009 cultural ambassador, the so-called ' kawaii ambassador '. The blazer seems to have greatly expanded the range of high school girl fashion.

2. Idol

Regarding the existence of 'idols' who continue to influence the pop culture of high school girls, we explain the relationship between idols and high school girls who are connected to the postwar 'three daughters ', Onyanko Club, and Morning Musume AKB48.

3. Movie

Chiaki Kuriyama, who played GOGO Yubari in 'Kill Bill ' directed by Quentin Tarantino, appeared in a uniform that is not a dress but a costume of GOGO Yubari at the world premiere in Hollywood. Through an interview with her, she explains works featuring high school girls, such as B-class sukeban movies, 'Love & Pop ', and ' Battle Royale'.

In addition to the youth movie-like ones, 'Sukeban things' inspired by yakuza movies were also popular.

4. Consumption

Introducing the huge market driven by high school girls, such as the 'Tokyo Girls Collection, ' which is held twice a year and mobilizes more than 20,000 people, mobile phones, and photo booths.

It also explains the word 'kawaii', which is difficult to translate even though it is inseparable when talking about high school girls.

5. Magazines and books

Through interviews with Yasumasa Yonehara , the editor and photographer of the magazine 'Egg,' and mobile novels, he follows the appearance of high school girls in the media.

Many works that make use of the drama of high school girls such as 'Love & Pop' and 'Install' have been published.

6. Art

Introducing artists with many works with high school girls as motifs, such as Kaikai Kiki's Akane Koide , Makoto Aida , and Tomoko Sawada.

Makoto Aida's work with an ukiyo-e taste.

7. Game

An interview with Noizi Ito, who is known for his numerous novel games and light novel illustrations such as 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya'. From the beautiful girl CG that was displayed as the 'reward' of the game to the birth of love simulations such as 'Tokimeki Memorial', the development to a visual novel that emphasizes not only the game but also the story, 'Moe', and even ' Otome' Explains the advancement of 'high school girls' in games of all genres such as ' games' and fighting games.

'Just because it's a game for adults doesn't mean that the player plays as an adult,' he explains the nostalgia of the youth symbol of a high school girl.

8. Anime and comics

Interview with Miwa Ueda , the author of 'Peach Girl'. From shojo manga with high school girls as readers, BL comics, action heroes such as 'Sukeban Detective', and 'Sailor Moon' that incorporates the essence of squadron and magical girl things, we will continue to cross the borders of genres. Introducing the state of 'high school girls'.

'High school girls' are so commonplace for Japanese people that it is difficult to understand how they are influenced by them, so it is said that the images are organized from this external perspective. Is quite fresh and valuable. No matter what page you read, it is inevitable that you will feel that 'By the way, the influence of high school girls is here too!'

The publication is available at Kodansha International , priced at 1800 yen, at Amazon in Japan and at the foreign book corner of bookstores.