Harajuku girls

We all know there has been alot of conflict surrounding Gwen Stefani and the Harajuku girls. Many qyestssion whether Gwen is using the Harajuku girls to adapt Japanese culture to fit into North American culture, or exploiting these girls for her own commercial gain. But before you decide your opinion on the subject, i believe you must do your research. Before coming to my conclusion, my fist question was, what exactly is a real Harajuku girl?

A harajuku girl is a term to describe young teens in harajuku, tokyo, who wear a style of clothing originated in the street culture of major cities in japan. Harajuku girls shop in a high fashion area near harajuku station in tokyo. They are usualy seen walking the streets in various styles such as gothic lolita,Decora,or ganguro.

Now before reading this, you may have known the Harajuku girls as the four porcelain faced japanese girls in Gwen Stefanis "entourage". The Harajuku girls were hired in 2004, in efforts to promote gwens first solo album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby", which were the nicknames of the four asian backupdancers. They are known for their blank expressisons, zombie like poses, and in synch outburts of giggleing.On MTV's TRL, gwen said that she does not like talking about the girls because they are in fact a manisfestation of her imaginataion. Basically stateting, that they do not exist. This is apparently the reasoning behind why the four girls are always mindlessly following Gwens footsteps. But this is no excuse. Gwen is only using the Harajuku girls as her fashion accessories to catch the attention that she has been looking for. Although she has went out there, and tried something new, it has started more conflict then ever before. The way she has portrayed the Harajuju girls has given eevryone the idea that all people of japanese culture are like them. Many people of asian descent argue that" Gwen has taken a foreigh culture and regurgitated it as a form that is offensive to some who are japanese". What she has done with these girls is reinforce the stereotypes of japanese woman. To understand what these people feel, you must put yourself in their shoes. Picture yourself seeing an american music video with 4 canadian girls dancing around gwen stefani, wearing parkas and making maple syrup. Im sure you would not be too impressed either.

Now dont get me wrong, i am not saying that it was Gwens intention to be offensive, or that she is necessarily rascist. I just believe she did not think the entire situation through. I think you must understand a culture before you use it as your own. I have no doubt that she does not admire the harajuku or japanese culture, just that she was unaware that she may be offending the culture she admires. Its up to you, did Gwen really take the time to learn japanese culture?Or was it just to promote and build her image?

If you watch the video, you notice her saying "Gwen named me Angel.." With her saying this, it makes it sound like Angel is one of Gwens pets. Its like Gwen just got a new puppy for chirstmas, and names it whatever she wishes. Also, at the beginning of the video you notice that it is like Angel is completely admitting to be a figment of Gwens imagination.

"Gwen Stefani and Harajuku Girls." No Date. Online image. Nitrolicious. 13 Oct. 2007

Knight, Magda. Harajuku Girls - the heart of modern Japanese fashion. No Date. 13 Oct. 2007

Nugraha, Wihadrahitya. Harajuku Girls. 29 April. 2007. 13 Oct.2007