As the era in Japan has shifted from Heisei to Reiwa, new trends are emerging one after another.
This is also true in the world of "Gals".
As times change, the types of Gals have diversified, with various styles of makeup and fashion.
In this context, the gal fashion magazine "egg," once a favorite among Gals, made a comeback in the first year of Reiwa.
This has led to a renewed interest in Gals among young people.
In light of this, we've turned our attention to the "Reiwa Gals," who are creating a new Gal culture.
If you're wondering "What defines a Reiwa Gal?" or "Want to know more about Reiwa Gals," be sure to read on!
It's hard to form an image of what a "Reiwa Gal" is, isn't it?
When we think of Gals in their heyday, images of "blonde hair," "heavy makeup," and "Kuro Gals ()" come to mind. In addition, the concept of "Shiro Gals ()" also became established.
.Kuro Gals・・・ Refers to Gals who tan their skin, often using tanning salons. It's used as the antonym of "Shiro Gals," who do not tan their skin.
.Shiro Gals・・・ Refers to Gals who do not tan their skin and, instead, focus on maintaining a fair complexion. It's used as the antonym of "Kuro Gals," who tan their skin.
As the Gal boom gradually declined, and a preference for a more natural look rose, what exactly does it mean to be a Reiwa Gal?
In 2020 (Reiwa 2nd year), the Japanese TV program "ZIP!" on Nippon Television Network covered the theme of Reiwa Gals. Let’s delve into the "Definition of Reiwa Gals" introduced in the program.
These three elements define Reiwa Gals.
It's tempting to say that this definition includes almost everyone, from idols to people you see on the street💦
The latest trend among Reiwa Gals is to be a "neat and clean, sweet Gal" with a focus on a "naturally cute" look.
Source: "egg" web version, May 2020 issue
Publisher: Taio Books
Cover Models: Yuna Furukawa (left), Momo Ito (right)
"Dyed hair" is important for creating a sophisticated atmosphere and the image of a lively and playful Gal.
However, unlike the damaged hair often seen in previous generations of Gals, many now focus on having "bright hair with a glossy sheen," which is a distinctive characteristic.
"Colored contact lenses" are indispensable in Gal makeup. For the big-eye makeup look, colored contact lenses with a defined rim are a must!
Even for a natural Gal makeup style, the key is to use colored contact lenses rather than going with bare eyes.
For those who want a natural enhancement, natural-looking colored contact lenses that mimic the appearance of bare eyes are popular.
Looking into the colored contact lenses popular among Reiwa Gals, it was surprising to find that the colored contact lenses popular around 2010 are still highly favored today!
It seems that the concept of enhancing one's look with colored contact lenses remains unchanged from the past to the present.
"Nose bridge Makeup" refers to using nose shadow to make the carving of the nose appear deeper and using highlighter along the bridge of the nose to create a three-dimensional effect.
Just adding this to your makeup significantly increases the Gal vibe.
While these three elements are considered the "definition of a Gal," it doesn't necessarily mean that a "Reiwa Gal" must have all three.
For instance, there are many Gals with black hair, and most of these black-haired Gals tend to have heavier makeup.
Additionally, some might have light hair but opt for bare-eye makeup, or they might not always use nose bridge makeup.
Therefore, with the diversification of Gal styles, it has become more difficult to categorize someone as a Gal based solely on appearance.
With the appearance of Gals becoming significantly more neat and clean, it has become increasingly difficult to discern at a glance whether someone is a Gal or not. However, according to the editor-in-chief of the Gal magazine "egg," what’s more important than appearance is the "Gal mindset."
The Gal mindset is about enjoying what you feel is good and fashionable without being swayed by others’ opinions. It's about having fun with the fashion and styles you personally like and believe in.
"If you have your own uniqueness and a Gal mindset, it's okay to look neat and clean!" 😎✨
In other words, being a Reiwa Gal is defined by having a strong mindset: confidently embracing your favorite fashion and style, irrespective of others' opinions.
The Gals of the past were known for their "flashy makeup and hairstyles" and "highly revealing fashion."
Such appearances often led to negative perceptions, such as being "unserious," "unclean," "not accepted by men," and "seeming aggressive."
However, among Reiwa Gals, the trend is for "makeup that isn’t overdone and styles that convey a sense of cleanliness."
With less exaggerated makeup, Reiwa Gals are perceived as cleaner compared to their predecessors, leading to a more favorable and approachable impression. This is a defining characteristic of Reiwa Gals.
In addition to this, a high degree of freedom in style is also a key aspect.
Reiwa Gals fashion has a wide range of genres, from unique fashion to sweet, neat and clean, and sporty fashion.
Colored contact lenses are wide variety, from natural ones to flashy ones.
In terms of eye makeup, there seems to be a trend towards Reiwa Gals using eyelash extensions or enhancing their natural lashes, rather than relying solely on false lashes.
While heavy makeup emphasizing big eyes with false lashes was once synonymous with Gal makeup, now Gals enjoy a broader spectrum of makeup styles.
Regarding hair color, the range is impressive, from pink and blue to ash and black, indicating a rich expression of individuality.
It can be said that this unbounded style is emblematic of Reiwa Gals.
For Gals living in and around Tokyo during the Heisei era, Shibuya was considered a "sacred place," with many frequently visiting the area.
Even people without money visited Shibuya to meet people they knew. It was common for friends to spend a whole night in Center Gai, a popular area in Shibuya.
However, it's said that modern Gals no longer converge in Shibuya, the once 'sacred place' of Gals.
The main reasons for this change are as follows:
It's said that many of the Gals in the Reiwa era live in regional areas, making it difficult for them to gather daily in Shibuya like Gals did in the past.
In the modern era, with the widespread adoption of smartphones (SNS), it's possible to connect () easily with anyone, anywhere via social media.
As a result, Gals can communicate with friends (met online) regardless of location, reducing the need to specifically travel to Shibuya. This shift in communication methods has led to a decrease in the number of Gals gathering in Shibuya.
.Connecting via SNS… Refers to individuals with common interests becoming friends online,it involves mutually following each other.
In the past, there was an image that "Gals fashion = 109 brand () "and many Gals bought the latest trendy items at SHIBUYA109, and shopping at SHIBUYA109 was also a status symbol.
However, modern Gals are less brand-conscious, and it's more common now to opt for "affordable price" for trendy items that may only be worn for a single season. These items are often purchased from online shopping sites or flea market sites.
Don't worry about brands → Online shopping is also OK! →An increasing number of people are thinking that they don't need to go to Shibuya 109 to shop, which seems to be one of the reasons why Reiwa Gals don't flock to Shibuya.
.109 brands・・・Refers to the brands that have shops in Shibuya 109.
In the past, most information about Gals could only be obtained through magazines, and Gal clothing was predominantly purchased at specific stores like Shibuya 109.
However, with the continuous improvement of internet (SNS) environments in the modern era, many now believe that there's no need to visit Shibuya, the once-sacred place of Gals.
"Egg 2020 Spring Issue" (Released on 2020/3/2)
Publisher: Taiyo Books
Cover Models: Hitoe Koumura (left), Kirei Suzuki (center), Ayaka Ishiyama (right)
Although neat and clean Gals have become mainstream in the Reiwa era, the reissue of the Gal magazine "egg" has gradually increased the visibility of the nostalgically remembered Kuro Gals.
Among the new models of "egg," there are some who are continuing the legacy of the Heisei-era Kuro Gals, through their presence on SNS, are helping to reignite a Gal culture that was once thought to be on the brink of extinction.
Interestingly, Gals used to be classified based on their skin color, either as "Shiro Gals" or "Kuro Gals."
Nowadays, in addition to "Shiro Gals" and "Kuro Gals," there are Gals with a healthy skin tone (referred to as 'latte skin') who are known as "Latte Gals."
TikTok has become explosively popular among Reiwa Gals.
The popularity of TikTok has given rise to new Gal slang and trends.
Words like "Kyun-desu ()" and "yarirafi- ()," which ranked in the 2020 Gal Slang Awards, are a result of TikTok's influence.
.Kyun desu…"Kyun-desu" signifies a feeling of one's heart fluttering.
.Yarirafi-・・・"Yarirafi-" refers to someone being in a exciting state or someone who is very energetic. It can also be used to describe party people or those who are player.It is described as "Yarirafi- type".
@niziu_official #NiziU #RIMA #MIIHI #NINA #キュンです ♬ きゅんです - ひらめ
For Reiwa Gals, TikTok has become an indispensable tool in creating and spreading Gal culture.
The "Parapara" dance, which became a craze in the early Heisei period, is experiencing a resurgence among Reiwa Gals.
Charismatic Gal model "Rumiringo," also known as "Rumi Itabashi," along with the Gal models from Reiwa era magazines like "egg" and "nuts," and the four-member unit "REIWA PARAPARA DANCERS (RPD)," They are actively posting Parapara dance videos on TikTok and YouTube, and more Gals are enjoying dancing Parapara with their friends.
Particularly on TikTok, Cascada's "Bad Boy," a song that was popular for Parapara in the past, is currently trending big time!
Numerous videos of Gals dancing Parapara tagged with hashtags like "#badboy," "#BADBOY," and "#バッドボーイ" ("Bad Boy" in Japanese) are being posted.
"Body makeover" is garnering attention among Reiwa Gals.
During the Heisei era, there was a trend among Gals that the thinner one was, the cuter it was deemed, leading many to engage in extreme dieting.
However, nowadays, the focus seems to have shifted away from obsessing over numbers. More Gals are now interested in achieving a well-defined body through healthy weight loss methods like exercise and strength training.
This change is influenced by models active on television and SNS, who showcase their physically toned bodies, emphasizing that having well-defined muscles is healthier and more attractive than just being thin.
Additionally, the ease of doing workouts at home while following along with YouTube videos has The reason is to this trend.
"Loose socks" were a symbolic item of the 90s 'Kogal' (high school girls) style and are well-known as an iconic fashion element of that era.
Now, in the Reiwa era, these loose socks are gradually becoming a trend again among high school girls.
There are two main reasons for this resurgence:
As of Reiwa 3 (2021), many parents of current high school girls are in their 40s, belonging to the Kogal generation.
Consequently, it's likely that many of these parents wore loose socks during their own student days.
Girls these days are often on good terms with their mothers, and many of them take inspiration from their mothers' old school uniforms, and as a result, it is thought that “loose socks,” which were a popular item at the time.
In recent years, many people have been forced to adapt to a new normal due to the coronavirus pandemic.
High school students in the prime of their youth are one of them.
With classes shifting online, opportunities to wear school uniforms have decreased, and chances to create memories with friends have been limited.
Therefore, it's believed that high school girls are incorporating loose socks into their uniform styles as a precious item for memory-making during their student days.
While their style of wearing loose socks might differ from the Gal style of the 90s, it's heartening to see renewed interest in "loose socks," a classic Gal fashion item.
I've introduced the definition of Reiwa Gals, but it seems that there isn't a clear-cut definition.
Perhaps being a Reiwa Gal is about adhering to a style that is "free and uniquely one's own."
The original styles that emerge from this freedom are a unique charm of Reiwa Gals.
Looking ahead, it's certainly worth keeping an eye on the unrestrained and ever-evolving "Reiwa Gals."
