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Visual
kei (ヴィジュアル系,
vijuaru kei?,
literally "visual style")
refers to a movement in Japanese popular culture characterized by
the use of eccentric, sometimes flamboyant looks. This usually
involves striking make-up, unusual hair styles and elaborate
costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgyny or
distinctively feminine or bishōnen aesthetics.
These looks have
enjoyed popularity especially in Japanese music, ranging from
independent underground projects to artists achieving mainstream
success, with similarities to and influences from European and
American genres like new wave, punk and glam rock. Magazines
published regularly in Japan with a visual kei focus include Arena
37°C, Fool's Mate and Shoxx. Noted bands who at
least at some point sported a visual kei theme include Dir en grey,
MUCC, and Rentrer en Soi.
Popularity and
awareness of such groups outside of Japan is rather sparse, but has
seen an increase in recent years. While the popular X Japan launched
an attempt to enter the international market as early as 1992, it
would still take another decade until live concerts and regular
domestic releases by visual kei bands in Europe and North America
came to pass.
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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