take on a unique range of paths and feelings. It is up to you to develop your own style that is unique to your worldview. There are many different styles of visual kei! Here are a few: Neo-Visual Kei Blends traditional Japanese styles with punk sensibilities. Example: X-Japan. Kurofuku Kei Involves suits and/or all black clothing assembled in a sleek style. Example: BUCK-TICK.
Eroguro Kei Involves bloody wounds and the use of shock tactics in videos. Examples: GazettE.
Nega,
early
Angura Kei Focuses more on Japanese traditionalism with the use of kimono and traditional Japanese instruments. Examples: Kagrra, Kiryu. Shironuri Kei
“Fashionable” style, with very colorful outfits with often clashing prints and lyrics/ music that don’t necessarily fit the image.
Focuses on childhood through school uniforms with white faces and dark/red eyes and lips. Has recently had a resurgence without school uniform. Many bands go through a Shironuri Kei phase.
Example: An Café.
Nagoya Kei
Koteosa Kei A dark version of Oshare Kei that involves black clothing with a clash of pink leopard print or other bright print/ color.
Focuses more on natural styles based on Western punk like leather jackets. Fans focus more on the music than the style. Bands who are from Nagoya are not always Nagoya Kei.
Example: LM.C.
Examples: lynch, Kuroyume.
Iryou Kei
Shibuya Kei
Involves wearing things related to the medical field but more grotesque, like bloody lab coats or eye patches.
Mix between jazz, pop, and electro-pop, with over-thetop, bright, high-contrast costumes. Usually features female vocalists.
Oshare Kei
Example: Sex Android. Kote Kei The most classic visual kei style. Pairs elaborately colored hair with elaborate costumes in both colors. 28
Examples: SHOW-YA, early Dir en grey, Due le Quartz, Phantasmagoria.
ARTS & CULTURE
Examples: Perfume, Buffalo Daughter. Soft Visual Kei Opposite of Kote Kei; lighter
...members h off to their ow endeavors, s performance rock band DE shows, mode poetry, and a image and makeup, and softer tone in music. Examples: L’Arc~en~Ciel, early GLAY. Special thanks to Ali Watson for her consultation and contribution of photographs to this piece. Ali Watson is the Site Coordinator and contributor for JRockRevolution. Ali has since ventured into other arenas pertaining to music, including concert p h oto g ra p hy, d e s i g n i n g official artist merchandise, bridging opportunities for artists in movies and video games, and artist representation. Check Ali out! K Dunaway is a Japan-based artist, writer, and concert photographer. Her passion is blending art with music. You can often find K at a variety of shows across Japan, lurking about in her house wondering why every black clothing item she owns is a different shade, or at local record shops searching for the best New Wave or Punk record. Check K out!