What is the jirai kei aesthetic?
Jirai Kei is a fashion aesthetic that contrasts soft looks with edgy ideals. The jirai kei aesthetic is popular in Japan and is all about wearing cute, frilly clothing in contrast to the more extreme sides of your personality. The jirai kei aesthetic is characterized by pink and black clothing, miniskirts, Sanrio accessories, bows, and ribbons paired with cigarettes and alcohol. This aesthetic is often seen as edgy and draws inspiration from gothic looks, but has been associated with dangerous things, like self-harm, mental illness, and a willingness to hurt yourself or others. In fashion, there is more of a focus on edginess with silver accessories, brooches, backpacks and exaggerated makeup. Women who participate in jirai kei are called Jirai Joshi, which translates to “landmine girls.” Men who participate in jirai kei are called Jirai Danshi, which translates to “landmine boys.”
Where does jirai kei come from?
Jirai Kei originated on the streets of Japan’s Kabukicho district. Jirai Kei was born among teen runaways in Japan’s Kabukicho district. These runaways, called the Toyoko Kids, are a criminal gang that’s active in the district. The aesthetic became popular in March 2020 when Japanese YouTuber SuReRo did a makeup challenge emulating the Jirai Kei style. The Toyoko Kids are often associated with drugs, sex work, and other illegal activities. The term “jirai” is used in Japan to insult women who are seen as overly-emotional and prone to mental breakdowns, akin to a landmine that explodes without warning. Jirai kei derives from the term “jirai onna,” which means “landmine woman.”
What does jirai kei makeup look like?
Jirai Kei makeup consists of strong blush, pale foundation, and under-eye eyeliner. Pale foundation and strong blush are used to convey a sense of sadness or illness, while the under-eye eyeliner (often called the “Jirai line” or “namida bukuro”) is used to exaggerate the puffiness of your eyes. Jirai kei lip makeup ranges from matte to glossy to sculpted to even. Dark circle lenses are often used to make the eyes look bigger. The makeup draws from the “pien” slang, which means to plead. “Namida bukuro” translates to “tear bag” in English.
What does jirai kei hair look like?
Jirai kei hair is characterized by Hime cut bangs and pigtails. The hime cut is a popular haircut in Japan, so it makes sense that it’s a staple in jirai kei. The hime cut is often paired with pigtails, which are styled high, low, or half-up, half-down depending on preference. The tails tend to be decorated with bows and ribbons while the ends tend to be curled. While the hair is usually black, blonde or pink highlights are often added, as brightly dyed hair is frowned upon in Japan.
How to Style Jirai Kei
For tops, wear blouses with Peter Pan collars and laced accents or oversized tees. The jirai kei aesthetic typically features blouses with Peter Pan collars – which are rounded collars that are laid to the shoulders, and cold-shoulders, ruffles, lace trim, puffed sleeves. Oversized tees with English text, anime prints, and Sanrio characters like Kuromi and My Melody are also common. To achieve the jirai kei look, wear blouses with lace accents or pair oversized graphic tees with zipper hoodies. Tops tend to be low quality due to the prominence of fast fashion among jirai kei enthusiasts. Wear detachable Peter Pan collars for a dynamic look. Wear a top with eyelets that you can lace ribbon through.
For bottoms, wear flared, trapezoid, or pleated miniskirts, shorts, or long skirts. Miniskirts are the most common type of bottoms in the jirai kei subculture. To pull off the jirai kei look, wear miniskirts that are flared, trapezoid, or pleated, and feature ruffles, ribbon lacing, and ruffled suspenders. If you’re not feeling miniskirts, wear long, flowy skirts or shorts. Wear black tops and pair them with a pink or white top.
Wear platform shoes, heavy boots, and lace or fishnet stockings. The most common shoes in the jirai kei subculture are platform loafers and multi-strapped mary jane heels. Wear these if you’re looking to rock the jirai kei look. Pair them with lace accents and lace or fishnet stockings to further complete the jirai kei look.
Accessorize with ribbons, bows, belts and chokers. The jirai kei style often consists of black, white or pink flowy ribbons and bows paired with subtle black chokers and belts with silver heart-shaped buckles. Jirai kei doesn’t feature a lot of other accessories, so get creative by tying bows to your pigtails or wrapping bows around your arms and neck. Add bow brooches with rhinestones to your top to spice up your look. The Vivienne Westwood orb chain is also popular, with jirai kei enthusiasts choosing to wear it in silver so it matches the black, pink, and white color palette.
Wear black and white nails with gems and 3D art. Nails help bring the jirai kei look together, so to further elevate your look, wear black, white, and pink nails with gems and 3D art. The art can be anything that is associated with the jirai kei aesthetic, but tends to be Sanrio characters or black gel wings, ribbons, and hearts.
Include a mini backpack to complete the look. Mini backpacks are essential for pulling off the jirai kei look. Wear a small pink or black MCM backpack with Sanrio plushies and keychains to pull off the jirai kei look. If you can’t get your hands on an MCM backpack, a mini backpack with Sanrio graphics and accessories also suffices.
Can men wear jirai kei?
Yes, men can wear jirai kei by utilizing dark, oversized clothing. Jirai kei isn’t gender specific. Men can participate in the aesthetic by wearing dark, oversized tops like sweaters, striped long-sleeves layered with t-shirts, dark skinny jeans, and oversized boots. Pair your outfit with silver accessories like chains and rings as well as mini backpacks and Sanrio keychains to complete the look.
Related Japanese Aesthetics
Mori Kei Mori kei is a Japanese fashion style that is inspired by nature and the aesthetic of the forest. It is characterized by earth tones like brown and green, layered clothing, and flowy accessories. Mori kei means forest style/forest type in English.
Menhera Menhera is a fashion aesthetic and Japanese subculture that is characterized by simple outfits with oversized graphic tops and short bottoms. It is paired with flat, casual shoes and typically consists of pastels, black, and white. Menhera style derives from the menhera art style, which is known as vent art, or art that is made with the purpose of venting your mental health frustrations. Menhera is a term that was made by Japan’s mental health community for those struggling with their mental health, while jirai kei is a term used to other people who are struggling with self-harm and drug and alcohol abuse.
Yami Kawaii Yami kawaii, or sickly cute, is a fashion style that pairs the cute elements of the kawaii aesthetic (like pink flowy skirts and pink hair) with medical visuals that make the wearer seem sickly. The aesthetic often features things like syringes, bandages, and other medical paraphernalia.
Jirai Kei Punk Jirai kei is a derivative of the jirai kei style that incorporates goth and punk elements. It typically consists of the same clothing as the regular jirai kei aesthetic, with the addition of ripped clothes and bondage pants. It also features spiked hair, studs, and safety pins. This aesthetic is heavy on skull and cross visuals, black wings, red tartan patterns, zippers and guitars.
Jirai Kei in Media
Jirai kei is a popular aesthetic in Japanese media. Although the jirai kei subculture isn’t accepted in Japan, there are many pieces of media that dress their characters in jirai kei fashion. Some of that media includes: Tomorrow, I’ll Be Someone’s Girlfriend: A television show that follows five traumatized rental girlfriends as they navigate life through their line of work. Cinderella Complex: A television show that follows Yosuke and Mai Aizawa, a teacher couple that seems absolutely perfect on the surface. When Yosuke cheats on Mai with Yura Maezono, a high school student who rocks the jirai kei style, Mai vows to take revenge on both of them. Android Dreams of a Jirai Kei Girl: This manga follows a woman who is saved by a jirai kei android as she plans to take her life. While the android appears to be safe and endearing, there seems to be more than meets the eye. A Love That Begins After Stepping On A Mine: This horrific manga follows a stressed salesman who’s at the end of his rope. When he meets a mysterious woman who seems to fully accept him, he welcomes her with open arms. But this may prove to bite him, because deep down, the woman is a monster.
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