In Japanese culture, Kogal refers to the members of the Gyaru subculture who are still in high school and who incorporate their school uniforms into their dress style. These high school girls are characterized by the typical bleached hair, make-up, shortened skirts, and wearing of loose socks. The word kogal is anglicized from kogyaru, a contraction of kōkōsei gyaru.
Japanese idol girl group AKB48 performs in kogal uniforms.
Mirai Suenaga, a mascot for Japan tourism, is dressed in a kogal summer school uniform.
Image: 制服 (5346443876)
Image: Japanese gyaru loosesocks feb 7 2013
Gyaru pronounced [ɡʲa̠ꜜɾɯ̟ᵝ], is a Japanese fashion subculture. The term gyaru is a Japanese transliteration of the English slang word gal. The initial meaning as a Japanese slang word during the Showa era was similar to the English meaning and referred to a young woman in her late teens to twenties. In the early Showa period, the term Gyaru was also used in a mocking manner towards young women with a "frivolous" lifestyle.
A photo shooting featuring Shibuya style Gyarus with both pale and tan skin at Ikebukuro in 2009
Shibuya 109 in 2006
An example of a Kogal with hair and makeup typical for the mid to late 1990s. This type also falls under Ganguro due to the strong tan.
Examples of a Yamanba and Gyaru during the early 2000s
