Harajuku Girls

Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku girls have been getting lots of lip service lately, and I have to say I am confused.

I like Gwen Stefani, she’s alright. She is very stylish and has a nice voice and a really flat stomach. She is a rock star, and quite good at it. I am always impressed by her platinum hair and her incredibly organized steamer trunks. She keeps all her wristbands in separate zip-lock bags. I too have lots of nice things, but they are all getting moth eaten and mashed together in a pile on my closet floor. I could never understand the concept of a pair: of shoes, gloves, stockings, earrings, hearts, whatever. How can you possibly keep two separate and entirely whole things together in the crazy whirling world we live in? Anyway, Gwen manages to do it all with great panache.

Now she has 4 things all together, the Harajuku Girls. I want to like them, and I want to think they are great, but I am not sure if I can. I mean, racial stereotypes are really cute sometimes, and I don’t want to bum everyone out by pointing out the minstrel show. I think it is totally acceptable to enjoy the Harajuku girls, because there are not that many other Asian people out there in the media really, so we have to take whatever we can get. Amos ‘n Andy had lots of fans, didn’t they? At least it is a measure of visibility, which is much better than invisibility. I am so sick of not existing, that I would settle for following any white person around with an umbrella just so I could say I was there.

It is weird being Asian American right now, because I don’t exactly know what my place is. America is supposed to be for everyone, and people are supposed to treat me like I belong here, and yet you would never know that from watching tv or movies. I still get the questions about where I am really from. Then when I try to explain this feeling of invisibility to those whose every move and moment is entirely visible, they come back at me with, “Maybe Asian Americans don’t want to be in entertainment!” Yes he really said that. I just screamed, because there was no other way I could answer without hitting him.

Even though to me, a Japanese schoolgirl uniform is kind of like blackface, I am just in acceptance over it, because something is better than nothing. An ugly picture is better than a blank space, and it means that one day, we will have another display at the Museum of Asian Invisibility, that groups of children will crowd around in disbelief, because once upon a time, we weren’t there.

92 thoughts on “Harajuku Girls

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  2. I mean, Margaret Cho, rich coming from you as a Korean, who are famous at trying to steal Chinese culture, and a society who was warned by the UN for being extremely racist. I met Koreans in grad school, and hands down they were the most racist, supremacist people I’ve ever encountered. Oh, and go lose some weight you ugly pig. Stefani (Italian) us of a much richer culture than your racist lot.

      • How is that racist? The majority of Koreans are absolutely racist and empirical in nature, snubbing their nose and “lesser” individuals if they’re not as well-to-do. Save your de facto racist label for those who deserve it, not those merely pointing out facts. You’re clearly a leftist with zero clue about Korean culture.

        • That is correct. Koreans are known to be some of the most hateful intolerant racist people on the planet, as is their government. They recently required ALL foreigners to take covid tests within 2 weeks as they are being scapegoated for the pandemic in that country. MEANWHILE it was spread by South Korean church goers who came from Wuhan China.

  3. Sounds like it’s hitting a historical anger with you! I’m wondering what does it all mean to you for a white person to show interest in a different culture today? Not to mention, that from what I understand it doesn’t even concern you, as you’re Korean, and Harajuku is Japanese!

  4. Dear Margret:
    I think it’s really convenient for you to low key hate on Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku girls. I understand your feeling of invisibility, however, many of us worship Geishas and Harajuku and anything Asian. So intead of seeing Gwen Stefani as white try to see her as human. Then appreciate the fact tht she put thise Asian women dancers on stage with her and gave them jobs. You are so cool and we love you too. How can Margret Cho feel invisible? I get it though…

    • ‘worshipping’ Asians sounds a lot like fetishization of a race which isn’t very good. And when the one other aspect of Asian culture that you seem to appreciate besides Harajuku fashion (which is what this post is about) is geishas, than yeah your appreciation of Asians is definitely based in some harmful stereotypes.

  5. I remember when this came out and it was cringy even then. Do many of you realize the girls BY CONTRACT were NOT allowed to speak english(Even though they were supposedly fluent.) and simply were background props that simpered and giggled? Gwen wanted to maintain the “mystery of the Orient”..THATS some F-ed Up S–T. And then selling their likenesses as dolls, prints, I would bet that none received a cut of the profits from the sales. Yeah Gwen-y B, thats Cultural Appropriation.

    • “I would bet that none received a cut of the profits from the sales”. Blind and groundless accusations are completely worthless. You should probably post less without factual data to support your claims. Credibility doesn’t look to be one of your values.

    • Yeah, they all spoke English just fine but to be ‘mysterious’ they weren’t allowed to. Not to mention Gwen’s appropriation of Native and Black culture too

  6. UGH can you get a life?? Stop wearing ANY western inspired fashions or using western inventions or you are a hypocrite. THE INTOLERANT LEFT REALLY SERIOUSLY SUCKS

  7. Ever notice it is ONLY the Americanized ones who have a problem with something so ridiculous like this?? Like that loser chinese american guy who had a problem with a white girl wearing an asian inspired dress to her prom. GET A LIFE

  8. Dear Mrs,

    There is no Japanese school uniform given that it comes from France, my country, through Western marines who went in your country and brought the French fashion. You’re free to continue to use your school uniform in Japan, but if you try to attack others about cultural appropriation, one day or another you’ll be judged too for this.

    We have pictures of French school uniform enough old so stop to incite hatred in the world.

    Regards,

    Dom

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