Kogal fashion and lifestyle: A primer By Eimi Graham August 11, 2004 I've heard that some Japanese women wearing kogal fashion have been mistaken as prostitute while traveling to foreign countries. For those of you who do not know what kogal fashion is, here is a primer. Like many other countries, Japanese schoolgirls (and boys too) have to wear a uniform (School Girl Costume). Considering that we are such a homogeneous society, this is perfectly acceptable in our society. In addition to that, since Japan is so small, the schools all over the country have pretty much the same uniform. For girls, it is a white sailor blouse, a skirt (though it has gotten shorter over the years despite efforts of schools to manage the hemline), black shoes, and what in Japan are known as ‘loose socks’ (white socks that are so loose at the top that they have to held in place by using all sorts of innovative mechanisms). You also have to know that Japanese high school is almost an all-day affair so you will find Japanese schoolgirls in their outfits late in the evening as they return home after attending cram schools. No wonder Japanese men, tired and drunk after work, fantasize about schoolgirls on the train ride home. By no standards, however, this dress can be called sexy. During last two decades or so, the media has somehow created an image of the Japanese girl in her sailor uniform as a sex object. The adult films and magazines will have innumerable pictures of schoolgirls. In fact, Japanese idols (much older than any schoolgirls) will often dress up in schoolgirl outfits to satisfy the fetishes of their fans. Another parallel trend is the manner in which Japanese schoolgirls have started dressing during their off-school hours. They will wear the skimpiest outfits (tank tops that barely cover the top, micro-mini skirts so short that the panties can be seen peeking, fishnet tights, and ridiculously high heels, complemented by blonde hair and expensive designer accessories). This has led to emergence of fashion and lifestyle loosely described as kogal (which means high school girl in Japanese). I was under the impression that this was a very Japanese phenomenon. However, I am now learning that being dressed in kogal style, which is considered sexy and provocative in Japan but not unacceptable, can actually be dangerous in other countries. A Japanese woman was recently traveling in a foreign country. She went out for dinner and when she got back to the hotel, the hotel employee at the gate told her not to come in. She explained to the employee that she was staying at the hotel, but the employee didn't believe her. Another man helped her out of this situation, so that she could finally get into the hotel after some embarrassing moments. The man explained to her that the employee first thought the woman was a prostitute. The woman was reportedly wearing a purple camisole and a purple mini skirt. Many homepages about traveling to foreign countries say that kogal fashion (including mini skirts, platform shoes, halter tops and fishnet stockings) may confuse many people that the person using them is a prostitute. A man who traveled to Europe said he saw prostitutes there that dress similar to Japanese kogal. I have been mistaken as a prostitute too. It was an extremely scary experience to me. I was traveling to the United States. I was shopping at a mall at night dressed in a sexy outfit (something that no one in Japan would even notice) but definitely not what a prostitute would wear. I was wearing a blue halter-top, a blue mini skirt, pin heeled sandals (the heel is about 10cm or 2 inches high), had a Louis Vuitton handbag and I was also wearing the usual make-up. A man came close to me and he asked me "How much?" I told him I wasn't a prostitute but he didn't believe me. He forced me to get into his car and he began to tell me how badly he wanted to have sex. His voice sounded like he was sexually excited. He also began telling me how much his body was ready for sex (physically). Then he began masturbating in front of me. After he masturbated, fortunately my cell phone rang so I was able to call my friend and make my friend pick me up. I was totally freaked out and really scared, so I didn't tell my friend about this. I guess I am learning that despite the United States being such a modern country, Japanese tourists have to be very careful since it is still a rather puritan society when it comes to real America. I saw that women in the US dress rather conservatively (skirts are still long, fishnet tights are practically unknown, and no one seems to take liberty with their styles – exceptions exists but they are really few). I am however curious to hear from other people who might have similar experiences or thoughts to share. Copyright 1999-2004, AsianSexGazette.com.  All rights reserved.  No content may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.  Please contact us via the link below for re-print and syndication policies.

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