Japanese girls go sexier in their fashion styles

It was really hot this past summer and we’re not just talking about the temperatures. Shukan Post spotted some hot-looking women in the skimpiest of fashions, some of which looked little more than underwear. Nonfiction writer Yuzu Yamashita reports on the trend.

“I can’t help staring at girls wearing short skirts and low-cut tops, whenever I am on a crowded train,” admits a businessman in his 50s. “But when I do, they soon glare at me in anger. I think it’s unfair for them to react that way as long as they expose themselves that much.”

Asking these “sexy girls” in places like Shibuya and Shinjuku who they dress for, most answer: “Nobody,” “For myself,” “I wear such clothes just because I like that brand” and “I’ve never thought I’m wearing clothes for someone else.” The most typical answer is: “I dress this way because it makes me feel good.”

One girl in her 20s says, “I chose this look because it’s cute. I don’t even pay attention to whether anyone is staring at me or not,” while a 26-year-old woman says, “I like to show off both my fashion and body line. I take care of myself and make sure I don’t get fat. What I would tell younger girls is that you can express yourself through fashions like this.”

Of course, many girls are aware of being ogled at by men. A teenage girl says, “Middle-aged guys often look at me. Some of them turn around toward me for a long look, which is irritating. But I have learned to basically ignore those guys.”

Maybe some people worry that these girls might become victims of sex crimes, or get groped on trains. In fact, they say they rarely encounter such cases. One girl says, “Gropers hesitate to approach girls who dress this sexy because it’s too aggressive for them. They tend to target more conservatively dressed girls.”

“Lingerie concierge” Mai Otorii analyzes the phenomena by saying, “Talking about lingerie has been a sort of taboo even among women. It’s quite recent that lingerie is focused on as a fashion.” She adds that the fashion styles of celebrities in Hollywood have changed the concept of lingerie.

It is not only Hollywood; Japanese celebrities have also made sexy lingerie fashion more acceptable in society. For example, singer Kumi Koda, who is known to be “sexy and cool,” and Ayumi Hamasaki are “role models for fashion, which is not too high a bar for everyone,” says a 19-year-old girl. Other celebrities who accentuate their big breasts on TV programs, such as Aki Hoshino, are being more accepted by many people as fashionistas.

Otorii concludes: “I think it’s OK for young girls to try such fashions as long as it goes well with them. But they should know their bodies properly, such as shape and size, and what looks good on them.”

In her research, Yamashita also gauged the reaction of fathers. One middle-aged man says, “I don’t think I can stop my daughter from wearing sexy clothes. But I’d like to tell her how guys feel about such fashions.” Another man says, “If I tell my daughter to stop wearing such skimpy clothes, it would be the end of communication with her at home.” (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

Latest 15 of 86 Total Comments Show All

seesaw at 08:22 PM JST - 7th October

...hmmm...in my opinion...most of girls here dress like prostit tes.....lol
seesaw at 08:22 PM JST - 7th October

I mean the Japanese girls...
NuckinFutz at 07:22 AM JST - 8th October

There is a fine line between SEXY and SLUTTY! Most of the Japanese girls I tend to notice (who can't help but notice!) are opting more for the slutty hooker look. They shouldn't complain when men stare (or even ask "how much?")
DenshaDeGO at 01:01 PM JST - 8th October

The reason all these girls show off their bodies is because they have absolutely nothing else to show off.
sonnoujoui at 01:02 AM JST - 9th October

Cant understand why some guys here complain about the girls wearing sexy clothes. I am a MAN and I admit I like to see that - better than those fat western girls that walk around. Anyway, if those j-girls wear sexy clothes they cant complain when men are looking. I sure do!
SiouxGirl at 01:35 AM JST - 9th October

Any other girls representing here? Don't listen to what anyone else says - if a girl's showing off her breasts or bottom, tummy or legs, it's because she wants you to look. She wants to get as many looks as she can and it (pathetic, but yes) contributes to her self-esteem. Send her out for the day in a sweatshirt and sweatpants and she'll be depressed and crabby as all hell (because no one's looking at her butt). I can't believe there are no pics with this story ...
ambrosia at 10:46 AM JST - 9th October

sonnoujoui: So is it fat girls in general that you don't like looking at or Western girls? If it's fat girls then why not just say that because there are plenty of them here, they've apparently just missed your discerning eyes.

SiouxGirl: You're absolutely right. The woman in the story is a total contradiction anyway. She says she doesn't care if anyone is looking at her and in the same breath adds that she likes to "show off" her fashion and body line. Well, if you want to show off them you do care what other people think so it's just ridiculous to pretend otherwise.

And what the hell is a "body line" anyway? Can we just say figure and leave it at that?
n3312 at 12:52 PM JST - 9th October

Just had a thought...

Does this include women who are underdressed and yet makes a fuss about covering their behinds when climbing stairs? If they're so conscious about someone seeing the inside of their skirt, they should wear longer skirts instead.

If you wear revealing clothes, don't complain if they work.
seesaw at 06:17 PM JST - 9th October

n3312:...lol..I saw one example this morning as I was coming to work. yea...why be so conscious....the men purposedly waited for her to climb the stairs first...:)
SiouxGirl at 05:16 AM JST - 10th October

one exception - if it's incredibly hot during summer, wearing shorts and a string bikini stop is a matter of survival when you have to leave air conditioning. Men still look. They're men. And the woman who's wearing a short skirt, climbing stairs and scolding the guys about looking - after work with her friends she's saying, "All the guys look at my butt!" And she's loving it. Trust.
seesaw at 10:25 PM JST - 10th October

yea...i think so too S'Girl! those girls r professional pretenders...
Zolt at 01:12 PM JST - 17th October

It is a fine line between an appreciative look and a pervy stare, or between a flattering comment and harrassment, but a line that a gentleman should know how to walk. ("How much?" is harrassment no matter what!)

As a rule of thumb for most girls, if the one doing the staring is a good looking, confident man, it's not staring. If it's a balding nerd, call the cops!
rezzoro at 05:26 PM JST - 20th October

If was dressed only in leopard loincloth riding on trains and some middle aged sexfiend obasan grabbed my hamster, it's all my fault. I couldn't blame them for losing their contro. So, it works both ways, girls shouldn't dress like that and expect to not get any glares or a little groping here and there.
Blue_Tiger at 01:15 PM JST - 21st October

Why am I not surprised by the fathers' comments that they don't want their daughters dressing skimpily, but do nothing for fear of losign the relationsahip or communication? Could it be that these girls are dressing this way for attention, because Dad isn't giving them much at home? I understand the heat and humidity issue, but some of the things I saw girls wearing (and I mean girls, as in upper elementary and junior high girls) when I went to Tokyo to teach were more than just clothing to beat the heat.

Bottom line: girls in Japan will always be regarded stereotypically as easy, in large part due to the way that they dress. Dress like a hooker, expect to be treated like one.
Cortasaurus at 03:50 AM JST - 22nd October

if the girls dont want to be stared at-- dont wear such slutty clothes for people to look at... idiots >_>