YAMANBA!!!

One of the things that is so fascinating about Japan is the outrageous youth culture. We know about Harajuku girls for instance. But there are tons of other weird subcultures, tribes almost, particularly among girls. They are so noticeable because they seem to adhere so religiously to the fashions prescribed by their "tribe". I really enjoy spotting these groups and classifying them. heehee. Different areas of Tokyo are good for spotting different groups, as is the case in most cities. Though there are tons of subcultures to discuss, today I think we will focus on my personal favorite: the Yamanba.

These are Yamaba.

I saw pics of these girls in magazines around, but I had never seen one up close. Then yesterday, in Shibuya (a yamanba mecca) i saw a real one! You should have seen me when i saw a real yamanba!! The subculture peeked around 2000 and there are supposed to be no more yamanbas, so when i saw one I got really excited! I turned to my Japanese friend as we were passing her, walking threw Hachiko crossing and i said "Jenny look, a Yamanba!! I want my picture with her!" Jenny pushed me forward, hurrying me along without a word. Yamanbas are scary girls I guess.

I did some research online and found out about why they are called yamanbas. Its really interesting. The where giving that name because they resemble a character in Japanese folk lore called "yamauba". Stories about yamauba are a common theme in Noh theater. A Yamauba is a mountain crone often portray with a large moth and an ugly face, she has wild white hair and a tattered old (usually red) kimono. She is often a character in Noh plays (plays performed where the actors where masks) who prays upon travelers. She tricks them in various ways and then eats them. She can change form, often making herself look like a beautiful young girl or a helpless old lady and can animate her hair sometimes using it to grab her victims, pulling them into her nest of hair. She is like a female boogie man sort of.


(This is what a yamauba looks like when she is depicted in a Noh play.)

The fashion yamanbas of today are a spin off of the ganguro girl. Ganguro girls have tans and bleach their hair, they were bright clothes and platform shoes and crazy fake nails. The yamamba wear all of this stuff tooo, but they have crazy messed up hair usually and awful make-up (what is referred to as "panda" make-up) and intense tans.They are known to be dangerous girls who would maybe pull a knife on you or something, and they are also supposed to have bad hygiene (whatever that means, we can only guess).


Well there is my lil japanese culture lesson of the day. Out comes the sociologist in me.