What are gyaru? (About the Slang, Fashion and History of Japan's Gyaru/Gal) | Japan Station 157/Ichimon Japan 52
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
Release Date: 05/15/2025
WHICH is CORRECT? Funiki vs Fuinki (雰囲気) | Japan Station 165
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the Japanese word funiki (雰囲気) and other words that aren't read the way they are written. 👉Topics Discussed About the Japanese word funiki (雰囲気) What the correct way to read/pronounce funiki is Whether you should read funiki as fun'iki （ふんいき) or fuinki (ふいんき) Why so many people pronounce funiki incorrectly About words like manin (満員) and zenin (全員) and why people often pronounce them incorrectly/differently from how they are...
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Do Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners? | Japan Station 164/Ichimon Japan 02
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
This episode of Japan Station is a rebroadcast of episode two of Ichimon Japan. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Do Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners? Topics Discussed Whether Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners The idea that longer intestines are a result of the Japanese people having a diet centering around rice, grains, and vegetables The inconsistent details surrounding the idea that Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners Andy Raskin's quest to determine if Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners...
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The REAL Reason Japan doesn't have public TRASH CANS! They're LYING TO YOU! | Japan Station 163
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about why there's so few trash cans in public places in Japan. Despite what many sources say the 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo is not the reason there are so few trash cans in public places in Japan. It's actually more complicated than that. While yes, it is true that there was a reduction in the amount of trash cans in some places in Japan--particularly the subway line targeted by Aum Shinrikyo during the sarin gas attack--many of these trash cans were reinstalled some time after the attack. Further trash cans were not used during the attack itself....
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Why are vegetables so insulting in Japanese? | Japan Station 162/Ichimon Japan 14
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
This episode of Japan Station is a rebroadcast of Ichimon Japan episode 12. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why are vegetables so unsulting in Japanese? On this episode we are honored to once again be joined by Kyle Broyles of the Tokyo Splosion podcast and Hard Officers YouTube channel. Topics Discussed Some funny Japanese vegetable-based insults and their (supposed) etymologies What the term daikon ashi means Why daikon ashi is so insulting and reserved only for use on women The usage of the term "dumpling legs" What the term daikon yakusha means Why daikon...
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What is "PLUS ALPHA?" The Meaning & Origin of the Japanese term purasu arufa/プラスアルファ | Japan Station 161
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
On this episode of Japan Station, I break down what the Japanese term "plus alpha" (purasu arufa/プラスアルファ) means and its possible origins. 👉Topics Discussed What does "plus alpha" (purasu arufa/プラスアルファ) mean? How you use the Japanese term purasu arufa プラスアルファ The most popular etymology of the term of purasu arufa Real world examples of purasu arufa in use About what puramaizero means (プラマイゼロ) And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi https://patreon.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos,...
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The HISTORY of SUSHI (Dr. Eric C. Rath) | Japan Station 160
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
On this episode of Japan Station, Dr. Eric C. Rath joins us to talk all about the history of what may be Japan's most famous cuisine: SUSHI! We discuss its origins, evolution and more! 👉Topics Discussed Where sushi came from Fermented sushi The meaning of sushi Sushi's Chinese origins Shiga Prefecture's funazushi Sushi in the Edo period Sushi in Japan's post war period Sushi in modern times About sashimi About Kamipai: The History of Sake And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi https://patreon.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc....
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I'm Walking Across KYŪSHŪ! About the Kyūshū Challenge | Japan Station 159
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about my upcoming walk across the island of Kyushu. This fall I will be walking roughly 500 km from Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture all the way down to Kagoshima as part of what I'm calling the Kyushu Challenge, part three of my ongoing Blind Japan Project. Listen to find out more and please consider coming on as a sponsor or supporting in any way you can! 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge When I will be walking from Iwakuni to Kagoshima as part of the Kyushu Challenge About the Tokaido Challenge and Miyajima Challenge About raising...
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Japanese Street Merchant Slang: 10 Words from Japan's Edo Merchants | Japan Station 158
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about Japanese slang that traces its roots back to Edo and Meiji era street vendors. We're digging into the origins of words like deka, mappo, and even the infamous yabai. 👉Topics Discussed The etymology/origins of 10 words that trace their origins back to the Edo and Meiji Periods About the meaning and origins of sakura (サクラ) About the origins of deka (でか) About the origins of posharu (ぽしゃる) About the origins of mappo (まっぽ) About the origins...
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What are gyaru? (About the Slang, Fashion and History of Japan's Gyaru/Gal) | Japan Station 157/Ichimon Japan 52
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
This episode of Japan Station is a re-broadcast of episode 52 of Ichimon Japan. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are gyaru? Topics Discussed What the term gyaru/gal means/refers to About the word gyaru How the word gyaru was used in Dragonball by Master Roshi What a kogyaru/kogal is About the singer Namie Amuro and her role in popularizing the gyaru subculture About Ayumi Hamasaki's influence on the gyaru subculture About the supposed but unconfirmed connection between the gyaru subculture and the American TV show Baywatch, as well as Pamela Anderson...
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Telling Time in the Edo Period! Obscure Japanese Vocabulary & Etymology | Japan Station 156
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture and Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about vocabulary and phrases related to telling time during the Edo Period! This is a surprisingly deep and interesting topic no matter whether you're learning Japanese or not! 👉Topics Discussed What does oyatsu mean? (おやつ) What the origin of the word oyatsu is About the Edo Period time system How to tell time during Japan's Edo Period The names of the time divisions used during the Edo Period What does shirokujichū (四六時中) means The etymology/origin of the word shirokujichū (四六時中) What...
info_outlineThis episode of Japan Station is a re-broadcast of episode 52 of Ichimon Japan.
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are gyaru?
Topics Discussed
- What the term gyaru/gal means/refers to
- About the word gyaru
- How the word gyaru was used in Dragonball by Master Roshi
- What a kogyaru/kogal is
- About the singer Namie Amuro and her role in popularizing the gyaru subculture
- About Ayumi Hamasaki's influence on the gyaru subculture
- About the supposed but unconfirmed connection between the gyaru subculture and the American TV show Baywatch, as well as Pamela Anderson
- About the iconic "loose socks" (lūzusokkusu)
- About E.G. Smith, the supposed origin of loose socks
- An interesting linguistic quirk about the Japanese term for "loose socks"
- About ganguro and yamanba gyaru and their dark tans
- About ageha gyaru
- The connection between gyaru, eurobeat and parapara
- What eurobeat is
- What parapara is
- Contemporary gyaru
- What gyarugo is
- Examples of popular gyaru slang
- What karipaku means
- What MK5 means
- What ChōSW means
- What sumisu means
- What ATM means
- What gachi means
- What agepoyo/sagepoyo mean
- What doron means
- What tehepero means
- What gekiokopunpunmaru means
- And much more!
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If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha.
And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance!
Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.
Here are some of the Japanese language articles found when researching the topic of this episode.
- ヤマンバ、イベサー、ガングロ…ギャル・ギャル男はどこに消えたのか？ 【 「ギャル文化」と「渋谷」をめぐる歴史を紐解く】
- ギャル文化特集～ギャルの歴史と生態～
- This is the article that has the illustrations of the gyaru that Ryan mentions during the episode.
- ガングロ
- ギャル系ファッションとは。ブランドと歴史【イラスト＆図解
- アラサーしかわからない！？90年代のギャル語クイズ
- 歴代ギャル流行語大賞／年代流行
Here's some of the English language sources read for this episode.
Here's a Japanese documentary about gyaru. Definitely worth a watch if you understand Japanese.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aunp-hOLNc
In this video you can see the 150 cm long loose socks that were mentioned in the episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e-iaDIOpR8
Here's a TV from 1996 about loose socks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUiGLAXNamo
Here is a video from 2020 in which a Japanese YouTuber tries to get girls in Shibuya to put on loose socks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DokhMaT3MeE
To check out the "snakes in a well" episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.
Don't forget to check out the latest episodes of the Japan Station podcast via the links below.
Support the show by picking up a t-shirt at KimitoDesigns.com.
Japanese Vocabulary List
Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.
- Pichipichi
- ぴちぴち (adv-to,vs) (1) (on-mim) bursting with youth and energy (esp. young woman); vivaciously young; spunky; energetic; (adv-to) (2) (on-mim) (fish) jumping around energetically (e.g. when caught in a net); (adj-no) (3) (on-mim) bursting (e.g. seams); tight; (adv-to) (4) (on-mim) splattering (e.g. cooking oil)
We Want Your Questions
Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected].
Special Thanks
Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)
Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.