Monden introduces this cultural study with an overview of the historical and contemporary role of fashion in Japanese culture, particularly as intertwined with gender. Present attitudes toward
masculine fashion are then covered first, discussing the “under gaze” position of young Japanese men, strikingly similar to Western women, and the fusion of styles contributing to the new
boyish aesthetic. Chapters on feminine fashion discuss the concept of kawaii and its role in giving young women a presentation of asexuality or eroticism, as well as the role of dress in
presenting or confounding androgyny. A short chapter describes the scholastic “Ivy style” for both men and women before the author concludes with a summary of the complexities of Japanese
current fashion. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
