Yamamba!
In Japan, a Yamamba is a ghost or an evil spirit. This is the name that most Japanese people use when they refer to a certain type of girl. First of all, these girls are EVERYWHERE, especially in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka. In all my travels, I have never seen anything like them. When I first got to Japan I was shocked to see so many young highschool and university girls wearing very short miniskirts, huge boots, and painted with makeup. But when I began asking my students at the senior highschool where I teach what all the fuss was about, they explained the secret of the Japanese Yamamba to me. It was really fascinating. First of all, about ninety percent of the girls who are classified as Yamamba are covered in sparkles and have bleached blond hair. They also frequent the tanning salons up to four times a week!in order to have very dark skin. Now, from what I understand, there are different types of Yamambas, usually classified by the amount of makeup they paint on. For instance, a high school girl called a 'Garu' usually does not wear so much makeup; however, a Yamamba would paint her WHOLE face with white makeup and flashy lip stick..
They also wear massive fake eyelashes. They dress in very short skirts or revealing cloths (always showing their legs) and wear massive platform boots and shoes. They sometimes wear what I refer to as 'hooker' boots that lace up to the top of their knees and have huge heels. I read an article in Japan Times that the amount of ankle injuries has increased ten-fold since these shoes were introduced to the Japanese fashion world. Their purpose, it seems, is to congregate in large groups and hang around train stations and video arcades. There are video arcades everywhere in Japan that sell what we call in English PRINT CLUBS. These are small digital picture stickers that these girls collect and trade with their friends. As you can see by the pictures, their uniforms are all pretty much the same. Everything is brandname from Gucci, to handbags from Paris. They seem to be very colourful individuals. If they are not at the video arcades, they are ALWAYS shopping. They spend huge amounts of money on clothes and makeup to fit their appearance. Dress is of the utmost importance, because for them to be seen is what it is all about. The most important media tool for these young women is in Japanese called a 'k-tie', or what we refer to as a cell phone. Every single girl has one and they always send text messages and use their phones to speak to their friends. In terms of rights of passage, you need money to be a part of the Yamamba scene. It seems everything is centered around money.
For instance, the Yamaba perform a kind of ritual dance called the para para. In Tokyo there are expensive nightclubs where these girls congregate and practice their para para. This type of dance uses hand movements and steps to Japanese j-pop songs. Each para para song has its own steps and movements, kind of like a mutated Macarana. When they are dancing, every one of the girls follows the steps together all at the same time. I'm telling you, it's a sight to behold! Now, getting a little more serious, I would like to talk about the education system in Japan. I teach at a very high level highschool. Usually highschool kids in Japan wear uniforms to school. However, at my school they do not (which is quite rare). There are no Yamamba at my school, just a few Garu. It seems that most Yamamba attend lower level schools in terms of education. These are for students who will not be going to University. Some of my other English teaching friends work at these lower level schools. They tell me that Yamamba usually sleep in school and really don't care what is going on around them. If they are awake, they are usually disturbing the class by speaking very loudly. Some lower level schools actually allow cell phones in the school, and Yamamba sometimes talk on them in class! My students tell me that Yamamba are what we might stereotypically refer to as 'dumb blondes' or 'airheads.' But I tend to disagree. When I am on the train or in a large urban center and a group of Yamamba come on, they are always very loud, giggling, yelling, and creating havoc. It's important for them to stand out, or rebel against the formal way to do things in Japan. Which is very rare. It seems they are a kind of outcast by the rest of Japanese society, kind of a joke or something to laugh at. They are quite alone in their world. For instance, I have never seen a plain-looking girl hanging around with a Yamamba before. In Japan, highschool life is culturally mainstream. It isn't cool to be different. But the Yamamba are.
Life isn't all that it is made to be. Outside of the glitz and glamour of Yamamba life, there is a very dark world. For example, sex is seen quite differently in Japan. First of all, high school kids are not allowed to have part time jobs. If a teacher finds out, they could get in big trouble. Highschool is a time for study, not play. In order to keep up with their lifestyles, high school girls need HUGE amounts of money. Japan is such a materialistic society. In the news, there are always stories of Japanese businessmen being caught paying for sex from highschool girls. There is even a word in Japanese: these men are referred to as ero gigi (dirty old man). But this is not necessarily seen as a horrible thing. Just disgraceful. Most of these men would never spend time in jail. It is just a part of life. Moreover, this is not just a problem with Yamamba but all highschool girls in Japan. Finally, it seems that no real hierarchy between the Yamamba exist. They are bound by strength in numbers, always together in groups. There is also a type of Japanese slang or speech that is used between the girls (that I have yet to figure out). I had a difficult time finding out what goes on. Everyting in Japan is never what it seems. Because of my communication problem or lack of Japanese, I have never really met a Yamamba. Hopefully, my study will continue in the future. But in the end, if you ever decide to come to Japan, to visit or work, be prepared for the weird and wonderful Yamamba!
/Love, Valentin
They also wear massive fake eyelashes. They dress in very short skirts or revealing cloths (always showing their legs) and wear massive platform boots and shoes. They sometimes wear what I refer to as 'hooker' boots that lace up to the top of their knees and have huge heels. I read an article in Japan Times that the amount of ankle injuries has increased ten-fold since these shoes were introduced to the Japanese fashion world. Their purpose, it seems, is to congregate in large groups and hang around train stations and video arcades. There are video arcades everywhere in Japan that sell what we call in English PRINT CLUBS. These are small digital picture stickers that these girls collect and trade with their friends. As you can see by the pictures, their uniforms are all pretty much the same. Everything is brandname from Gucci, to handbags from Paris. They seem to be very colourful individuals. If they are not at the video arcades, they are ALWAYS shopping. They spend huge amounts of money on clothes and makeup to fit their appearance. Dress is of the utmost importance, because for them to be seen is what it is all about. The most important media tool for these young women is in Japanese called a 'k-tie', or what we refer to as a cell phone. Every single girl has one and they always send text messages and use their phones to speak to their friends. In terms of rights of passage, you need money to be a part of the Yamamba scene. It seems everything is centered around money.
For instance, the Yamaba perform a kind of ritual dance called the para para. In Tokyo there are expensive nightclubs where these girls congregate and practice their para para. This type of dance uses hand movements and steps to Japanese j-pop songs. Each para para song has its own steps and movements, kind of like a mutated Macarana. When they are dancing, every one of the girls follows the steps together all at the same time. I'm telling you, it's a sight to behold! Now, getting a little more serious, I would like to talk about the education system in Japan. I teach at a very high level highschool. Usually highschool kids in Japan wear uniforms to school. However, at my school they do not (which is quite rare). There are no Yamamba at my school, just a few Garu. It seems that most Yamamba attend lower level schools in terms of education. These are for students who will not be going to University. Some of my other English teaching friends work at these lower level schools. They tell me that Yamamba usually sleep in school and really don't care what is going on around them. If they are awake, they are usually disturbing the class by speaking very loudly. Some lower level schools actually allow cell phones in the school, and Yamamba sometimes talk on them in class! My students tell me that Yamamba are what we might stereotypically refer to as 'dumb blondes' or 'airheads.' But I tend to disagree. When I am on the train or in a large urban center and a group of Yamamba come on, they are always very loud, giggling, yelling, and creating havoc. It's important for them to stand out, or rebel against the formal way to do things in Japan. Which is very rare. It seems they are a kind of outcast by the rest of Japanese society, kind of a joke or something to laugh at. They are quite alone in their world. For instance, I have never seen a plain-looking girl hanging around with a Yamamba before. In Japan, highschool life is culturally mainstream. It isn't cool to be different. But the Yamamba are.
Life isn't all that it is made to be. Outside of the glitz and glamour of Yamamba life, there is a very dark world. For example, sex is seen quite differently in Japan. First of all, high school kids are not allowed to have part time jobs. If a teacher finds out, they could get in big trouble. Highschool is a time for study, not play. In order to keep up with their lifestyles, high school girls need HUGE amounts of money. Japan is such a materialistic society. In the news, there are always stories of Japanese businessmen being caught paying for sex from highschool girls. There is even a word in Japanese: these men are referred to as ero gigi (dirty old man). But this is not necessarily seen as a horrible thing. Just disgraceful. Most of these men would never spend time in jail. It is just a part of life. Moreover, this is not just a problem with Yamamba but all highschool girls in Japan. Finally, it seems that no real hierarchy between the Yamamba exist. They are bound by strength in numbers, always together in groups. There is also a type of Japanese slang or speech that is used between the girls (that I have yet to figure out). I had a difficult time finding out what goes on. Everyting in Japan is never what it seems. Because of my communication problem or lack of Japanese, I have never really met a Yamamba. Hopefully, my study will continue in the future. But in the end, if you ever decide to come to Japan, to visit or work, be prepared for the weird and wonderful Yamamba!
/Love, Valentin
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