Question
I was watching a 90s Japanese variety show with my host sister last week, and a group of young women came on with deep tans, bleached hair, and the boldest outfits I’ve ever seen. My host sister called them “gyaru” and laughed. I couldn’t tell if she meant it kindly or as an insult. What does gyaru mean?
Answer by Professional Japanese Teacher
ギャル
gyaru
a Japanese youth subculture of fashionable young women known for tans, bleached hair, bold makeup, and a playful, rebellious style.
Fun question — ギャル shows up in so many shows from that era. The word comes from the English “gal,” popularized by a 1972 Wrangler “GALS” jeans commercial in Japan. The subculture itself peaked in the 90s around Shibuya 109, with dark tans, pale lipstick, and loose socks everywhere.
The tone shifts with context. Neutrally, it just describes the style. Said with a smirk, the way your host sister probably meant it, it carries a teasing “a bit flashy for my taste” feeling. These days it rarely stings — mostly nostalgic and playful.
You’ll also hear sub-style names like kogyaru (コギャル, the schoolgirl version), ganguro (ガングロ, the extreme dark-tan look), and hime-gyaru (姫ギャル, the princess-frill look). The fashion still lives on in pockets of Shibuya if you keep an eye out.