Field Notes 01

Types of Visual Kei/Styles

Kote Kei - considered the oldest and most established form
- Classic style
- Dramatic clothes and hairstyles
- Examples: MALICE MIZER, Dir En Grey

Oshare Kei - most distinctive and well-known, almost stereotypically so
- Oshare means "stylish" or "fashionable"
- Music tends to lean more toward pop or punk and just more upbeat/positive themes and lyrics
- More "mainstream" j-pop sound; can sound almost like anime theme songs
- Colorful and cute
- Tend to be hit or miss among fans; many do not like the overall style; some bands may be okay
- Examples: An Cafe, SuG, LM.C

Tanbi Kei - inspired by classic European fashion
- Elegant, formal, neoclassical
- Elaborate costumes
- Extravagant stage settings
- Often incorporates androgynous/cross-dressing elements, not always and usually just a particular member is known for it
- Examples: Versailles, MALICE MIZER

Neo-Visual Kei - newer visual with more milder, more fashionable looks and mainstream music
- Most common form in terms of band popularity, music often associated with visual kei, etc.
- Music is kind of mainstream but often performed in a more aggressive live-oriented band sound; some bands are often called "live bands" where fans think bands sound better live than in studio recorded albums and singles
- Audience participates in "furitsuke" - unison choreography, hand movements, head banging, etc.; band members often do it along with the audience
- Examples: the GazettE, Alice Nine, Nightmare

Soft Visual Kei - usually refers to bands that were originally old school or tanbi kei bands that gradually toned down their looks and sound after gaining popularity
- Most don't look or sound like visual kei
- The association with visual kei usually comes from the fact that a current member was once in a visual kei band or the group performs at livehouses/venues that are often associated with visual kei
- Examples: Janne De Arc, LUNA SEA