Some examples of Manba

Have you heard of Manba?  The short explanation is that it is a branch of Ganguro – a fashion trend that was huge in Japan during 2000 but which is still popular today.  Manba participants are indicated by their tan skin and bleached hair with white/pastel make-up and glitter. 

So you’re thinking - hey, the 90′s called and their want their style back.  And you would be right to a certain extent because this began in the early 1990′s and many of the various styles associated with Ganguro are rather Spice Girl’ish, like platform shoes. 

Around 2004, Ganguro morphed into Manba which emphasized, among other things, day-glo accessories.  It proved to be a short-lived transformation.  The trend seemed to disappear but by 2008, it was back.  Now known as Yamanba, neon colored hair – whether dyed or extensions – is popular.  Another distinction is that eye-makeup is only worn above the eye in Yamanba, not around the entire eye as in Manba.

Yamanba/Manba has now lept over to the United Kingdomwhich bizarrely creates “Western girls trying to be Japanese girls, trying to be Western”.  Teens in Britain who practice the trend use coffee grounds as a self-tanner and communicate with their Japanese counterparts via web fan-sites.

I’m not sure this would ever catch on in the United States because as BBC News reporter, Nina Robinson, notes some ”have been accused of racism for darkening their skin in this way” as it resembles black-face.  Also, the 90′s are over and you’re delusional if you think powder-blue eyeshadow looks good on you.

Just something to think about,

-B.C.Bodnar