Cute Japanese girls wearing street fashions? Close, but not quite. Look closer…

… all of these models are males! Tokyo New Tribe did an encouraging report on the changing face of drag fashion in Japan. Thanks to prominent TV hosts and cosplay, people are now more open about crossdressing, and realize that it’s not necessarily indicative of gender or sexuality. Once a month in Shinjuku, a drag event presents the opportunity to meet others.

Style Tribe also snapped Neo Fairy Decora girls at a Popples exhibition in Tokyo. (Wow, I’d love to go to that!)

I’ve done many posts on this 1980s-girly-pastel style before (type “Fairy Kei” in the Google search box on the sidebar for more). Here are some closeups; many of the girls are wearing 6% Dokidoki and Spank! (Coming up: a behind-the-scenes report from a New Tribe photoshoot.)

While at the club night Mr. Black, I met LA pop artist Plasticgod. You may have seen his Lego-form renderings of celebrities — they include Malice Mizer and Dir En Grey (above), and X-Japan (below)!

Plasticgod tells me, “I can’t remember when I first saw J-rock but it must have been in the mid 90s. I remember walking around LA’s Little Tokyo and looking at all the Japanese magazines that I’d never seen before. The J-rock ones stood out with all the amazing outfits and creativity but mostly because I couldn’t believe they were boys. I thought they were cool looking rocker girls!”

“The bands I chose to depict I thought had the best sense of style and seemed to have the best following. My favorite is Malice Mizer; every outfit I’ve ever seen in pictures was an absolute uncoiling of the brain. So inspiring and fun to re-create/parody in my style.” Check out Plasticgod’s distinctive artwork on his website.

Isn’t it nice to see Visual Kei bands inspiring American artists? And for drag and fairy decora fashion to be making waves?

PS: My new CNNGo gallery about how Buddha is everywhere. In a pear, a chair, a scary gold costume…