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Harajuku girl is a term for girls who gather in the Harajuku district of Tokyo in Japan. They are dressed in any of several distinct styles of clothing that originated in the culture of Japan's major cities. The "Harajuku style," named after Harajuku station, combines a wide range of diverse influences.

The term is not used by those who gather in the district themselves, but has become a relatively popular expression in the United States. Popular use originated from the American singer Gwen Stefani's 2004 Love. Angel. Music. Baby. album^{[citation needed]}, which brought attention to Stefani's entourage of four supposed "Harajuku Girls" who were hired to portray the look, three of whom are Japanese and one of whom is Japanese American. These "Harajuku Girls" are not in fact the fashion aficionados or the home sewing hobbyists from whence they derive their name.

I can’t wait to go, back in to Japan, get me lots of brand new fans. Osaka Tokyo, you Harajuku girls, damn you have some wicked style.

– Gwen Stefani, What are you waiting for?

According to the Jan/Feb 2006 edition of Blender magazine, American comedian Margaret Cho has labeled Stefani's Harajuku Girls a "minstrel show" that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women. [1]. The Harajuku Girls have continued to appear alongside Stefani in the media, and are featured in the music video for "Wind It Up" (2006).

Many different fashion styles may be found among the girls who spend time in Harajuku, including Gothic Lolita, Gothic Maid, Wamono, Decora, Second-Hand Fashion, and cyber fashion. The Japanese street fashion magazine, FRUiTS, features many of the varied clothing styles that are popular in the Harajuku district.

• Wamono is a style that mixes traditional Japanese clothing with contemporary clothing styles. The brand name Takuya Angel is an example of wamono.

Visual Kei or Anime Cosplayers also gather in Harajuku; however, cosplay is not generally considered to be a fashion movement.

• "FRUiTS" Published by Phaidon, 2001. ISBN 0-7148-4083-1 - Photos shot in Harajuku over a 10 year period.

• Visual Kei
• Decora
• Kawaii
• Gwen Stefani

• L.AM.B. - Fansite of Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Girls
• Margaret Cho's comment on Harajuku Girls

v • d • e  Japanese subcultures
Subcultures: Bōsōzoku | Cosplay | Ganguro | Lolita fashion | Gyaru and Gyaru-oh | Kogal
Cultural phenomena: FRUiTS Magazine | Gyaru-moji | Harajuku girl | Japanese fashion | Kawaii | Visual kei