Submissive or Rebellious? The Formation and Popularity of Ryousangata Wotaku’s Style

Abstract

The popularity of Ryousangata Wotaku’s style is a notable phenomenon after the COVID-19 in Tokyo. It cannot be simply attributed to a change in fashion trends. Furthermore, Ryousangata Wotaku’s style lacks the distinctly rebellious look that other subculture fashions possess. This unusual but rarely noticed phenomenon intrigued me. Through field research, literature research, and comparative study with other subcultural fashions, I found that Ryousangata Wotakus and young women in Tokyo conformed to the standards of “kawaii” and social expectations to obtain social recognition. However, they also resisted the social pressures and norms and desire to express their individuality. This ambivalence led them to choose and improve the Jirai Kei clothing. These findings underscore the formation and popularity of Ryousangata Wotaku’s style is a compromise between conforming to mainstream aesthetics and resisting societal norms and pressures. The study also points to the peculiarity of the pandemic as a tumultuous time – one that has seen a much broader subculture boom than any other era, which is a new perspective for future study.