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Koakuma Ageha

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Koakuma Ageha
小悪魔ageha
October 2010
Chief editorHisako Nakajo 2005 – 2011
CategoriesFashion, Lifestyle
FrequencyMonthly
Circulation350,000[1] – 400,000[2]
PublisherNeko Publishing 2015 – present
Inforest 2005 – 2014
First issueOctober 2005
Country Japan
LanguageJapanese

Koakuma Ageha (小悪魔ageha, lit. "Little-devil (or demon) Swallowtail [butterfly]"[3]) is a gyaru fashion and lifestyle magazine[4] published monthly in Japan. Targeted at females in their late teens and 20s, Koakuma Ageha caters to the styles of Agejo(lit."young miss") and hime-gyaru (lit. "princess-gyaru").[5] It also incorporates different styles into the agejo style

Koakuma Ageha is noted for its significantly large circulation[6] and its unique trait of relating to the hostess club (Japanese-style cabaret) culture, as it mainly targets women who work at hostess clubs as hostesses,[5] and most of its models are hostesses who actually work at hostess clubs.[4]

Sociologist Shinji Miyadai has described this magazine as a "textbook for hostesses".[7] Some describe this magazine as the "bible for hostesses".[8]

Koakuma Ageha ceased publication in April 2014 following the bankruptcy of its parent company, Inforest Publishing.[9] It re-started in April 2015, on another publishing company Neko Publishing.[10]

History

Koakuma Ageha was first published under the name "Koakuma & Nuts" in October 2005 with a 27-year-old woman, Hisako Nakajo, who had been familiar with the gyaru scene, as its chief editor.[8] Koakuma & Nuts was only a special edition of the dark-skin oriented Happie Nuts gyaru fashion magazine, but after publication of the second issue, it changed its name to "Koakuma Ageha" and became monthly in October 2006.[11] Circulation was then around 220,000 but climbed to 350,000 by the end of 2008.[12] Hisako Nakajo left Koakuma Ageha, and its parent company Inforest Publishing, in November 2011.[13]

Model & style

Koakuma Ageha's exclusive models are called "Age-mo(s)", and its irregularly-appearing models are called "Age-jo(s)".[11] Most of them are active hostesses from various cities "of the night" all over the islands of Japan.[14] Unlike the ones in Happie Nuts, Ageha models are not required to be dark-skinned. Their unique styles of fashion is called "Ageha-kei" (lit. "Ageha-style"), which has become quite popular among women in their teens and 20s.[11] Some explain the typical "Ageha-kei" style as an "evolved form of the gyaru style, grown in the cradle of the hostess club scene, with an essence of yanki".[4] The Ageha style, as a lifestyle, is noted for its tendency to be "local-oriented", in contrast to most other fashion-based lifestyles which tend to be Tokyo-centric.[15]

A 2009 issue featuring the theme "yami" (left) and a usual 2011 issue (right)

Koakuma Ageha's uniqueness is also attributed to its tone; it features hostesses' lifestyles without romanticization, not just recounting the glamorous aspects,[14] and although its main focus is, of course, fashion,[4] it sometimes features the serious themes of "yami (simultaneously meaning "darkness 闇" and "sickness 病") in the human heart".[11] Models talk actively about their "darksides" in their own way, and often reveal some "negative secrets" about their lives and pasts, such as the ones about delinquency, running away, hikikomori, bullying, betrayal, heartbreak, mental illness, trauma, suicide, self-image issue, sexuality, loneliness, abused childhood, domestic violence, and alcoholism. This is considered quite unique for a Japanese fashion magazine, as Japanese fashion magazines are in general relentlessly light-hearted from beginning to end.[4]

Ageha models often garner an almost cult-like popularity and attract large amounts of media attention. Eri Momoka, known as "Momoeri", is an early example,[16] and just like Momoka, who has her own brand "Moery", some Ageha models individually launch their own fashion brands. Sumire (1987–2009) launched her own fashion brand "Divas" and often introduced herself as the "Divas designer" during the last days of her life.[17] Shizuka Mutoh, an irregularly-appearing Ageha model, launched her own fashion brand "Rady" in 2008 and its monthly net earnings reached $1 million in April 2011.[18]

Notable Age-mos and Age-jos have included Cocoa Aiuchi, Minami Aikawa, Momo Aikawa, Emiri Aizawa, Sara Aizawa, Hotaru Akane, Manami Akane, Akichi, Yo Aoki, Sayaka Araki, Natsumi Asaka, Sakura Asakura, Vanessa Asuka, Rina Ayukawa, Ayaka Endoh, Megu Fujigamori, Marie Iemura, Kotaroh Izumi, Arisa Ichijo, Kyoka Ichijo, Momoko Iinuma, Minami Uchiyama, Kana Urushihara, Angel, Himena Osaki, Nami Okada, Odajun, Orimoai, Mika Kagoshima, Hikari Kamikawa, Keiko, Airi Kisaki, Maria Kurotaki, Rina Sakurai, Nanako, Riho Nishiyama, Crea Himesaki, Hozunyam, Makoto Minami, Shizuka Mutoh, Satomi Yakuwa, Yurika, Gura Yoshikawa, Guri Yoshikawa, Rin, Shena Katase, Erisa Kaminomiya, Reina Kanasaki, Kinkira*Kin, Erika Koda, Chihiro Kondoh, Himeka Kyojo, Saako, Sara Sakura, Himeka Shirosaki, Mika Shirosaki, Miyu Shirosaki, Ayumi Shiratani, Erika Shinjo, Sumire, Sayuri Suzuki, Reina Takizawa, Tsubasa Tojo, Tocchi, Ayana Tsubaki, Nami, Yurina Hanazawa, Yoshika Harasaki, Mari Haruna, Sayo Hayakawa, Mii Himeno, Manaka, Mikitee, Misaki, Seira Mizuki, Mai Mizuki, Tomoyo Mizuno, Yumi Mizuno, Suzu Midorikawa, Haruka Minami, Mimore, Eri Momoka, Momo Momose, Nemu, Nonorin, Rion, Sawa Yamagami, Kanae Watanabe, Ryoko Yano, and Yuki-ichigo.[6]

Sister magazines

Cover of Ane Ageha, November 2011 Issue, with former Koakuma Ageha models Sayaka Araki and Sayo Hayakawa

Ane Ageha

Ane Ageha (姉ageha, meaning "Older-sister Swallowtail") was first published in November 2010 under the name "Oneh-san Ageha" (お姉さんageha) as a special edition of Koakuma Ageha, and it became independent in March 2011.[19] Ane Ageha is a bi-monthly fashion and cosmetic magazine, and its target audience is females in their late twenties and older.[20]

Kimono Ageha

Kimono Ageha (着物ageha) was first published in December 2010 as a special edition of Koakuma Ageha.[21] It is an irregularly-published magazine specialized in kimono, and is modeled by Koakuma Ageha models.[22]

I Love Mama

I Love Mama «stylized as "I LOVE mama"» was first published in September 2008 under the name "Mama Nuts × Ageha" as a special co-edition of Koakuma Ageha with Happie Nuts.[12] Mama Nuts × Ageha changed its name to "I Love Mama" and became monthly in March 2009.[23] I Love Mama is a magazine especially for gyaru women who have gotten pregnant and become mothers (called "gyaru mama") — the first-ever magazine dedicated to gyaru-mamas.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Hostessing an honorable profession, young women say", 21 May 2008, Japan Today
  2. ^ "'Koakuma Ageha' charismatic model Sayaka Araki debuts as a DJ", 19 March 2009, Livedoor News Template:Ja icon
  3. ^ "A day in the life of a Japanese 'hostess' model" 16 September 2010, CNNGo
  4. ^ a b c d e "Totally completed the back numbers of 'Koakuma Ageha'!!", 30 April 2009, Ebunroku Kotonoha, Hideaki Matsunaga Template:Ja icon
  5. ^ a b "Koakuma Ageha", Women's Fashion Magazine Guide Template:Ja icon
  6. ^ a b "Koakuma Ageha", Model Press Template:Ja icon
  7. ^ "Chugakusei Kara no Ai no Jugyo, ISBN 978-4-86252-736-3, pp.219, Shinji Miyadai, 2010 Template:Ja icon
  8. ^ a b "Hisako Nakajo the chief editor of 'Koakuma Ageha' talks about 'five secrets of the ad slogan power'", 23 August 2010, Henshusha.jp Template:Ja icon
  9. ^ "Hostess culture magazine Koakuma Ageha closes down", 21 April 2014, Japan Trends Template:Ja icon
  10. ^ ""Koakuma Ageha"'s revival officially decided, chief editor makes a comment", 10 March 2015, Model Press Template:Jp icon
  11. ^ a b c d "Interview with the chief editor of 'Koakuma Ageha', there are only two things in the world : 'kawaii' or 'not kawaii'", 14 July 2009, Gigazine Template:Ja icon
  12. ^ a b c "Agejo, gyaru, significantly growing women's magazine of a moderate-sized publisher" 2 October 2008, The All Japan Magazine and Book Publisher's and Editor's Association Template:Ja icon
  13. ^ "Inforest, known as "Koakuma Ageha" among others, bankrupted", 16 April 2014 Gigazine Template:Jp icon
  14. ^ a b "Analyzing 'Koakuma Ageha' and 'Mori Girl' as Lifestyles", 20 February 2010, Hideaki Matsunaga, .review Template:Ja icon
  15. ^ "Truth about 'local orientation' in 'Koakuma Ageha'" (1/2), 26 July 2011, Hideaki Matsunaga, Livedoor Blogos Template:Ja icon
  16. ^ "Ageha-jo Eri Momoka, Photo session with her son in a popular magazine, 'A day with good job'", 2 October 2008, Techinsight Template:Ja icon
  17. ^ "Good bye, Sumire.", 14 June 2009, Ebunroku Kotonoha, Hideaki Matsunaga Template:Ja icon
  18. ^ "Koakuma Ageha model Shizuka Mutoh's brand launches its new flag shop in Shinjuku after its monthly earnings exceeds 100 million yen", 3 July 2011, Fashionsnap.com Template:Ja icon
  19. ^ "Older sister version of Koakuma Ageha, by Inforest & Co.", 15 December 2010, Upbeat Media Works Template:Ja icon
  20. ^ "Ane Ageha", Women's Fashion Magazine Guide Template:Ja icon
  21. ^ "'Koakuma Ageha' releases 'Kimono Ageha'", 27 December 2010, Beauty Hair News Template:Ja icon
  22. ^ "Kimono Ageha", Women's Fashion Magazine Guide Template:Ja icon
  23. ^ "Fake eyelash over pork meat!? Worldview of the gyaru-mama magazine 'I Love Mama'" January 2010, Cyzo Woman Template:Ja icon and "'Spring Is the Dawn Smokey', 'Tsukematrix' — 'I Love Mama' has coined new words" March 2011, Cyzo Woman Template:Ja icon
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