visual kei

American  

[vi-zhoo-uhl kay] / ˈvɪ ʒu əl ˈkeɪ /

noun

1. a movement, originating among Japanese rock bands in the 1980s, characterized by extravagant, glamorous, and often androgynous makeup, outfits, and hairstyles.

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Example Sentences

He started out in the visual kei band Dué le Quartz before embarking on a solo career that eventually began to encompass modeling and acting, including roles in Hollywood movies like Unbroken and Kong: Skull Island.

From The Verge

In the 1980s they helped pioneer the "visual kei" movement associated with brightly coloured hair and flamboyant costumes.

From BBC

He learned of a sound that incorporated thrash metal and classical piano with big prog-rock flourishes and a flamboyant Japanese "Visual Kei" image of mascara, mohawks and neon attire.

From Los Angeles Times

"K Missing Kings" follows up on the 2012 Japanese anime series "K," which put a futuristic spin on Japanese period dramas by stacking superhero powers and skateboards onto time-honored chambara samurai sword fights and dressing characters in "visual kei," Japan's answer to glam-rock style.

From Los Angeles Times

Visual kei, a mix of glam rock, metal and punk, has been popular in Japan since the late 80s.

From The Guardian