The start of the Reiwa Era is an ideal opportunity to look back, occasionally with raised eyebrows, over Heisei (1989-2019), which spanned 30 years — long enough to see its late 1980s fashion trends at the beginning of the era resurface in an ironic form before the end. With so much that went on — Remember the garish gyaru (gal style), the goths and increasingly cute conservative styles — you can't help but look forward and wonder what Reiwa has in store.
The ever-increasing waves of visitors to Japan from overseas is likely to resonate well beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year. But will that put Japan in the driving seat of new trends? Will the nation's historical precedent of retreating into self-reflection and self-discovery win out? Or will Japan become a passenger of others, following the influence of Asia's rising fashion capitals, such as Seoul or Beijing?
