Journal

The Kotoba Interactive journal.

Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.

Discover

3 articles

Japan

Interieur rose de la boutique Angelic Pretty au Japon : robes Lolita sur presentoirs, clientes en coordination sweet et gothic, chandeliers et sol a damier

Culture8 min

Lolita substyles: sweet, gothic and classic decoded

How to recognise the three great schools of Lolita fashion, the brands that define them, and why one dress can switch from one to another.

August 6, 2026Read

Japan

Jeune femme portant une tenue de mode gothic lolita japonaise, robe noire à volants et coiffe assortie

Culture7 min

Lolita fashion: the origins and styles of a Japanese look

Inside Japanese Lolita fashion. From the streets of Harajuku to communities worldwide: the origins, the substyles and the strict codes of a singular aesthetic.

July 6, 2026Read

Japan

Le bâtiment Shibuya 109 à Tōkyō, épicentre de la culture gyaru et de la mode japonaise.

Culture12 min

Gyaru: The Japanese Fashion Subculture That Defied Convention

A complete guide to gyaru (ギャル): from Shibuya's kogal girls to ganguro, the history of a rebellious Japanese subculture, its styles, its magazines, and its lasting influence on global fashion.

June 25, 2026Read