“Yankii” fashion for coming-of-age ceremony showcased in London

London – Japan House London on Wednesday kicked off an exhibition displaying exuberant yankii rebellious youth fashion seen at coming-of-age ceremonies in the city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Running until April 18 next year, the “Tradition/Rebellion” exhibition at Japan House London, a hub for promoting Japanese culture established by the Japanese government, showcases both the yankii fashion culture centered on standing out from the crowd and the originality and diversity seen in Kitakyushu.

The exhibition highlights the culture’s rebellious spirit through haori traditional Japanese overgarments adorned with flashy embroidery and what is known in Japan as a Regent hairstyle, a blend of a pompadour and a ducktail.

Along with the history of Kitakyushu, the event features a video introducing the unique attires of eight newly minted adults.

Sota Yamaguchi, who curated the exhibition, said that the striking fashion came about through craftsmen’s trial and error to capture the new adults’ resolve to surpass those close to them and their seniors.

Some within Japan are opposed to calling the attention-seeking behavior a “culture.” Still, Kitakyushu Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi, who visited Britain for the event, promoted his city’s famous coming-of-age ceremonies, saying, “All cultures are born amid controversy.”

He added that the exhibition will help discover the values of Kitakyushu’s culture from a new global perspective.

Japan House London’s Simon Wright said the exhibition probably could not have been staged in Japan and stressed the importance of looking beyond appearances and valuing individuality.