The quick definition of menhera kei

Menhera kei (メンヘラ系) bands are visual kei bands from the 2010s onward who focus on topics like mental illness, suicide, self-harm, and sexual deviancy, as if from the perspective of the fans themselves. They often wear costumes comprised of ready-made pieces, in minimal colors.

A brief history of menhera kei

Themes of suicide and insanity have been prevalent in visual kei since its inception. In particular, Kuroyume (黒夢), merry go round, and Deshabillz were early 1990s bands that all toyed with these themes, and directly inspired the dark kote kei (コテ系) subgenre.

Kote bands tended to be sadistic and fantastical in their approach to these themes. That is, they tended to play insane characters from some other world, who were violent toward the audience. There was a clear hierarchical separation between the band and the fans, with many bands referring to their fans as “slaves,” “worshippers,” and so on.

In the early 2000s, it became common in online forums like 2ch for users to discuss their depression, mental health issues, and self-harm escapades. These users [primarily female] became collectively known as menhera. And as social media grew, that term shifted from something that was negative to something “trendy”—the term was worn almost as a badge of honor.

Of course, it's only natural that there would be a large overlap between visual kei bangya (who are by definition attracted to dark themes) and menhera.

Menhera culture made the leap from visual kei fans to visual kei bands in the early 2010s, and one of the most prominent figures from that era was R-Shitei (R指定). They had been active for years as a Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系) band (in the lineage of the GazettE), but gradually directed their concepts toward mental illness and sexual deviancy.

In their 2012 single, they declared: I AM MENHERA (アイアムメンヘラ).

That single captures the essence of menhera kei: it is sung from the perspective of a young, mentally-ill outcast, who uses wristcutting (and suicide) to escape the despair of normal existence. In other words, rather than the fantastical sadism of kote kei (コテ系), it is realistic masochism, and the conceptual barrier between fan and band is destroyed.

That theme continued through the band's following works, including Seishun wa WRISTCUT (青春はリストカット) {Youth is Wristcutting}, which introduced a simulated wristcut furitsuke that fans performed during the song. Such furitsuke quickly became standard for menhera kei.

The success of R-Shitei (R指定) and popularity of menhera in the zeitgeist led to a wave of similarly-themed bands over the following years.

The sounds of these bands fell into several camps. Many, like SHELLMY (シェルミィ), followed in the Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系) lineage of the GazettE. Others, like DEZERT, picked up nu-metal as introduced to loud kei (ラウド系) by DIR EN GREY. A few, like Sick², ironically played with kirakira kei (キラキラ系) esque electronics. And AvelCain took cues from Kuroyume (黒夢), as directed by their producer Eve.

Mid-way through the decade is when menhera bands appeared that were inspired by earlier menhera kei bands. Most of these referenced R-Shitei (R指定) or AvelCain—as was the case with Gozen Reiji。 (午前零時。) and AkaKU SoMATTA Kioku (紅ク染マッタ記憶), respectively. Others, like DAMY, played nu metal, but used DEZERT as their reference. And a few non-menhera bands, like the previously-lynch.-esque SCAPEGOAT, abruptly changed up their sound to fit into menhera kei.

The peak of the subgenre would have been from around 2016~2019 in terms of numbers, but menhera kei bands continue to exist as of 2025. They also seem to have become disproportionately popular among Western fans, with bands like gulu gulu, Kane to Juusei (鐘ト銃声), and Kebyo (仮病) becoming the targets of love and hate by young overseas fans.

The long-running menhera kei band DEZERT (formed in 2010 but active in earnest from 2013) went major in 2023 and performed at the legendary Budoukan (武道館) in December 2024. And R-Shitei (R指定), who paused activity in 2019, seems poised for a return in 2025. It remains to be seen if an influx of new menhera kei bands will follow.

Why is it called menhera kei?

The term allegedly originated in the online BBS 2ch, on a board called mental health ita (メンタルヘルス板) {mental health board}—menheru (メンヘル) {men[tal] heal[th]} for short. There, users would discuss their depression, self-harm, and other mental afflictions.

Over time, the [largely female] users who participated in that board became referred to as menhera (メンヘラ) {men[tal] heal[th]ers}.

In Japanese, it is common to attach an -er/-ers suffix to indicate that someone does something, or is a fan of something; for example, fans of the band AILE are called AILE-ers (アイラー). So the term menhera was a disparaging, flippant way to refer to someone who dealt with the types of mental issues that were common on that board—but as menhera culture was popularized and commercialized by the 2010s, it became almost a badge of honor among the sick.

Menhera kei (メンヘラ系) {menhera style}, then, literally just refers to bands who adopt a menhera-like persona.

What are the other names for menhera kei?

None, although many bands overlap with kote kei (コテ系), loud kei (ラウド系), Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系), and so on.

What does menhera kei look like?

Simple silhouettes created by layering dress shirts, long tshirts, suit jackets, coats, skirts and other non-descript clothing items. Color palettes are generally restricted to blacks, whites, and reds. Only rarely borrows elements from yami kawaii (病みかわいい) fashion (fans are more likely to dress in this way). Members often have bloody noses, bruises, red eyes, eyepatches, bandaged wrists, and so on. Some incorporate child-like elements such as backpacks or lollipops to create disturbing dissonance.

Photoshoots often rely on styling, posing, location, and/or props for visual interest. Umbrellas, large knives, razor blades, dolls, nooses, and shibari appear frequently; band members are often in unusual positions on the floor and likely barefoot; and locations include mental hospitals, basement-like rooms, or bathrooms.

What does menhera kei sound like?

Often crafted with the live experience in mind; very clear sections for headbanging and wristcutting furitsuke. Vocals are typically less playful than osare kei (オサレ系) but feature a range of odd sounds. Generally violent in sound; lyrics include terms like yami (病み) {diseased}, itami (痛み) {painful}, wristcut (リストカット), etc. Self-centered except when speaking about objects of romantic obsession.

Is menhera kei a legitimate visual kei subgenre?

Yes.

Menhera kei alignments

Almost always rock; occasionally tongue-in-cheek pop.

Realistic emotions heightened to unrealistic levels.

Costumes often use ready-made clothing.

Rarely concerned with displaying specific technique.

More likely to participate with live attendees.

Always angry, sad, or maniacal.

Slightly more likely to be manic.

Immature in sound and concept.

When was menhera kei active?

It started around 2012 and its peak was around 2016~2019, but exists as of 2025.

What are the representative menhera kei bands?

Early: R-Shitei (R指定), AvelCain, DEZERT

Later: gulu gulu, Kane to Juusei (鐘ト銃声)

Edit History

• 2025-02-19: revised wording about costumes
• 2025-02-19: added missing promo
• 2025-02-19: added missing Spotify
• 2025-02-20: typos
• 2025-03-02: typos
• 2025-08-20: updated disclaimer