These are NOT subgenres of visual kei

This list attempts to compile every incorrect, made-up, or otherwise contentious category that appears in discussions about visual kei subgenres. The source (Western or Japanese) is noted for each. Due to their popularity, there are longer explanations for “angura kei,” “eroguro kei,” and “neo visual kei” at the end of this article.

• Air band kei (エアーバンド系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Simply a descriptor of GOLDEN BOMBER (ゴールデンボンバー). (Japanese.)

• Akiba kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Probably refers to the pop-culture district of Akihabara (秋葉原). The listed bands are cosplay kei (コスプレ系). (Western.)

• Agurii kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Possibly referencing the word アグリー {ugly}, but unclear why. Allegedly has to do with masks. (Western.)

• Angura kei (アングラ系)

  is only viewed as a subgenre by some, as the term is ambiguous and problematic. See “why doesn't vkgy recognize angura kei as a subgenre?” at the bottom of this article for a longer explanation. (Japanese.)

• Ankoku kei (暗黒系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Allegedly a subgenre of “dark visual,” which also isn't a subgenre. No definition given, but listed bands are Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Western.)

• Aori kei (煽り系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Used as a descriptor for music made by bands like DIR EN GREY (i.e. music that makes fans rush the stage). (Japanese.)

• Aristocrat gothic kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Describes tanbi kei (耽美系). (Western.)

• Bad boys rock (バッドボイーズロック)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Was a real movement analogous to glam rock/metal. Some bands involved were okeshou kei (お化粧系) or early visual kei (ヴィジュアル系). (Japanese.)

• Ballad rock

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No definition, but probably soft visual (ソフビ). (Western.)

• Black kote kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Describes kote kei (コテ系) bands. (Western.)

• Bosozoku kei (暴走族系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to “biker gangs” and yankee culture, which was prevelent in Japanese metal, okeshou kei (お化粧系), kurofuku kei (黒服系), and early visual kei (ヴィジュアル系). (Western.)

• Black kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No definition except “dark themes,” but that describes most visual kei bands. Probably assumed to exist as an antithesis to shiro kei (白系) (which some Western fans refer to as “white kei”). (Western.)

• Brutal kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. An early attempt by Western forums to name loud kei (ラウド系). (Western.)

• Comical kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym for “owarai kei” which is also not generally viewed as a subgenre. (Japanese.)

• Cyber kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Usually a synonym for pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系). (Western.)

• Dark visual

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No definition, but listed bands are Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Western.)

• Dark kei (ダーク系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Described Kuroyume (黒夢), who are Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Japanese.)

• Datsu Viji

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Misspelling of datsu visual kei (脱ヴィジュアル系) {formerly visual kei} which is simply a descriptor of bands who were once visual kei but changed to non-visual. (Western.)

• Deburo kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. “Deburo” is not a real word; possibly a misspelling of “debiru kei,” which also isn't a subgenre. Definition is unclear, but seems to be referencing kote kei (コテ系). (Western.)

• Debiru kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Seemingly referencing the word debiru (デビル) {devil} but listed bands are kote kei (コテ系). (Western.)

• Decora kei (デコラ系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Is a real fashion style, and was anticipated as a potential subgenre when Eimy→☆ (えぃみ→☆) was active. However, never materialized into its own subgenre; such bands are simply osare kei (オサレ系). (Japanese.)

• Denshi kei (電子系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym for pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系). (Western.)

• Digital kei (デジタル系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym for pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系), and honestly a better name, but isn't used widely. (Japanese.)

• Digirock kei (デジロック系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Lesser-used synonym for pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系). (Japanese.)

• Elegant gothic

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Description of lolita fashion, which is utilized by bands of many styles. Also sometimes used as a synonym for goth bands or tanbi kei (耽美系). (Western.)

• Entertainment bands (エンターテインメントバンド)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Is actually used as a term to describe bands (visual or non-visual) who are popular because of their ability to be entertaining on TV variety shows, interviews, and so on. (Japanese.)

• Eroguro kei (エログロ系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. See “why doesn't vkgy recognize eroguro kei as a subgenre?” at the bottom of this article for a longer explanation. (Western.)

• Eroguro nonsense (エログロナンセンス)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym for “eroguro kei” which also is not a visual kei subgenre. See “why doesn't vkgy recognize eroguro kei as a subgenre?” for details. (Western.)

• Erugoru kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Misspelling of “eroguro kei,” which is also not a visual kei subgenre. See “why doesn't vkgy recognize eroguro kei as a subgenre?” for details. (Western.)

• Extra kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Supposedly means “over-the-top” but this could describe literally any visual kei band. (Western.)

• EXTASY kei (エクスタシー系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Shorthand meaning “any band signed to EXTASY RECORDS.” (Japanese.)

• Fantasy kei (ファンタジー系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Sometimes used to describe art kei (アート系), other times to describe cosplay kei (コスプレ系). (Japanese.)

• Flou kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Supposedly related to the word “flourescent,” for unknown reasons. (Western.)

• Furafu kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No clear meaning or examples. (Western.)

• Gaijin kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Proposed to mean “visual kei bands featuring non-Japanese members” but there is no reason to consider such bands their own subgenre. (Western.)

• Gaikoku kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym for “gaijin kei” which is also not a visual kei subgenre. (Western.)

• Gekirock (激ロック)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. A real Japanese term that describes [non-visual] rock bands who might feasibly appear in the magazine Gekirock (激ロック). Closest visual kei equivalent would be loud kei (ラウド系). (Japanese.)

• Genki oshare kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Implies the existence of a “more colorful” osare kei (オサレ系) or kirakira kei (キラキラ系), but essentially meaningless. (Western.)

• Giragira kei (ギラギラ系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Marketing term coined by a few kirakira kei (キラキラ系) bands. Giragira is a strengthened form of the onomatopoeia kirakira—something like “blazing” instead of just “twinkling,” implying that these bands are even more energetic than a normal kirakira kei (キラキラ系) band. However, this has no practical meaning or distinction. (Japanese.)

• Glamorous Rock

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No clear definition, but probably refers to bands who were glam-rock-esque. Most of these were okeshou kei (お化粧系) or non-visual. (Japanese.)

• Gothic kei (ゴシック系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Generic term describing anything with a gothic style (especially with regard to fashion, as opposed to goth music). (Japanese.)

• Goochikku kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Probably a misspelling of “gothic kei” which also isn't a visual kei subgenre. (Western.)

• Gosu kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Probably a misspelling of “gothic kei” which also isn't a visual kei subgenre. (Western.)

• Kamitate kei (髪立て系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. An early synonym for okeshou kei (お化粧系) bands (or any band with hair-sprayed-high hair). (Japanese.)

• Kodona kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre, nor is it a fashion style. Comes from a single sentence used in one issue of Gothic & Lolita Bible, which was conflated with shounensou (少年装) fashion; and later, on Wikipedia, misconstrued as a subgenre. (Western.)

• Halloween kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. An attempt to describe the common trend of Halloween-themed releases, which occur across many subgenres. (Western.)

• Homage kei (オマージュ系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. A simple descriptor of bands who purposely emulate specific eras of visual kei, especially bands from 2010~ on who emulate 1997~2000 kote kei (コテ系). (Western.)

• Horror kei (ホラー系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Describes bands with a horror theme, which exist across several subgenres. (Japanese.)

• Host kei (ホスト系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Some visual kei bandmen also work at host clubs (clubs where cute men entertain patrons for a fee), and there have been a few bands which purposely themed themselves as such hosts. This term simply describes those bands; there are not enough to qualify as their own subgenre. Can usually be called soft visual (ソフビ), osare kei (オサレ系), kirakira kei (キラキラ系) instead. (Western.)

• Illusion rock (イリュージョン・ロック)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Early attempt to categorize visual kei bands such as L'Arc~en~Ciel, PIERROT, and merry go round, but these have nothing to do with each other. (Japanese.)

• Indie

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Although it is common to describe a band as indies (インディーズ) meaning “not signed to major label,” a few Western lists define it as “visual kei bands in normal clothing” i.e. kei. (Western.)

• Iromono (色物)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Used usually as a pejorative to describe bands that appear on variety shows, or seem like they would; in other words, gimmicky bands that are famous more as personalities than performers. (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Beat

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to the beat rock branch of okeshou kei (お化粧系). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Beat Punk

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to the beat rock branch of okeshou kei (お化粧系). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Hard

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to the heavy metal branch of okeshou kei (お化粧系). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Positive Punk

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Punk

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to the punk branch of okeshou kei (お化粧系). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Soft Visual

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym for soft visual (ソフビ). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Visual Entertainment

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No specific definition. (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Visual Hard

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Visual Metal

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to the heavy metal branch of okeshou kei (お化粧系). (Japanese.)

• Japaneseque Visual Pop

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to soft visual (ソフビ). (Japanese.)

• Kabukicho kei (歌舞伎町系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Supposedly bands who sing about Kabukicho (歌舞伎町). (Japanese.)

• Kaiko kei (懐古系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. As in kaiko (懐古) {nostalgic}. Refers to bands who purposely reference bygone eras of visual kei. (Japanese.)

• Kawaii kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Basically just describes osare kei (オサレ系). (Western.)

• Kayou rock

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No definition given; probably a misspelling of Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系). (Western.)

• Kirakote kei (キラコテ系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Since koteosa (コテオサ) takes elements from kote kei (コテ系) and osare kei (オサレ系), and the latter subgenre is now dead, “kirakote kei” has been proposed as a new subgenre mixing kote and kirakira kei (キラキラ系). However, there is no convincing argument as to how “kirakote kei” would different from koteosa. (Japanese.)

• Kobushi kei (拳系)

  is only considered a visual kei subgenre by some. Means “[raising your] fist style” in reference to bands whose music was too heavy for normal furitsuke. It was an early name for loud kei (ラウド系) bands, and some still use the term to describe specifically to the 1st wave of that subgenre. (Japanese.)

• Koi kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No proposed definition but name potentially references koi (恋) {love}? Suggested bands (GACKT, the GazettE, MIYAVI) have nothing to do with love or with each other. (Western.)

• Koi kei X

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Presumably proposed as some variant of “koi kei” which also is not a visual kei subgenre. Proposed definition mentions pop and punk but is otherwise unclear. (Western.)

• Kosupure kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Alternate spelling of cosplay kei (コスプレ系). (Western.)

• Koteeosha kei (コテーおしゃ系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Misspelling of koteosa (コテオサ). (Western.)

• Koteguro kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Ostensibly a mix of kote kei (コテ系) and “eroguro kei,” which also is not a visual kei subgenre. Proposed bands are kote kei (コテ系) and loud kei (ラウド系). (Western.)

• Kotekote kei (コテコテ系)

  is synonym of kote kei (コテ系), but is used less often. (Japanese.)

• Koteosu

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Probably a misspelling of koteosa (コテオサ). (Western.)

• Kurafu kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Kurafu is not a standard Japanese word, so intended meaning is unclear. Possibly a misspelling of kurabu (クラブ) {club}? Suggested bands are okeshou kei (お化粧系) or bad boys rock. (Western.)

• Kuro kei (黒系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Shorthand for “all visual kei bands who are dark in some way,” which describes most visual kei bands. (Japanese.)

• Kuroi kei (黒い系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym of “kuro kei,” which also isn't a visual kei subgenre. (Western.)

• Kuro kote

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Alleged subgenre of kote kei (コテ系); only given definition is “dark,” which describes all kote kei (コテ系) bands anyway. (Western.)

• Lolita kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Simply refers to lolita fashion. Although many bands have referenced lolita fashion in their costumes, there was never any wider movement or scene. (Western.)

• Lolivi

  is not a visual kei subgenre. A synonym for “lolita kei,” which is also not a visual kei subgenre. (Western.)

• Melodious Solid

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No clear definition. (Japanese.)

• Melokei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Became popular as a meme; literally just means “bands that the owner of Melokei likes” which usually translates to melodic bands (often non-visual). Included in vkgy's “fun tags” section as a thanks to that person's contributions. (Western.)

• Misshitsu kaiwai kei (密室界隈系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym of Misshitsu kei (密室系). (Japanese.)

• Mori kei (森系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. It is a pedestrian fashion style that has nothing in common with visual kei bands. (Japanese.)

• Mosh kei (モッシュ系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Simply a descriptor of songs which make audiences want to mosh. (Japanese.)

• Nagoya Kei Japaneseque Visual

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym for Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Japanese.)

• Neo Japanesque Positive

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to kote kei (コテ系). (Japanese.)

• Neo Japanesque Punk

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to kote kei (コテ系). (Japanese.)

• Neo visual kei (ネオヴィジュアル系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. See “why doesn't vkgy recognize neo visual kei kei as a subgenre?” for details. (Japanese.)

• Neo visualizm

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Marketing term used by MIYAVI around 2007.

• Neo visual shock

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Usually a synonym for “neo visual kei,” which also isn't a subgenre. Sometimes proposed as “modern visual kei bands who style themselves after early visual shock bands.” (“Visual shock” also is not a visual kei subgenre, but a synonym for okeshou kei (お化粧系) or early visual kei (ヴィジュアル系).) No such group of bands exists. (Western.)

• Nansensu

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Probably a reference to “eroguro nonsense,” which is also not a visual kei subgenre. (Western.)

• Nimen kei (二面系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Nimen (二面) {two-faced} references bands who are simultaneously active with an alter-ego, such as Panic Channel (パニックちゃんねる) and PANIC☆ch. These bands have nothing else in common and are too few to count a subgenre. (Japanese.)

• Nomuro kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Possibly a misspelling of noomaru (ノーマル) {normal}, potentially in reference to soft visual (ソフビ). (Western.)

• Oldschool kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Meaningless phrase that references “classic” visual kei bands which differ depending on the writer. Essentially means “bands that I liked a lot when I first discovered visual kei.” Okeshou kei (お化粧系), kurofuku kei (黒服系), and kote kei (コテ系) seem to be the most common touchpoints. (Western.)

• Osaka kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Ostensibly means “visual kei bands from Osaka (大阪),” but such bands are not different enough from wider visual kei to warrant their own subgenre, unlike the case with Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Western.)

• Osaka soft visual (大阪ソフトビジュアル)

  is only considered a subgenre by some. There was a soft visual (ソフビ) scene in Osaka (大阪) that perhaps had its own flavor, but most do not consider it distinct enough to be a subgenre. (Japanese.)

• Oshibai kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Possibly a reference to oshibai (お芝居) {stage play}? Intended meaning is unclear. Describes pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系) bands. (Western.)

• Otaku kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Listed as a synonym for “akiba kei,” which is also not a subgenre. (Western.)

• Oudou kei (王道系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Oudou (王道) is usually translated as “royal road” but means something more like “the established/best method.” So oudou kei is simply a descriptor of something done in “the proper method” i.e. a song that has the “perfected structure” of hit visual kei songs, or a band that feels like the mega-popular bands of a bygone era. (Japanese.)

• Ouji kei (王子系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to the “princely” image of KAMIJO. Describes tanbi kei (耽美系). (Japanese.)

• Owarai kei (お笑い系)

  is only considered a subgenre by some. Usually used as a descriptor of owarai (お笑い) {comedy/parody} bands like GOLDEN BOMBER (ゴールデンボンバー). Too few bands with too few similarities to be a legitimate subgenre. (Japanese.)

• Owarai tokka kei (お笑い特化系)

  is only considered a subgenre by some. As in owarai tokka (お笑い特化) {comedy specialization}. Synonym for “owarai kei.” (Japanese.)

• Parody kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Syononym for “owarai kei,” which also isn't a subgenre. (Western.)

• Pioneers

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Meant to describe “pioneers” of visual kei, but has very unclear guidelines and invariably ends up being used for visual kei (ヴィジュアル系), okeshou kei (お化粧系), and non-visual artists. (Western.)

• Porno kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Supposedly bands who have “sexual themes,” which could describe hundreds of bands. (Western.)

• Prono kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Misspelling of “porno kei,” which also is not a visual kei subgenre. (Western.)

• Rob kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Became popular as a meme; literally just means “bands that Rob-kun likes” which usually translates to soft visual (ソフビ) or non-visual bands. Included in vkgy's “fun tags” section as a thanks to that person's contributions. (Western.)

• Shibuya kei (渋谷系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Is a legitimate classification of Japanese pop, and is sometimes viewed as a fashion as well. Nothing to do with visual kei but may be assumed to exist because of Nagoya kei (名古屋系). (Western.)

• Shichihenge kei (七変化系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Shichihenge (七変化) is a kabuki dance in which the performer quickly changes outfits seven times. References bands who change their look and style with each release, but these are too few in number to be a useful category. (Japanese.)

• Shiro kote (白コテ)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Would theoretically mean shiro kei (白系) bands who have costuming similar to kote kei (コテ系) bands, but shiro kei (白系) already covers such costumes. (Japanese.)

• Shiroi kei (白い系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym of shiro kei (白系). (Western.)

• Shoronuri kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Misspelling of shironuri kei (白塗り系). (Western.)

• Shoto kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Misspelling of shiro kei (白系). (Western.)

• Shuukyou kei (宗教系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Refers to shuukyou (宗教) {religious leader}, supposedly in reference to bands with a charismatic leader. Not very useful in categorizing bands. (Japanese.)

• Soft beat visual

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Misspelling of soft visual (ソフビ). (Western.)

• Soft kei

  is an alternate romanization of soft visual (ソフビ). Soft visual kei should be used instead. (Western.)

• Super Visual (スーパーヴィジュアル)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. No clear definition; describes SHAZNA, MALICE MIZER, Plastic Tree, and Dir en grey, but these bands have nothing in common. (Japanese.)

• Sutorii kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Possibly a reference to sutoorii (ストーリー) {story} but no definition is given except “casual.” Possibly meant to be soft visual (ソフビ). (Western.)

• Tanbi metal (耽美メタル)

  is only considered a subgenre by some. It breaks tanbi kei (耽美系) into a metal side and non-metal side. (Japanese.)

• Tokyo kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Probably assumed due to the existence of Nagoya kei (名古屋系), but has no defining traits. (Western.)

• Toroteru kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Toroteru is not a word and intended meaning is unclear. (Western.)

• Tooru kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Possibly a reference to tooru (通る) {to pass}? Defined as “bands who break up quickly,” which could be anyone. (Western.)

• Uchikomi kei (打ち込み系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. is a lesser-used synonym for pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系). (Japanese.)

• Veteran kei

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Intended meaning unclear; probably meant to refer to okeshou kei (お化粧系) bands. (Western.)

• Visualcore

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Proposed early name for hardcore loud kei (ラウド系) bands. (Western.)

• Visual shock

  is not a visual kei subgenre. An early proposed name for visual kei when the borders of the genre were still unclear. Could refer to okeshou kei (お化粧系), kurofuku kei (黒服系), or early visual kei (ヴィジュアル系) bands. (Japanese.)

• Vkei (written in English)

  is an alternate romanization of visual kei. One list asserted that “vkei” (written in English) was a separate genre from visual kei; it is not. (Western.)

• V-ROCK

  is a synonym for visual kei. Usually used by companies attempting to reach overseas markets. (Japanese.)

• Visudol (ヴィジュドル)

  is a synonym for visual kei idols (ヴィジュアル系アイドル), but not widely used. (Japanese.)

• Wafuu kote kei (和風コテ系)

  is only considered a subgenre by some. Refers to wafuu kei (和風系) bands who also feel kote kei (コテ系) in terms of music or costumes. It is not widely used and isn't very differentiated from normal wafuu kei (和風系). (Japanese.)

• Wasou kei (和装系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. Synonym of wafuu kei (和風系). (Japanese.)

• White kei

  is an alternate name in the West for shiro kei (白系). Also appears in some lists with a different definition that equates to soft visual (ソフビ). (Western.)

• Youkai kei (妖怪系)

  is not a visual kei subgenre. As in youkai (妖怪) {Japanese demon}. Probably in reference to cosplay kei (コスプレ系) or wafuu kei (和風系) bands with a horror theme. (Japanese.)

Why doesn't vkgy recognize “angura kei” as a subgenre?

Angura (アングラ) {underground} was a cultural movement started in the 1960s which pushed against the rigid morality and commercialism that had been established in post-war Japan.

It affected many corners of culture, but in particular led to a collective of stage troupes called angura engeki (アングラ演劇) {underground theatre}. These troupes opposed the sterilization of theater that had occurred over the previous several years, and so made their shows purposely avantgarde, messy, taboo, and/or silly.

The term “angura” began probably first appeared around visual kei in 2000~2002, as the genre rapidly diversified at the end of its boom. In particular, the famous 2002 book Gendai Kisou Onzu Kagami (現代奇想音図鑑) mentions the word in its opening.

The problem is that the book aimed to “chronicle a new scene beyond visual kei, free of [...] genres.” As such, the featured bands fell into several different categories like osare kei (オサレ系), cosplay kei (コスプレ系), wafuu kei (和風系), shironuri kei (白塗り系), pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系), and so on—some weren't even visual kei at all.

But in the Western fandom, it was incorrectly assumed that all of these bands were “angura kei.” This created a situation where all manner of bands—from Dir en grey to baroque (バロック), Kagrra, Psycho le Cému, or even non-visual band COCK ROACH—might receive the label.

As the Western fandom began recording their own English lists of visual kei subgenres, “angura kei” was inevitably included—always with vague or shifting definitions. Some worked backwards to justify a wide range of bands; others narrowed the range but focused on the wrong elements (such as one particularly popular list which states “angura kei = kimonos”).

In Japan, “angura kei” does occasionally appear in subgenre lists, but it is often unclear which bands qualify (sometimes admittedly so). The term is also often used in Japanese in a generic descriptive sense rather than as a subgenre. In most lists, these bands are instead filed under Misshitsu kei (密室系), shironuri kei (白塗り系), Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系), pikopiko kei (ピコピコ系), wafuu kei (和風系), and so on.

In summary, “angura kei” has been so poorly defined and misrepresented in the West that it has become a useless category, and vkgy's official recommendation is to avoid the term altogether.

Why doesn't vkgy recognize “eroguro kei” as a subgenre?

The term eroguro (エログロ) {ero[tic] + gro[tesque]} was coined in the early 1900s to describe low brow works of art that were popular at the time—such as cheaply-printed magazines featuring sexual illustrations and violent stories of a bizarre, taboo, or criminal nature.

When the term eroguro is invoked in the modern day, it specifically conjures images of these Showa (昭和) era works, or the similar works of post-war Japan. In other words, it has a specific, vintage “vibe”—a work is not eroguro just because it features nudity and/or blood.

Around 2000~2002, it became a trend among popular new visual kei bands to reference the Showa (昭和) era in their theming. This occurred across multiple subgenres, but mostly: osare kei (オサレ系), koteosa (コテオサ), Misshitsu kei (密室系), and Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系). As such, some of these bands did have photoshoots, costumes, or covers that referenced eroguro art of the early 1900s.

Similar to the problem with “angura kei” (see above), Western fans saw particular works being described in Japanese as “eroguro-like,” and misunderstood that to be a new subgenre. “Eroguro kei” has thus persisted through English subgenre lists for decades, despite being never considered a subgenre by Japanese sources.

English lists usually provide a vague definition of “eroguro kei” that involves sexuality and violence—but these are themes that have been invoked by hundreds of visual kei and okeshou kei (お化粧系) bands. The examples given in such lists tend to be Misshitsu kei (密室系), Showa kayou kei (昭和歌謡系), kote kei (コテ系), or loud kei (ラウド系) bands.

In short, “eroguro kei” was never considered a subgenre except in popular Western lists, and its proposed definition is so vague as to be useless.

Why doesn't vkgy recognize “neo visual kei” as a subgenre?

The term neo (ネオ) {new} is often prefixed to genres to indicate a “new version” of said genre.

More often than not, it is a marketing term self-proclaimed by record labels, music magazines, or bands themselves: RANDOM described DEAD END as “neo Japanese metal;” Rockin'f described early visual kei as “NEO HARD GENERATION;” ARLEQUIN (アルルカン) described themselves as “neo Nagoya kei;” and so on.

In a similar fashion, ORICON declared in 2006 that the then-current generation of visual kei bands were “neo visual kei.” The genre was experiencing growth at that time—the start of a new boom after the main visual kei boom in 1998~2000. As such, record labels and media companies latched onto “neo visual” as a useful marketing term.

The leading labels of visual kei at that time were PS COMPANY at the major level and UNDER CODE PRODUCTION at the indie level. As such, lists of “neo visual bands” almost always mention the GazettE, alicenine. (アリス九號.), VIDOLL (ヴィドール), or Phantasmagoria.

These bands were not similar in look or sound, which is why most lists struggle to give a coherent definition of “neo visual.” Vague phrases like “modern fashion” or “range of influences” or “catchy songs” frequently appear, but could also be used to describe almost any visual kei band.

All of that being said, while “neo visual kei” is useless as a subgenre, it is useful in the categorization of eras of visual kei. In other words, one could say that there was a “neo visual kei era” which lasted from 2005~2009 (from the start to the end of the second visual boom).

Edit history

• 2025-01-07: edited for clarity
• 2025-01-10: added mori kei
• 2025-06-03: added shoto kei
• 2025-06-26: added kei metal
• 2025-08-19: added kodona kei
• 2025-08-20: added erugoro kei