2025.01.19

"There Are No Girls Who Aren't Cute" – Examining the Culture of Elaborate Hairstyles & Diversity Through "Hime Gal Paradise"

#Hime Gal Paradise

#2000s

#manga

#Ciao

#gyaru culture

#Tajimax

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In the 2000s, "Ciao" escalated in entertainment value, featuring glamorous series, among which many readers fondly remember "Hime Gal Paradise."

Launched in 2009, "Hime Gal Paradise" follows the story of the plain high school girl Hiko Tachikawa who meets the "Hime Gyaru" boys Tochiotome Mikami and struggles to pursue her goal of being "fashionable."

Tochiotome's radiant beauty and countless uplifting words resonated strongly with readers at the time, and this sentiment continues to be shared on social media even in the Reiwa era.

How was "Hime Gal Paradise" born ahead of its time? This time, we spoke with the author Akira Wao about the fashion and culture of that era, as well as valuable insights related to the work.

PROFILE

Akira Wao

Hailing from Aichi Prefecture. Debuted in 2005 with "ハイカラ恋らんまん" published in the spring issue of Shogakukan's "Ciao DX." Since then, they have serialized works like "Hime Gal Paradise" and "特攻サヤカ☆夜露死苦" in "Ciao." In 2017, she gave birth to a girl, and in 2019, to a boy. Currently, she is serializing "ギャル漫画家がママになりました" weekly on the WEB "Ciao Plus."
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The Background Behind the Creation of the Talked-about "Hime Gal Paradise" with Its Innovative Setting

"Hime Gal Paradise" Volume 1 Page 9 (©Akira Wao / Shogakukan)

In contemporary times, the concept of "makeup boys" has become quite common. However, at the time of serialization of this work, the setting of male characters who are highly interested in beauty was groundbreaking in the world of shoujo manga.