Relay Column: It's Silly (Your Feelings Are Totally Revealed Through Your Appearance)—DREAMS COME TRUE's Miwa Yoshida's Lyric World × Fashion Thesis (Kairi Shimabukuro)

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PROFILE

Kairi Shimabukuro

PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Education & Human Development, Nagoya University. Specializes in Educational Sociology and Gender/Sexuality Studies. Based on interviews with LGBTQ individuals, she conducts sociological research on sexual identity formation in young LGBTQ individuals. She has published papers such as "性的マイノリティに対する文部科学省による支援策の論理――性別違和と同性愛の相違点に着目して" ("Gender Studies" Vol.23, 2020), and "性の多様性教育実践をめぐる一考察――「性のグラデーション図」の三つの落とし穴に着目して" ("Contemporary Philosophy" Vol.50, No.4, 2022).

There is a belief that fashion is a tool for self-expression. In order to show others what kind of person they are, people dress in a way that suits their personality and in clothes they like. This reasoning seems to presuppose that the individual's will to decide their own fashion precedes the choice of outfit.

In this article, however, I would like to propose a different image of fashion. I will do so by using the lyrics of DREAMS COME TRUE's 1990 release "Ring! Ring! Ring!" as a case study. DREAMS COME TRUE, who made their major debut in 1989, has released many songs since then, all written by vocalist Miwa Yoshida.
I would like to analyze the world of Miwa Yoshida's lyrics in "Ring! Ring! Ring!" by focusing on the fashion information present in the song1.

The first verse of "Ring! Ring! Ring!" describes how the protagonist2, who was invited by "him" because "he's nearby," reluctantly agrees to go, despite not seeming very keen while getting ready.

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