KERA / KEROUAC MAGAZINE: For Eccentric Boys & Girls (1998-2017)
The first issue of KERA Magazine was published back in 1998, originally under the name of KEROUAC, and quickly became one of the main publications defining Harajuku street culture. The original name was taken from the writer Jack Kerouac and his novel ‘On the Road.’ The founders of the magazine felt that Kerouac’s rambling countercultural tale of life on the streets of America resonated with their mission to provide a raw look at the streets of Harajuku. The name proved too hard for Japanese audiences to read, however, and from 2000 onwards the magazine became KERA.
From its very first issue, KERA focused on punk fashion and trends in rock music. They also popularized the street snap style of photography with pictures of Harajuku, features on readers caught on the street and occasional snaps of celebrities. The magazine also quickly expanded its scope to include numerous articles on street fashion in cities such as London, Berlin & New York and share these with local audiences.
The magazine boomed and quickly began to include major talent and singers on their covers. The likes of Anna Tsuchiya and Nana Kitade adorned earlier issues and global figures like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu featured on the front of the August 2011 issue.
KERA also led to a number of spin off publications such as KERA BOYS and KERA MANIAX (an extended version including small gifts for readers). Another spin off, ‘Gothic & Lolita Bible’ arguably became more popular than KERA itself, covering Gothic Lolita fashion until it was cancelled in 2009.
Unfortunately, printing of KERA was discontinued in 2017 with the entire archive moved online. This came at the same time as the cancellation of another major Harajuku publication, FRUiTS. The founder of FRUiTS, Shoichi Aoki stated at the time that “there were no more fashionable kids to photograph.” Whether this is true or not, its undeniable that the gentrification of the Harajuku area is making it less of a safe haven for those wishing to explore the weirder side of fashion.
