"The schoolgirl is the main driver of Japan's Gross National Cool, and Brian Ashcraft's book is the best source for those hoping to understand why."—Chris Baker, <i>WIRED</i> Magazine<BR><BR><i>Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential</i> takes you beyond the realm of everyday girls to the world of the iconic Japanese schoolgirl craze that is sweeping the globe.<BR><BR>For years, Japanese schoolgirls have appeared in hugely-popular anime and manga series such as <i>Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,</i> and <i>Blood: The Last Vampire</i>. These girls are literally showing up everywhere—in movies, magazines, video games, advertising, and music. <i>WIRED</i> Magazine has kept an eye on the trends emerging from these stylish teens, following kick-ass schoolgirl characters in videogames like <i>Street Fighter</i> and assassin schoolgirls in movies like Quentin Tarantino's <i>Kill Bill</i>.<BR><BR>By talking to Japanese women, including former and current J-Pop idols, well-known actresses, models, writers, and artists—along with famous Japanese film directors, historians and marketers—authors Brian Ashcraft and Shoko Ueda (who have both contributed to <i>WIRED</i>'s "Japanese Schoolgirl Watch" columns) reveal the true story behind Japan's schoolgirl obsessions.<BR><BR>You'll learn the origins of the schoolgirls' unusual attire, and how they are becoming a global brand used to sell everything from kimchi to insurance. In <i>Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential</i>, you'll discover:<b><ul><li> Sailor-suited pop-idols </li><li> Cult movie vixens </li><li> Schoolgirl shopping power </li><li> The latest uniform fashions</li></ul></b><BR>Japanese schoolgirls are a symbol of girl empowerment. <i>Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential</i> shows why they are so intensely cool. Don't miss this essential book on the Japanese youth culture craze that is driving today's pop culture worldwide.