A totally new Soshoku Danshi

In perhaps the most confusingly named trend in history, the Japanese press has christened today's fashionable Japanese men "Soshoku Danshi" (装飾男子). Here's why it's confusing: There has already been a big media brouhaha over another group called the "Soshoku Danshi" (草食男子) -- aka Herbivore Men.

Both have the same sounds but different kanji compounds, but that distinction is lost in both English and spoken Japanese. We get the pun and everything, but you are not making our jobs easy! 

The new Soshoku means "decorative," and the appelation basically refers to extremely fashionable young men who wear a very complex and Japanese style based on European high fashion.

The tell-tale signs of a decorative Soshoku Danshi: drop-crotch pants, rolled up cuffs, layers of scarves and a preference for black. Most work in the fashion industry, go to fashion school or aspire to join one or the other.

The best place to view Soshoku Danshi boys, outside of Omotesando, is fashion snap sites Fashionsnap.com and Style from Tokyo. This guy does a colorful take on the look. This guy combines the style with traditional American winter clothing.

Since the press is so bent on making puns with words that have the sound "soshoku danshi," here are your next Soshoku Danshi: 僧職男子, "priest boys" who want to become good Buddhist bozu, and 曹植男子, "Cao Zhi boys" who are into 2nd century Chinese poetry. We thought the konchu danshi were ridiculous but in hindsight, at least they brought a new sound to the table.