Japanese Comedian Tanabe Shares Photos From Her Past as a "Gyaru"
Listen to the story
Tanabe Chika is a comedian in Japan. She is part of a group called Boru-Juku.
Tanabe showed old photos of herself. In the photos, she looks very different. She used to weigh 85kg. Later, she weighed only 53kg. People say she looks very thin in the new photos.
In the photos, Tanabe has a gyaru style. Gyaru is a Japanese fashion style. Gyaru girls often have bright hair and bold makeup.
Tanabe said she made her hair bright. She said she danced in a place called Center Gai in Shibuya. This is a famous street for young people.
Tanabe also talked about going to clubs every day when she was young. She did this before she became a comedian.
People online were surprised by the photos. Many people said, 'She was very thin!' Tanabe is now famous as a comedian on Japanese TV.
Vocabulary6 words
- comedian
- a person who makes people laugh for a job
- thin
- not fat; small body size
- gyaru
- a Japanese fashion style with bright hair and bold makeup
- bright
- very light in color
- Center Gai
- a famous street in Shibuya, Tokyo
- clubs
- places where people dance and listen to music at night
Quiz
Answer key
1. Comedian 2. 85kg 3. Center Gai in Shibuya
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Tanabe Chika is a _____ in Japan. She is part of a group called Boru-Juku.
Tanabe showed old photos of herself. In the photos, she looks very different. She used to weigh _____. Later, she weighed only _____. People say she looks very _____ in the new photos.
In the photos, Tanabe has a _____ style. Gyaru is a Japanese fashion style.
Tanabe said she made her hair _____. She said she danced in a place called _____ in Shibuya.
Tanabe also talked about going to _____ every day when she was young.
People online were surprised by the photos. Many people said, 'She was very thin!'


