Japanese Comedian Tanabe Shares Photos From Her Past as a "Gyaru"
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Tanabe Chika, a member of the Japanese comedy group Boru-Juku, has shared old photos showing a very different version of herself from her twenties.
In the photos, Tanabe appears much heavier, weighing 85kg. She later lost a large amount of weight, going down to 53kg. Fans reacted strongly, with many saying she looked "very thin" compared to her earlier self.
The photos also reveal that Tanabe once had a gyaru look, a Japanese fashion trend popular among young women that usually includes bright or dyed hair and bold makeup. Tanabe said she had dyed her hair to make it brighter during that period of her life.
She also recalled dancing in Center Gai, a well-known street in Shibuya that is popular with young people and known for fashion and nightlife. Tanabe described dancing a style called "para para," a type of Japanese dance often performed in clubs.
In addition, Tanabe spoke about going to clubs almost every day during her twenties, before she became a professional comedian. She also mentioned that at the age of 27, she achieved something she had long wanted, though the specific goal was not detailed in the original report.
The old photos surprised many people online, with comments such as "she's lost so much weight" appearing widely. Tanabe is now a well-known entertainer in Japan, and her honest sharing of her past has drawn attention from fans curious about her transformation.
Vocabulary7 words
- comedy group
- a team of people who perform to make audiences laugh
- gyaru
- a Japanese fashion style with bright hair and bold makeup
- recalled
- remembered and talked about something from the past
- Center Gai
- a famous shopping and nightlife street in Shibuya, Tokyo
- clubs
- places where people go to dance and listen to music at night
- entertainer
- someone whose job is to perform and amuse an audience
- transformation
- a big change in appearance or life
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Quiz
Answer key
1. She lost a large amount of weight 2. Gyaru style 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, a member of the Japanese comedy group Boru-Juku, has shared old photos showing a very _____ version of herself from her twenties.
In the photos, Tanabe appears much heavier, weighing _____. She later lost a large amount of weight, going down to _____.
The photos also reveal that Tanabe once had a _____ look, a Japanese fashion trend popular among young women.
She also recalled dancing in _____, a well-known street in Shibuya that is popular with young people.
Tanabe described dancing a style called "_____," a type of Japanese dance often performed in clubs.
Tanabe spoke about going to _____ almost every day during her twenties, before she became a professional comedian.
At the age of _____, she achieved something she had long wanted.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think people were surprised by Tanabe's old photos?
- Have you ever seen big changes in how a celebrity looked over time? What did you think?
- Do you think it is good for public figures to share their past like this? Why or why not?
- What do you know about Japanese youth fashion styles like gyaru?
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