Visual kei (ヴィジュアル系 vijuaru kei, literally "visual style" or "visual system") is a movement among Japanese musicians,that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics.Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock,with its own particular sound, related to glam rock, punk and metal.However other sources state that visual kei's unique clothing, make-up, fashions, and participation in the related sub-culture is equally as important as the sound of the music itself in the use of the term

Visual kei emerged in the mid 1980s, pioneered by bands such as X Japan, D'erlanger, Buck-Tickand Color.The term visual kei was created with one of X Japan's slogans "Psychedelic violence crime of visual shock".Color vocalist "Dynamite Tommy" formed his record company Free-Will in 1986, which has been a major contributor in spreading modern visual kei outside Japan.Under Code Production, a sub-label of Free-Will founded by Kisaki, since its formation in 2003 has had a definite influence on newer independent visual kei bands, particularly in Osaka.

In 1992, X Japan launched an attempt to enter the European and American markets, but it would take another 8 years until popularity and awareness of visual kei bands would extend worldwide.In the mid 1990s, visual kei received an increase in popularity throughout Japan, and album sales from visual kei bands started to reach record numbers. The most notable bands to achieve success during this period included X Japan, Glay, and Luna Sea; however, a drastic change in their appearance accompanied their success.[14] During the same period other bands, such as Kuroyume, Malice Mizer, and Penicillin, gained mainstream awareness, although they were not as commercially successful.By 1999, the mainstream popularity of visual kei was declining; X Japan had disbanded, and in 2000, Luna Sea decided to disband.

In 2007 the genre was revitalized, as Luna Sea performed a one-off performance, and X Japan reunited for a new single and a world tour. With these developments, visual kei bands enjoyed a boost in public awareness, described by some media as "neo-visual kei".New bands still use visual kei to describe themselves. Some examples of mainstream bands are Versailles, Nightmare, and The Gazette.

Visual kei has enjoyed popularity among independent underground projects, as well as artists achieving mainstream success, with influences from Western phenomena, such as glam, goth and cyberpunk.The music performed encompasses a large variety of genres, i.e. pop, punk, heavy metal and electronica.Magazines published regularly in Japan with visual kei coverage are Arena 37°C, Cure, Fool's Mate and Shoxx. Noted bands who at least at some point sported a visual kei theme include (early) Dir en grey,Luna Sea and Malice Mizer.The popularity and awareness of such groups outside of Japan has seen an increase in recent years.

Oshare
bouncy and bright, their songs focusing on happy and positive messages like friends and relationships. Their style is colorful and vibrant, sometimes similar to decora, but usually much more toned down. Other than occasional eyeliner and colored contacts, they rarely wear alot of makeup, also unlike the visual kei genre. Oshare kei started to appear around 2001, and was said to have been started by Ryo of Baroque in their PV "Anakuro Film".

Notable bands:
Kra, Ancafe, Irokui, Panic*CH, HeaRt, Ichigo69, Vinett, Lolita23q, Shelly Trip Realize, Charlotte, Clavier

Cyber
A genre's that mainly into techno, dark/trance, and electro/industrial music. This style has been known as the 21st century modernization of visual kei. The characteristics of cyber kei itself closely related to fashion as well as music that focusing futuristic and Sci-Fi styles using both florescent and dark colors.

Ero Guro
The term is often used incorrectly by western audiences to mean "gore"—depictions of horror, blood, and guts. In actuality the "grotesque" term implies malformed, unnatural or horrific.Items that are pornographic and bloody are not necessarily ero guro, and ero-guro is not necessarily pornographic or bloody.

notable bands:Cali Gari,MUCC,Merry

Angura
Angura is a shortened form of the english word 'underground'. This is a cultural movement in Japan that dated back to the 1960's and had a great expression in independent theatre.
It is a movement who influenced many manga artists who tried to find a unique identity for their own cultures.

It also linked with the Eroguro style, but the main difference was that angura is darker and more formal. The use of Japanese uniform, kimono, or other traditional garb is very common in angura-kei bands.

Notable Bands:Inugami Circus-dan

Nagoya
with its roots in the early-1990s music scene of Nagoya, Japan. Often considered darker and gloomier than normal visual kei, nagoya kei takes its musical influences more so from western (specifically British) punk rock bands. The focus of the bands tends to be much less on costume and makeup in favor of more complex musical compositions and concentration on the music itself.

notable bands:Silver~Rose, Laputa, Fanatic Crisis, Kuroyume and Merry Go Round. Other notable bands include Kein, Lamiel, Phobia, Deadman, Blast, Gullet, The Studs, Lynch. and Deathgaze.