Visual Kei Subgenres

Kote Kei

The dark, theatrical origin point of Visual Kei — elaborate costumes, heavy riffs, gothic drama.

Nagoya Kei

Heavier, darker, and more aggressive than mainstream VK — the underground sound of Nagoya.

Oshare Kei

Colourful, upbeat pop-punk with a kawaii aesthetic — the antithesis of dark VK.

Angura Kei

Japanese underground art and grotesque imagery fused into avant-garde rock.

Tanbi Kei

Aestheticism and beauty above all — European art, androgyny, and lush orchestration.

Loud Kei

Where Visual Kei meets heavy metal — the hardest, most aggressive wing of the scene.

Iryou Kei

Hospital and medical imagery pushed to grotesque extremes — surgery gowns and splatter aesthetics.

Menhera Kei

Raw mental-health themes expressed through dark kawaii imagery and confessional lyrics.

Wafuu Kei

Traditional Japanese aesthetics — feudal costuming, shamisen tones, and classical motifs.

Soft Visual

Lighter makeup, melodic rock, and mass-market appeal — VK for the mainstream.

Kirakira Kei

Glitter, idol energy, and hyper-cute aesthetics — the newest and most maximalist branch.