Mizuiro

Mizuiro (水色, meaning "water colored" or "aqua") is a Japanese aesthetic that utilizes a light blue color palette and visuals from contemporary youth in the nation. Its mood is largely pessimistic, with cold tones, slouchy clothing, and an association with Otaku culture. It also incorporates Kawaii elements, especially with mascots and girly fashion.

The community for this aesthetic creates content on Instagram and TikTok, which you can find by searching 水色界隈 (mizuiro community), 水色サブカル (mizuiro subculture), and 水色雰囲気 (mizuiro aesthetic).

History[]

Before it was given any name, the aesthetic was mostly associated with Ano from the now distinct Japanese idol group You'll Melt More! as well as her fans during the mid-to-late 2010s. As the "light blue" member of the group, she was mainly known for being a social outcast and her customized tracksuits, both of which are still a recurring theme in the aesthetic to this today.

In 2020, due to a tracksuit boom, a renewed interest in the aesthetic occured, causing a new peak in its popularity.

Visuals[]

Most images in this aesthetic have been edited to be cooler toned, with a bluish-gray hue over the image. The colors in this aesthetic always include light blue (hence the name) and white. Black and silver are other common colors. Pink may show through because of the popular trend of excess blush makeup and its ubiquity in Kawaii merchandise. Some mizuiro visuals incorporate cyber/webcore visuals from the 90s or 2000s to early 2010s, with low-poly computer generated imagery, old web design and fonts, and Web 1.0 internet UIs.

Cute, minimalistic illustrations are also a popular motif in this aesthetic and very reminiscent of wabi-sabi with their wobbly outlines and unpolished look. They usually feature original characters created for purely aesthetic reasons rather than a story.

However, characters from specific anime and franchises may be featured too. People in this aesthetic may own figurines, posters, and various other merchandise centered around these characters, similar to Kawaii Gamer. A common character is Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion, as well as Hachiware from Chiikawa, and the de facto mascot is Sanrio's Cinnamoroll. What all these characters have in common is that white and blue are their main colors, which explains their popularity in the mizuiro community.

The locations many images take place in also reflect an Otaku lifestyle. Many photos often take place in arcades and gamer set-ups. The photos also often have an industrial edge to them, as many photos were taken in city streets and parking garages, with concrete and steel being common in the background.

Fashion[]

Popular_with_Gen_Z!_Mizuiro_Kaiwai — Popular with Gen Z! Mizuiro Kaiwai

While the aesthetic covers a wide range of styles, there is a few elements that are characteristic of mizuiro fashion.

Classic Mizuiro (2010s)[]

This fashion style mainly consists a blue color scheme, usually with hints of sportiness or techwear influences like tracksuits, hoodies, etc. Sometimes flared leg warmers are included. Usually features kawaii imagery or a general soft feel, and is paired with old web aesthetics.

Jersey Maid (2020s)[]

Written as ジャージメイド in Japanese, the jersey maid style is a fashion style that utilizes tracksuits (commonly called jerseys in Japan) with maid-like details, such as ruffles and lace. Outfits consisting of an oversized tracksuit worn in combination with a maid headdress and apron are the most common, but there's also many clothes specifically made with the style in mind that can often resemble Girly and Lolita fashion. Western fans had mistakenly referred to this 2020s revival of Mizuiro as Tenshi Kaiwai (天使界隈, Angel Community); this is actually the community hashtag of the Tenshi Zyoshi magazine/blog that featured the aesthetic, not the aesthetic itself.

Communication Method[]

Content creators on TikTok often create videos of them wearing the light blue outfits and dancing to fast-paced electronic dance music or VOCALOID music. Commonly, these people cover up their face with stickers or use filters.

Like in other fashion-centered TikTok communities, there are also many videos where people following the aesthetic show off their latest hauls, introduce their favorite brands, or recommend specific products and where to get them.