Bōsōzoku 暴走族 literally meaning "violent running tribe"( 1950's-1990's) is a motorcyle gang subculture. It began when the automobile industry in Japan started to expand at a fast rate. The first Bōsōzoku were originally known as kaminari-zoku 雷族 meaning the "Lightning Tribes". They were famous for violating traffic laws by speeding, not wearing helmets, and running red lights. They sped through towns and suburbs raising their flags and waving them , causing uproars and fights. The normal choice of weaponry used by these gangs were wooden swords , metal pipes and baseball bats. Members were usually under the legal age in Japan which is 20.
Motorcycles
Bōsōzoku were known for fixing up their bikes to be flashy. They combined the look of oversized Japanese road bikes with American choppers and British Cafe Racers. It would have "oversized visored fenders like those found on café racers, "sissy" bars and raised handle bars like those on a chopper" (Wikipedia). Strong and Loud paint jobs on the fenders or gas tanks with motifs likes flames or the kamikaze style "rising sun designs" were of the norm. The bikes would always have the stickers and /or flags of the specific gang logo on them. Difference of what area the gang was in were also portrayed on their bikes like the Ibaraki bōsōzoku had very bright colorful and flashy bikes.
Typical Style
Typical bōsōzoku style is constantly portrayed everywhere in mangas, anime, and films. Normally a bōsōzoku member will wear a jumpsuit of some sort like those worn by a laborer ( a mechanic type one) or by a tokkō-fuku 特攻服 ( Special Attack Uniform)a "military issued overcoat with kanji slogans usually worn open with no shirt underneath showing off their bandaged torsos and baggy matching pants tucked inside tall boots" (Wikipedia). Often a tasuki ( a sash tied in an X form around the torso) was wrapped around them a look inspired by Japanese World War II fighters. A few other common item they wore were wrap around sun glasses, hachimaki head bands with battle slogans and a pompadour hairstyle which is closely related to a greasy rocker look or the look of a Yazuka thug and Punch perms (パンチパーマ, panchi pāma which is a tightly permed male hair style . Surgical masks were also worn it is a possibility it was to conceal their identities. Females dressed very similar just more femininely and with long died hair high heeled boots and a lot of make up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C5%8Ds%C5%8Dzokuhttp://www.blogger.com/goog_1258950641840
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JapaneseBosozoku.jpg
