by the El Reportero’s news services
Young Japanese girls adopt ‘Cholo’s culture.
A Chicano subculture which reached peak popularity in the U.S. between the 1940s and 1970s, has made its way to Japan.
There appears Japan has a growing community of “cholos” and “cholas”, a look now most commonly seen among Los Angeles street gangs.
Japanese rappers like MoNa aka Sad Girl have created careers with a mix of Spanish, English, and Japanese rapping.
The look includes baggy jeans (pants and shorts), over-sized knaki shorts, flannel shirts, white undershirts, bandanas, flat-brimmed baseball caps, dark lip liner for cholas, lowriders, jerseys, clearly visible tattoos, gold jewelry (often crosses), and knee-high socks. Interestingly, there is often also the presence or depiction of a Mexican flag.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Filipinos living in East Los Angeles also developed an affinity for the cholo culture.
But just as the Chicano culture has made its way to Japan, it has also allowed U.S. record labels a new market in which to promote their cholo/a artists.
Jaime Diaz, President and CEO of Urban Kings Music Group, recently told OC Weekly, ‘Japan has been more of an avenue for profit. We distribute to stores out there and it helps us out a lot. Japan will be the first place to buy product from independent artists.’ Japanese cholo artists have even taken on names like EL LATINO, GARCiA, and EL-REY.
Who knew East Asia would be the new home of the cholo? Or is it J-Cholo?
Check out some of the photos collected by the team over at POCHO below.
ABC family orders pilot for adaptation of Mexican drama Terminales
ABC Family has reportedly ordered three pilots, among them an adaptation of a popular Mexican drama series.
Terminales, which was created and produced by Miguel Angel Fox, was a 13-episode Televisa show that ran from 2008 to 2009.
“Terminales is a one-hour drama based on a successful Mexican television format by Miguel Angel Fox and follows a young woman’s life after she is diagnosed with a terminal illness. The pilot was written by Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz. Aaron Kaplan (GCB, The Neighbors, Terra Nova), Fogel and Lefkowitz will serve as executive producers. It will be produced by Lionsgate in association with Televisa.
“ABC Family is synonymous with groundbreaking dramas, and this summer we found additional strength with our comedy lineup. These pilots will further our strength in both areas and add to our existing slate,” said Kate Juergens, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Development, ABC Family.
“In fact, over the past few years, the network launched the #1 new basic cable series in target demos with Pretty Little Liars in Summer 2010 and ‘Switched at Birth’ in Summer 2011, and launched the #1 new cable comedy of Summer 2012 with Baby Daddy. It’s a trend we are working to continue.”
The other two pilots are for Phys Ed and Continuing Fred. All three pilots will go into production this fall along with the previously announced drama pilots The Fosters (working title), from executive producer Jennifer López, and Socio, from executive producer Gavin Polone.
