Stefani’s mascots

New doubt: Is Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku obsession offensive? By Heather V. Eng

Gwen Stefani may be crazy about all things Japanese, but not all Asian-Americans are crazy about Stefani.

With her debut as a solo artist last year, Stefani traded in her No Doubt bandmates for a posse of four Japanese females. Now she’s traveling around the world with her Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005, which comes tonight to the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. Her Harajuku girls represent women from the fashionable Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Stefani’s clothing line, L.A.M.B., and songs from her album “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” Harajuku girls are known to express their individuality with wild street fashion, ranging from shocking candy-colored hair to Halloween-style get-ups.

But while Stefani may think she’s presenting Asians as fashion style-setters, some observers feel she’s merely perpetuating a demeaning stereotype.

“When I saw (Stefani) and her crew at the Kid’s Choice Awards ceremony, I was like, ‘Wow, what the hell is that?’ ” said Shirley Tang, professor of Asian-American studies at UMass-Boston. “It reminded me of that scene in ‘Austin Powers’ with the Japanese women in the roles of sex symbols. Men-pleasing roles.”

With their sexy outfits and subservient demeanors, Stefani’s Harajuku girls seem more like colorful, geisha arm-candy than trendsetters. In Stefani’s act, they’re seen either giggling and fawning over the Caucasian star or staring with blank expressions and behaving like robots. If the rumor that they are under contractual obligation not to speak in public is true, they literally have nothing to say for themselves.“I do think it’s harmful,” said Sophia Kim, who has created anti-racism and anti-sexism campaigns with the Asian American Resource Workshop. “It’s imposed this box on Asian women, on who we can be and can’t be. And with non-Asian women and men, it shapes what they think about Asian women.”

According to Tang, the mainstream media typecasts Asian females into three categories: the super-sexy, exotic, diva slut; the submissive woman who will do anything to please a man; and the innocent little girl.

Stefani’s Harajuku girls certainly aren’t breaking any stereotypes - and neither are her song lyrics. In “Rich Girl,” Stefani sings about things she would buy, cooing “I’d get me four Harajuku girls . . . I’d dress them wicked, I’d give them names.”

Kevin Quan, communications director for Asian Media Watchdog, said Stefani’s Harajuku obsession is part of the Western world’s fascination with Eastern culture, from anime movies to Chinese character tattoos. But the fact that it’s understandable doesn’t make it any less offensive.

“There is a chance she thinks she’s doing something good and fun and opening up different cultures,” Quan said. “(But) suppose she picked four African-American women and created the ‘Zulu Lovers’ tour. Would nobody question that? Or if she had the ‘Latin Lovers’ tour with four Latino females following her around?”

While Stefani’s management refused to comment on the criticism, not all Asian-Americans are offended by her use of Harajuku girls. Indeed, some admire it.

“I don’t think it’s portraying Japan in a negative way,” said Rico Mochizuki, director of programs at the Japan Society of Boston. “I think she hits (her portrayal of Harajuku girls) on the money. It’s almost like the lead singer with the chorus. You’re not demoralizing or putting them down.”