Burusera (ブルセラ) is a Japanese slang term referring to a niche subculture and resale market that emerged in the 1990s, centered on second-hand clothing—most famously school uniforms—valued for their association rather than their practical use. The word is a portmanteau of buruma (bloomers) and serafuku (sailor uniform). Today, it’s mainly discussed in historical, sociological, or pop-culture contexts as an example of how fashion, fandom, and taboo intersected in Japan’s urban youth culture, rather than as a mainstream or accepted practice.
