also: スケばん · すけばん
leader of a female gang; head of a group of delinquent girls
Slang term from the 1970s–80s Japanese subculture, referring to the boss of a sukeban girl gang. Often associated with a specific fashion and attitude.
The leader of that girl gang always wears a long skirt.
Apparently she was famous as a sukeban in junior high school.
Katakana spelling is the most common written form for this slang term.
Kanji-kana mixed spelling; less common than pure katakana.
Ateji kanji spelling; rarely used.
The term combines スケ (suke, a slang term for woman/girl) and 番 (ban, meaning 'boss' or 'leader'). The exact origin of スケ is uncertain, but it may derive from 助 (suke), a common suffix in male names, repurposed as slang for women.