Gwen Stefani Puzzles With 'I'm Japanese' Statement

"No Doubt" singer Gwen Stefani is attempting to defend her Harajuku-style career era, but is only bringing more attention to her history as a cultural appropriator.

In an interview with Allure magazine, Stefani said she was inspired by Japan's Harajuku subculture for her debut solo studio album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." And being inspired isn't a crime, per say.

"That was my Japanese influence," Stefani said. "And that was a culture that was so rich with tradition, yet so futuristic [with] so much attention to art and detail and discipline and it was fascinating to me."

During the time period, Stefani traveled with four "Harajuku Girls," and their style influenced everything from Stefani's album art to fragrances and style.

When asked what she learned from the era, Stefani doubled down on her embracing of it at the time. According to her, her father worked for Japanese brand Yamaha for 18 years and frequently traveled between California and Japan.

"I said, 'My God, I'm Japanese and I didn't know it.' I am, you know," she said, before declaring herself a "super fan."

"If [people are] going to criticize me for being a fan of something beautiful and sharing that, then I just think that doesn't feel right," she said. "I think it was a beautiful time of creativity...a time of the ping-pong match between Harajuku culture and American culture. [It] should be okay to be inspired by other cultures because if we're not allowed then that's dividing people, right?"

Read the full interview.