Purikura, a shortened form of "print club" in Japanese, refers to photo sticker booths that print out stickers of photo portraits set against backgrounds and frames selected by the user. Since their market debut in 1995, purikura have been a major hit in Japan, especialy among high school girls. The photo stickers have largely taken the place of souvenir photographs, and are traded among friends and shown in sticker albums. Easily purchased for the small amount of a few hundred yen, purikura have taken on an important role as a kind of communication tool for friends to reaffirm their bonds. Now 17 years since hitting the market, purikura photo booths still bring enjoyment to groups of friends and continue to evolve as machines that bring to life the girlhood ideals of cuteness and beauty.