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“Kawaii”:The Culture of “Cute” in Japan

+Historyof “Kawaii”

In 1912, an illustrator opened a shop specifically for young girls, the first of it’s type, which included drawings on leather good/handbags.

It got a further boost in the 1970s with a new form of writing by girls including characters and smiley faces in their letters.

Despite being banned in some places, the handwriting begun to be used in magazines and comics.

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+What is “Kawaii” and it’s History

Here are some youtube videos about the “kawaii” culture and some famous icons:

What is Kawaii?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmlhQL9wxIY

http://www.wsj.com/video/infectiously-cute-japan-kawaii-culture/1F90D120-E531-4FCF-9CBD-E93051E99FB0.html

http://www.japanpowered.com/japan-culture/what-is-kawaii

+Kawaii took off with three major developmentsGirl’s IllustrationShojo (young girls Fancy Goods Marketing

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Images of Harajuku and “kawaii’ girls

+Features of Kawaii

+The spread of “Kawaii” from Harajuku to across the globe This culture of cute spread to fashion, and really took off in

Harajuku, a suburb of Tokyo, where young people could dress in more outrageous ways.

Many say “kawaii” is a merging of East and West as many Western features can be seen in the Kawaii culture.

Schoolgirls have become icons of the kawaii culture, and manga (comics) featuring young school girls like Sailor Moon have become popular, featuring cartoon drawing styles with round “Western” eyes and fashion trends more in common with America.

Now, Kawaii culture is a global phenomenon, especially in Paris, with some fashion designers taking on ‘kawaii’ character personas in advertising campaigns.

+Harajuku and it’s “Kawaii” characters

Harajuku Kawaii festival

https://vimeo.com/85083491

Kawaii ‘Harajuku’ personalities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WblNctc3ys0

School girl & ‘Sailor Moon’ fashion

kawaii schoolgirls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HoEYbJY1gY

+Domo

Totoro

Sailor Moon

+Some popular cartoon (anime) characters in Japan

Sailor Moon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6_RZhh44NY

Domo-kun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUvXWlGGpfA

+More cartoon characters

These cute cartoon characters are popular in Japan:

Anpanman Domo-kun Doraemon Hamtaro Hello Kitty[24]

Hello Kitty[24]

Miffy [14]

PikachuPingu[24]

Sailor Moon

Totoro

+How to draw ‘Anime’

http://www.dragoart.com/anime-manga-c173-1.htm

http://nekoneko.hubpages.com/hub/drawmanga

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