Kawaii Kon, Hawaii’s premier Anime Convention, is back this year to celebrate all things anime, manga, and Japanese culture from March 29th to 31st. Offering a plethora of activities and events, ...

From Hello Kitty to Pikachu, the country changed what the world considers adorable. But do these characters represent joy — or rage? By Ligaya Mishan Artwork by Hiroshi YoshiiKimiaki Yaegashi and ...

Born from the trauma of World War II, this bow-wearing cartoon icon became a powerful tool for diplomacy, reinvention, and cultural soft power. Dressed in a kimono, Hello Kitty performs a classical ...

The Japundit takes us into a discussion on the aesthetic sensibility of kawaii. (Kawaii translates approximately as “cute“.) Global Voices stands out as one of the earliest and strongest examples of ...

You can trace the word “kawaii” all the way back to the start of the 11th century, when an early form of it, “kawayushi,” which at the time translated more to “having pitiable qualities,” appeared in ...

A new exhibition at London’s Somerset House attempts an answer by unpacking the rise and stay of cuteness in contemporary culture. Simply titled, Cute, the exhibition showcases hundreds of plushies, ...

Even if you were staring into a crystal ball, nobody could have foreseen one of modern metal’s wildest innovations taking the form of three teenage girls performing synchronised dance moves. Decked ...

Tokyo: Japan is known for its cutting-edge technology and advanced lifestyle, often leading people to say that the country is living in 2050. A viral video from Japan has recently captivated the ...