Haro Kiti and the Cuteness Epidemic

Kitty-Kats R US

In Japan, an overwhelming number of things are cute. Here, cuteness is an industry with many items, stores, and foods marketed solely on their cuteness. With Hello Kitty being Japan’s official ambassador of tourism in China and Hong Kong as well has having a vast presence globally, something has turned Japan towards this cuteness epidemic.

“Cuteness” is defined as “delightfully pretty or dainty.”  Perhaps the trend towards cuteness lies in a quest for eternal youth or a maintaining of childhood and daintiness. A lot of controversy exists surrounding the roots and effects of cuteness in Japanese culture. Tomoyuki Sugiyama, author of “Cool Japan”, asserts that “cuteness” is rooted in Japan’s harmony-loving culture, their searching to maintain wa or harmony in the collective psyche and social interaction. Nobuyoshi Kurita, a sociology professor at Musashi University has stated that “cute” is a “magic term” that encompasses everything that’s acceptable and desirable in Japan.It can also be considered a sign of an infantile mentality; Hiroto Murasawa, professor of beauty and culture at Osaka Shoin Women’s University believes that cuteness is “a mentality that breeds non-assertion … Individuals who choose to stand out get beaten down.” Maybe it has it’s roots in Confucian philosophy of harmony and these young girls and women choose to identify as cute as a way of social submission. On the other hand, it could be a completely harmless (and perhaps healthier for females in that it emphasises innocence above sexuality).

Apparently the trend started in the 1970’s when school girls started inserting more “cute” symbols and loops into their writing. The writing itself was rendered almost unreadable due to the hearts, stars, and romanji inserted in the text and was later outlawed in schools. Not missing a welcoming market, Sanrio released Hello Kitty (the first bit of merch being a Hello Kitty coin purse in 1974 which would hit the states in 1976).

Now Hello Kitty is everywhere; a theme park called Puroland in Tokyo, a hospital in Taiwan that uses Hello Kitty’s branding to “calm anxious expecting mothers,” and in public service announcements.

Are you prepared for a natural or unnatural disaster? Get ready with Kitty White!

I always wanted this toaster...

Hello Kitty is my Jesus. Uhuh.

I found the HK tattoo at www.kittyhell.com, a hilarious website of a man suffering from cuteness overload.

And don’t think I’m dissing the cuteness factor here. I do really enjoy it and I’ve been a victim of it myself. But in this dangerous world isn’t better to strive for cuteness instead of sluttiness?

“In this dirty-minded world, you are either somebody’s wife or somebody’s whore–or fast on your way to becoming one or the other. If you don’t fit either category, then everyone tries to make you think there is something wrong with you.”

The World According to Garp -John Irving (Thank for the book recommendation, Bunny. I love every page of it! And I cried at the end, the mark of an excellent book)

A cute Asian in her environment:

This cutie is so perfect with that bow. A true innocent. She was about to cry when I took her picture.

Off to Harajuku to bask in the cuteness of Sunday Cosplay.