Mr P ! Your ear is flopping ! ! !
She Says:
Welcome to the wonderful world of Kawaii ! ! ! But what is Kawaii ? ? ? The word actually means something like cute or pretty. One of constant characteristics of Kawaii is the association with animals. Bunnies, puppies, kittens are most common, and you see them everywhere.
As we look at some of the tracks we will point out some of the elements that are typically kawaii, including some of the hand gestures and dance moves,
We hope you enjoy it ! ! !
He Says:
Hello. Welcome to the world of chocolate jellybean unicorns and stuff, aka “Kawaii”. As Sakura says this means something like “cute” but so much more too. My favourite type of “Kawaii” stuff is where it all goes a bit wrong ( by Western standards) such as in Ebichu , the housekeeping hamster ( want to see a hamster bite it’s “masters” boyfriends tender parts ? Then look for the “Camembert” episode on Youtube) or Gloomy bear, a “Kawaii” bear that is “befriended” by a little boy. Except that Gloomy behaves like a real bear and attacks him all the time. So sweet ! Anyway, on with the tracks.
Sakura – Yuikaori – Puppy Love
She Says:
This is typically Kawaii ! ! ! You have two pretty girls singing about an innocent first love ♥ Kawaii girls have a whole language of hand gestures and in the video you can see some typical ones. The obvious one you will see is the gestures for the puppy ears with the hands at the side of the head to make a shape like ears, but also there is the sign for “no” or to signal disagreement which is the index fingers each hands crossed, and excitement is signalled by holding the arms close to the body and making a fist and then moving them up and down quickly. You can also see the gesture for determination which is like a karate punch move but without the violence and the heart sign made with two hands which of course symbolises love ♥ By follwoing the gestures you can actually understand the song ! ! !
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He Says:
No, it’s not the Osmonds ! How can you not like this ? It would be like baking a puppy in a pie and eating it. Too cruel. No, this is sweet, fun and totally adorkable too !
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Pairubu – Hazel Nuts Chocolate – Yo Ho Ho
He Says:
From the album “Cute” (you get the picture I expect) Ms Nuts -. Chocolate sounds like she is being accompanied by a band of pirate unicorns on this song The whole album has a “toytown” feel to it and is highly recommended. I guess you can hear where this sound comes from in some of the earlier electronic bands from Tokyo. Mix their music with the whole Kawaii philosphy and it’s pretty much guaranteed that at some point someone would start singing about pirates.
And here it is, delightfully bonkers.
She Says:
Sugoi ! ! ! (this is what Kawaii girls say when they mean wonderful ! ! !) I just love this track it is so much fun ! ! ! You have probably realized that one of the key concepts of Kawaii is a high pitched voice ! ! ! Actually I noticed that when I was in the USA the girls voice’s are much deeper than Japanese girls voices, but Kawaii exaggerates this and makes the voice higher and more childish, because of course the only thing cuter than a bunny is a kid ! ! !
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Sakura - H!P All Stars – All For One & One For All
She Says:
Hello Project is an agency that is responsible for many of the Kawaii J-Pop idols and this is the entire agency talent in one video. This is a an old video, but you can see some really popular stars in this it when they were kids. (I wonder if you can see Fujimoto Miki and Maki Goto for example) I wanted to include this as the words of the song are really the philosophy of Kawaii. Kawaii is not revolutionary or challenging like punk or rap. The traditional Japanese values of cooperation and team work, and showing appreciation to each other and being positive are the key parts of Kawaii behaviour. Did you recognise the hand gestures this time?
He Says:
My word ! There are so many of them ! Sakura explains better than I can here. It’s all about “togetherness” and “sharing” and yucky stuff like that that girlies like. For a chap like me it’s like peeking through a window into an alien world and being then attacked by orangey-pink kittens. Or something. I really must stop peeking through windows, I might get in trouble.
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Pairubu - The Kokessies - Sticky Honey Bunny
He Says:
Ah, The Kokessies, one of my favourite discoveries of the last year. I’m not sure why, I am guessing that they weren’t particularly well known even in Japan. Active from 1994 and hailing from Kyoto they only made one album ” Whistle “from which this track is taken. Named after the traditional Japanese wooden dolls they employ” folk “sounds and instuments to make some charming and sweet music, They split in 1999 with the some of the members going on to record with” Pigeons ” . I am not sure why Honey Bunny is sticky. Perhaps it’s best not to ask.
She Says:
This is so charming ! ! ! I really do not think there is a significance to the Honey Bunny Sticky lyric, I think it is just there because it is Kawaii ! ! ! I really like this track and the arrangement somehow reminds me of music lessons in elementary school which I suppose was what they were trying to do. I had never heard of them before and it is pity they broke up ! ! !
Kokeshi doll (shingata-kokeshi style)
Squirrel Kokeshi Doll
Kokeshi Dolls
These are traditional wooden dolls that were first made in Zao in Yamagata prefecture as souvenirs for people who visited the famous hot spring spa there, and then became popular all over Japan. Each region now has its own styles and certain makers are well known and many people collect them.
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Sakura - Vanilla Beans – Nicola
She Says:
I like Vanilla Beans very much. They are a more adult kawaii sound and I really like the European style they have. They are actually quite a big contrast to the more adult sexy J-pop idol image that is popular for older fans. But one of the elements of Kawaii is that is quite sexless actually and non threatening. This is one of the areas of confusion for western people who can be uncomfortable with the young girls and image that is central to Kawaii. Kawaii is really nothing to do with the lolicon (lolita complex) scene we have in Japan but it is often confused by western people with this.
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He Says:
My favourite of video here. The world’s crappiest airline ( they don’t even have a plane !) try to distract irate customers by “vogueing” in technocolour. And they have balloons too ! Everyone loves balloons, don’t they ?
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Pairubu – Tama – Tokyo Puppy
He Says:
Cheating a bit here. This is not “girlies” (though there is a lady singer present) and the sound is more jerky New Wave than “cute” but I had to include it for the subject matter and the chanting at the end. If you don’t accidentally find yourself saying “Tokyo puppy, Tokyo puppy” at some point I shall be very surprised.
Can’t really tell you anything about the band “Tama” means (roughly) “Spirit” or “Ghost” (I think!) And if you Google “Tokyo puppy” you get lots of sites for people selling puppies in Tokyo (duh !). I love it though.
She Says:
Mr P ! ! ! Where do you find these groups ? ? ?
This is another group I did not know before ! ! ! This is an ironic look at Kawaii and parody some of the elements, but it proves one thing - guys can not be kawaii ! ! ! But I did enjoy it. Animal motifs like puppies and bunnies are very popular motifs in Kawaii. So if you want to be ironic about Kawaii then using animal motifs if a very popular way to do it ! ! !
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She Says:
We hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to Kawaii. It is different world and music style to the normal Spiller Stlye and in a short post like this one it is very difficult to explain the culture of Kawaii, but we hope at least you have enjoyed it. If you have any questions we will do our best to answer them in the comments and you can check out Kawaii Girl Japan (they have an Englsih page) if you want to discover more things kawaii!!!
http://www.kawaii-girl.jp/?lang=en
He says:
So there you go ! An acquired taste , perhaps. Personally I love it. I love the batty themes, the squirrels in underpants, the neon puppies and the synchronised pointing. Wonderful stuff. So join me. Don your Hello Kitty underwear and surrender youself for a little “Kawaii” time !
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We Say:
Next time we are going to write about Rocker Chicks, we hope you will join us ! ! !
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Hahaha: Mr P’s floppy ear reminds me of the first time I ever went on stage – I was playing a rabbit, and my mother had made my costume but the ears kept flopping and I was upset. So she sewed them together at the top but that was even worse. After all, you see rabbits whose ears flop but you’ll never see one with its ears joined together at the top…
Hi TFD ! ! !
Many people use cardboard when they make bunny ears, but I think it is nearly always not strong enough. I really recommend plastic as the strong part you cover with the fabric.
But those school festival performances can be really stressful as kids ! ! ! I cried after almost everyone for some reason ! ! !
Mine was in the village hall, so not really that scary. But I really think small children and rabbit suits don’t mix…
Afraid this may trigger a renewed appreciation for Death metal….
LOL ! ! ! We did not think everyone would like it ! ! !
Thank you for reading and listening ! ! !
I haven’t had a chance to listen yet – but i am kind of afraid to! I love animals more than just about anything, but….
Go on ! Spoil yerself.
It’s like wallowing in a rainbow coloured bath of chocolate bubbles.
Thank you both. But i have to say that it’s definitely not my thing. I think Manga is great, but i’ve always had a problem with Kawaii for anyone except young kids. Not because of the Lolita thing, but because of the infantilizing effect on grown women. Something seems really not right about a grown woman with Hello Kitty bags and little hairbows. I saw quite a bit of this when i lived in LA. Some of them seemed to adopt the personality that went along with it.
And this – from Wikipedia -
“Sōichi Masubuchi 増渕聡一 (Masubuchi Sōichi?) in his work, Kawaii Syndrome, claims “cute” and “neat” have taken precedence over the former Japanese aesthetics of “beautiful” and “refined”.”
So i suppose i find that a bit sad too, as i’m a huge admirer of the former Japanese aesthetics, in everything from literature to music to art and design.
Hi Amylee ! ! !
Sōichi Masubuchi is entitled to his opinion of course, but it is just his opinion and nothing more. (actually I think he is just an miserable guy complaining the world has changed and teenagers today blah blah . . .)
However, regarding the serious point he makes. Most people think it was actually the occupation and the influence of the USA forces and western fashion and music film and TV which changed this. (Also many laws which removed traditional womens rights were changed in the occupation like abortion, which was legal since the Edo period and divorce was made much harder for example, but this has since been liberalised again)
But anyway, I do not think it is true at all these days, even if it was true before. Things like calligraphy, and flower arranging which capture the traditional aesthetics and are women and girls activities normally, are actually more popular than ever and you see more and more people in Kiminos and Yukata at festivals than ever before ! ! !
In the post we did not have so much time to explain the origins and history, but Kawaii is something that grew from a long history. You can trace Kawaii in fashion back to the Edo period. And actually the animal motifs are can be seen in Shinto and Buddhist art and design since many hundreds of years and animal spirits are an integral part of our religious beliefs and folklore.
I agree that some women can take the image too far. But I think it is easy to misunderstand also.
Maybe you are associating femininity and infantilism. I do not know exactly as I can did not see the example you talk about. But I agree that Kawaii in its more extreme examples is definitely for kids though ! ! ! (Unless you are cosplaying or something.)
But for most girls and women, Kawaii is definitely about enjoying your femininity ! ! !
In the west because of the particular American brand of feminism, femininity seems to have been seen as weakness and undesirable, and western women behaviours and how they dress, have become more masculine, and even women’s voices in the USA have become deeper over the last 50 years because deep voices (masculine voices) are seen as more authority and women have unconsciously lowered their voices to compete with the guys. I think it is a shame you have to become more like a guy to be taken seriously ! ! ! But maybe this is true in Japan also, I am promotion girl so nobody takes me seriously anyway
I am pleased you read the post and thank you for your thoughtful comments! ! !
“Maybe you are associating femininity and infantilism. I do not know exactly as I can did not see the example you talk about.”
Not in the least! A 30 – 45 year old with little bows and cartoon character shirts and simpering like an idiot is not feminine, it’s infantile. But i am glad to hear that kimono and flower arranging are making a comeback, would be a shame to see those arts lost.
“Not in the least! A 30 – 45 year old with little bows and cartoon character shirts and simpering like an idiot is not feminine, it’s infantile. ”
Dammit ! That’s Saturday nights screwed for me then !
Try having one of that ilk being your boss and attempting to reason with it.
Ouch…
not for me either, it makes me glad that I have sons, but it was interesting to read about.
Well, given that you’re a goth and i’m a rocker, we’re most likely not the target market for Kawaii.
Next time we will write about Asian rocker girls so maybe you will like that more ! ! !
Sons are great to ! ! ! I think they are easier than girls and definitely less complicated ! ! !
I am pleased you found it interesting ! ! !
A cautionary tale of when Kawaii goes wrong:
Yes, this is a middle aged woman who dances in ra-ra skirts and slippers in her Hello Kitty festooned bedroom while her dog is often to be seen on the futon ignoring the show and licking his privates.
However, bravo for this. It’s like easter come early. Vanilla Beans were anything but vanilla. Loved that.
Hey, at least she has good taste in tunes! She dances, i’d be playing air guitar. The little dog (the real one) is a sweetheart.
Towards the end of the video, you can see a girl (daughter?) on the couch next to the dog. What could she be thinking!
I just popped back to make it clear that I posted this as a joke. I am not making fun of anyone who likes Hello Kitty!
This lady has about 30 video clips on youtubia covering a variety of songs. She dances with her sister/cousin? in some of them. (That’s probably her scratching the dog, amylee.) If you want to see more of this fascinating social phenomenon, check out AuntieKeiko’s channel.
In the same vein, but nothing to do with Kawaii, my friend sent me this last week, i think the guy is awesome. She’s fascinated by the basement, i’m fascinated by the guy.
Hmm, I see your point, but I quite like the basement too.
That’s a lot of time to spend in a basement.
Is there a ransom demand?
I’d chip in. Free the basement one!
“Yes, this is a middle aged woman who dances in ra-ra skirts and slippers in her Hello Kitty festooned bedroom while her dog is often to be seen on the futon ignoring the show and licking his privates.”
Is that a bad thing then ?
Rather that than some middle aged “rocker” with permed hair thrusting his groins in your face, surely ?
Well, I don’t think it’s a bad thing per se. It’s the filming it and putting it on YouTube that I’m finding it a little hard to understand.
I am sorry if I hurt your feelings, Pairubu. Thanks for your, and Sakura’s work on this post. I did enjoy it. Thank you, both of you.
HI SR ! ! !
Of course whatever fashion you choose to wear or decorate your apartment with, taste and style still are important. This applies to any fashion or decor style including the Kawaii look.
But she is having fun and not harming anybody and actually I think she is not so bad a dancer at all ! ! ! So I would never critic somebody who is enjoying their hobby and not hurting anybody. (but in small apartments you need to be very disciplined with décor)
I am glad you liked Vanilla Beans. I like them a lot actually. They have this thing going where they act “in character” all the time and make believe like they have this 1960 Jet set life style, and at the start of every interview they always say they have just arrived from Northern Europe (but never say which country) but of course they have never really been outside Japan ! ! ! They are quite funny actually and I do like their style of music very much.
She’s definitely a better dancer than i am. But i’d kick her butt on air guitar.
Hi Sakura. Again, sorry if I hurt feelings. I’ll go over and help her tidy her room if it will make you feel better. (She needs more storage.) x
Hi SR ! ! !
Of course you did not hurt my feelings ! ! ! She really does need more storage or less things ! ! !
I have a small apartment and you really need to be clever with storage and not have too many things or it is impossible to make it look nice.
Hmm, it’s a difficult one….but I think I have to defend the culture of my adopted home here.
When I first came to Japan, I think I felt the same as Amylee and thought that it was degrading and infantalising women and sexualising young girls.
But, I think Sakura is right, it is none of these things, it’s just FUN. It’s not supposed to be a political statement or even any statement! Just fun! And as Sakura-chan said, I also think that the whole dodgy underage girls ‘rorikon’ (Lolita complex) is not an issue either, it’s all pretty much innocent and as I understand it, the majority of fans are women.
That said, the music doesn’t do much for me……although of course, it is possible to sing in a high-pitched voice and still be totally badass!
I loved that track ! ! !
I agree ! ! ! Kawaii is fun ! ! !
Panth -
I have no problem with the Lolita part of the culture. Or to amend that, none at all that are specific to Japanese roricon culture. The sexualizing of children is kind of a worldwide cultural thing and has been. Stray Cat Blues, Steven Tyler, Polanski, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc. And certainly in the fashion industry nowadays, with attendant overspill. But that’s something imposed on children, it’s not self-imposed by the children. Who most certainly shouldn’t be held accountable for it anyway.
The Kawaii thing for grown women i’m not going to get my head around though.
What’s Steven Tyler done now? I just read his book and actually like him less after it than I did before, but apart from fairly young groupies in the 1970s, I didn’t think he was particularly bad?
Beth -
Nothing recently as far as i know. But 14 is pretty young.