While in Epcot earlier this month, I took a little time to explore the “Kawaii: Japan’s Cute Culture” exhibit in the Japan Pavilion. I read about this exhibit opening in the Bijutsu-kan Gallery back in October, so I was hoping it would still be here for my trip.
Kawaii means “cute” and according to one of the signs, is basically a way of life to “make everyday life in Japan just a little cuter.” The kawaii culture finds a way to make everything cute, even mundane objects and places like construction sites and supermarkets.
A sign in the exhibit said: “After World War II, Japan’s youth flocked to cute items as a diversion from wartime life. Emerging anime and manga artists drew inspiration from an influx of western culture, and soon Japanese pop art had a new, cuter style. In the 1970s the fad of burriko-ji (“fake child writing”) swept the nation, creating an even greater demand for cute and childlike products.”
The exhibit was full of colorful products and displays, with this “Melt-Go-Round (Harajuku Girl)” statue by artist Sebastian Masuda prominently displayed as the centerpiece.
Kawaii extends not only to products around the house, but also to food. As a mom who loves making fun lunches for my kids, I particularly enjoyed the display of bento products and the colorful food products available.
There were mock-ups of rooms in a house decorated with bright, colorful accessories.
At the end of the exhibit were some characters made famous through kawaii, including Hello Kitty, Pikachu, and the one that would be my kids’ favorite, Tom Nook from the video game “Animal Crossing.”
I really enjoyed this exhibit and found it fascinating to see just how many facets of life the kawaii culture has found its way into.
