How Kawaii Became Japan’s Cute Culture

Kawaii is a Japanese word for “cute”. It is also a big part of Japan’s culture, and it influences many things, like fashion, art, music, and more. But how did kawaii start, and why is it so popular? In this blog post, we will look at the history and changes of kawaii, from ancient times to today.

Kawaii in Old Japan

The first time kawaii was used in writing was in the Heian Period (794-1185). This was a time when Japan had a rich and peaceful culture, and many famous books were written. The word kawaii meant “pity” or “cute” back then. It showed that people liked things that were endearing and kind.

The Heian Period was also a time when Japan had its own writing system, kana, and its own style of art and beauty. People wore colorful silk clothes, had complex hairstyles, and cared about grace and elegance. They also had a sense of beauty that valued things that were sad and fleeting, like cherry blossoms and moonlight.

The Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) were times of war and change in Japan. The samurai class became powerful, and Buddhism and Zen philosophy spread. The idea of wabi-sabi, which values simplicity, imperfection, and transience, became popular. It influenced many art forms, like tea ceremony, pottery, and ink painting.

The word kawaii was used more often in poetry in these periods. It expressed love, affection, or sympathy for something or someone. It could be used for nature, children, animals, or even dolls and toys.

The Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603) was a short but important period in Japan’s history. Japan was united by Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and it met the outside world for the first time. Japan learned about Christianity, guns, and Western art. It also created a new art form, ukiyo-e, or woodblock prints. Ukiyo-e was one of the first kinds of kawaii art, because it showed people, animals, and places in a cute and funny way. Ukiyo-e also helped make manga, or Japanese comics, which would become a big part of kawaii culture later.

Kawaii and the West

The Edo Period (1603-1868) was a long and peaceful period in Japan’s history. Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate, and it closed itself from the rest of the world. But the culture and art of Japan grew and changed, as the city life, entertainment, and pleasure became more popular. The Edo Period was the best time for ukiyo-e, and also the start of kabuki, a kind of Japanese theater. Kabuki was another source of kawaii art, because it had actors with big and funny expressions and gestures, and men who played women’s roles.

The Meiji Period (1868-1912) was a period of fast change and learning in Japan. Japan opened itself to the world again, and it copied many things from the West, like clothes, education, technology, and art. Japan also made new kinds of kawaii art, like bijinga, or paintings of beautiful women, and shoujo manga, or comics for girls. Bijinga mixed Western and Japanese styles, and showed women in modern and stylish clothes, often with Western things like hats and hairdos. Shoujo manga mixed Western and Japanese stories, and showed stories of love, adventure, and fantasy, often with cute and expressive characters.

The Taisho Period (1912-1926) was a short but interesting period in Japan’s history. Japan had political and social changes, like democracy, feminism, and nationalism. Japan also followed the trends of the West, like jazz, movies, and art nouveau. Japan made new kinds of kawaii art, like suteki mono, or “lovely things”, and ero kawaii, or “erotic cute”. Suteki mono were the things that young women liked and collected, like dolls, accessories, and stationery. Ero kawaii were the women who acted sexy and playful, and wore clothes that showed their skin and frills.

Kawaii and Purity

The Showa Period (1926-1989) was a long and hard period in Japan’s history. Japan had the terrible experience of World War II, the occupation by the United States, and the recovery and growth after the war. Japan also made its own culture and power in the world, especially in technology, entertainment, and pop culture. It made new kinds of kawaii art, like manga, anime, and character goods. Manga and anime are Japanese comics and animation, that have many kinds of stories, themes, and styles, often with cute and attractive characters. Character goods are things that have the pictures and names of popular characters from manga, anime, video games, and other media, like Hello Kitty, Doraemon, and Pikachu.

The meaning of kawaii also changed in the Showa Period. It became more about purity and innocence, not pity and beauty. This was partly because of the United States, which controlled what Japan could show in the media, and banned anything that was bad, violent, or rebellious. This made Japan make more clean and childish content, like fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and cartoons. This was also partly because of the war, which made Japan feel sad, scared, and lonely, and look for things that were simple and sweet.

Kawaii and the World

The Heisei Period (1989-2019) was a period of calm and connection. Japan had problems with money and nature, and also new social issues, like aging, immigration, and diversity. It also shared its culture and products with the world, especially in technology, entertainment, and pop culture. It made more kinds of kawaii art, like cosplay, otaku, and harajuku. Cosplay is when people dress up as their favorite characters from manga, anime, video games, and other media, often with amazing and creative costumes and things. Otaku are the fans of manga, anime, video games, and other media, who are very into and know a lot about them. Harajuku is a place in Tokyo where young people show their fashion and style, often with colorful and cute clothes and things.

“Kawaii culture teaches us that there’s no such thing as too much love or too much cute.”

Sure, I can try to rewrite the conclusion for you. Here is one possible way to do it:

Kawaii spread around the world and attracted many fans. It had an impact on various aspects of life, such as clothing, design, songs, and more. It also blended with different traditions and trends. This cute culture gave people a chance to show their personality, enjoy themselves, and feel good.