“I don’t think it’s to appear to be healthy, it’s purely a style statement,” Tokyo-based French fashion designer Julien David said of activewear’s rise in the country. “The biggest shift in Kawaii is ...

The holiday diva traded snowflakes for sweetness in Japan, celebrating Halloween with a look that was both charming and full ...

Some people might celebrate their 50th year with a grand party or a shot of botox, but Hello Kitty has chosen to celebrate her half-century with a new line of shoes. The three-piece collection has ...

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Have you ever heard of the Japanese slang expression “gurokawa?” It’s a combination of the katakana words for grotesque and cute and is used to describe a distinct fashion style or character. Here are ...

Long before the mayor of Shibuya announced pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu as an official ambassador of kawaii culture, Sebastian Masuda, her art director, had been on a mission to spread "kawaii culture" ...

Kawaii. You hear it in anime, you hear it on TV shows, and you hear it on the streets of Japan, where the word is spoken by young and old alike. With people around the world growing up on Japanese ...

Eye patches and fake blood, bandaged limbs and images of slashed wrists — a fashion trend is helping young people in Japan to communicate feelings that they would otherwise be unable to voice. Julian ...

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 ...