Life in Japan

“Kawaii” simply means “cute,” but a whole subculture has sprung up around the phenomenon that’s much more fascinating than it may seem on the surface. There are many layers to the concept — it can be part of a personal image, a quality of an inanimate object, or even a genre of art and entertainment. Origins of Kawaii The word “kawaii” is originally a contraction of the phrase “kao hayushi,” which translates to “face aglow” — meaning the person is blushing. Interestingly, although it is usually written in hiragana, the kanji in ateji translates to “lovable.” Although the concept of kawaii has existed in some form for centuries, it didn’t arise as a subculture until the late 1960s, when student protests were held as a form of rebellion against the authorities. It quickly became a large subculture and has gradually found a place in almost every facet of society. Examples of Kawaii in Japanese Society You hear the word “kawaii” all the time in Japanese — it’s comparable to “nice” in English, and it also acts as a filler word. However, as a subculture, several specific examples are most representative of kawaii. Handwriting One of the first manifestations of kawaii…