Kawaii!

                                                        CUTE!

The best definition I've heard of kawaii is, "you look at something that's kawaii and it's not just cute. It's not just something you love. It's something you want to protect." That from a professor of Japanese and American Pop Culture. Kawaii translates (basically) as "cute" and is pronounced like "ka-wai-yee" The high pitched squeal of a schoolgirl who has spotted a particularly kawaii object is an earsplitting, unforgettable experience....

Pretty much anything can be made cute....

"Kawaii" animals, aliens, milk bottles and more!

The roots of kawaii in Japanese culture can be traced back hundreds of years. As elsewhere, women were seen to be docile and gentle and society encouraged women to demonstrate these qualities. The modern "kawaii" takes the notion much further. Kawaii fashion and  her followers go to great lengths to accentuate a child like innocence and demeanour.

Too much? Kawaii loving girls think not!

Looking to dress for kawaii success? "How to be a kawaii girl" websites reccomend lots of colour, ribbons and hair pieces when choosing outfits. Use make up that accentuates your eyes, and always keep them wide open (especially for photos!) Cold compresses may help them look bigger too....Computer simulations offer the opportunity for girls (and boys?) to design their ideal kawaii persona/companion.... 

A kawaii character created in a computer simulation game  

While young women may be the driving force behing kawaii consumer goods, high end (and high cost) clothes and accessories are out there. Sanrio is the Japanese company making big bucks from Hello Kitty and a stable of other characters. They have cleverly teamed up with clothing and jewellery designers to produce some very cute, (not to mention very expensive) toys indeed.....

                           So Cute! For $8000, it should be....Please, Santa, pretty please?

HK diamond jewellery not  in this years budget? The opportunity to get up close and personal cozy with kawaii culture is still within your reach. Just a bus ride away.....

Setting your sights further ahaead? Book with a "kawaii" friendly carrier....

Kawaii doesn't have to be all sweetness and light....This critter appears to harbour a nasty streak...

Yikes...

We'll get back to culinary blogging and kitchen gossip in the next post...in the meantime, watch out for killer bunnies in kawaii costume!