“ The meaning of kawaii is that personal cosmos filled with the collection of things one madly loves .”
Looking around , you ’ ll find the exhibit explores this phenomenon in a number of fun and fanciful ways . You ’ ll meet a couple of kawaii collectors — a typical businessman and an elaborately cosplayed student — flanking shelves
Gotta catch ‘ em all !
with a wild variety of fanshi guzzu ( fancy goods ): a cutesified geisha bento box , stationery sets , hats , and yes , even a samurai-themed ear wax removal tool ( careful with that katana , please ).
Equally compelling is an apartment scene that shows how deeply embedded the kawaii concept can be in home life . This delightful domicile boasts fluffy slippers , a precious teakettle , and a fridge filled with kawaii comestibles ( kawaii cookery is its own fabulous art !). Look closely and you might spot a hidden Mickey among those enchanting fridge magnets .
But don ’ t let all this shiny , irresistible cuteness distract you from the exhibit ’ s more subtle treasures . On one wall , you ’ ll find the cover of a comic based on Bambi , illustrated by the great Osamu Tenuka ( 1928-1989 ). Osamu , often called the “ Father of Manga ,” revolutionized the world of Japanese animation by giving characters the kawaii touch of wide eyes and exaggerated features , and was famously inspired by — you guessed it ! — Walt Disney ’ s doe-eyed darling .
Close by , you ’ ll also find a framed piece of notebook paper with some curious kanji , punctuated by smiley faces , hearts , and musical notes . This graphological glory is an example of how Japanese teens of the 1970s quietly launched the kawaii revolution , enlivening their school writing with a bit of personal pizazz . Their teachers may have sensed rebellion , but manufacturers sensed opportunity , producing special stationery sets and diaries decorated with kawaii themes and characters .
It ’ s a lot to chew on . You might have to facilitate that process by grabbing some pocky from the Mitsukoshi Department Store , or a nice cold Kakigōri shaved ice from Kabuki Cafe to enjoy in the traditional Japanese garden . After all , if it reminds you of life ’ s simple sweetness , or gives you a moment of childlike joy , well , kawaii the heck not ?
KAWAII NOT EXPLORE THE BIJUTSU-KAN GALLERY ON YOUTUBE ?
The fridge is stocked with kawaii comestibles .