Continuing along with my 2023 Japan trip kawaii exhibition round-up…next up is my adventure out to the ILF Douga Museum of Art (イルフ童画館) in Okaya, Nagano, aka the Takeo Takei memorial museum! Set in the Takeo’s hometown, this delightful little…
Category: Kawaii History
In part 1 of this series, we explored some examples of a proto-kawaii aesthetic showing up in Japan during the Heian Period (794-1185). Elements of proto-kawaii show up in an even wider variety of Japanese art during the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Rule under the Tokugawa shogunate was arguably repressive, however the relative stability of this period allowed arts and culture to flourish. In contrast to the Heian period in which indulgence in such cultural pursuits was limited to the court, the Edo period saw a growing class of merchants and craftsmen who could afford various niceties. Additionally, advances in woodblock printing techniques made art more affordable to a wider group of people, which increased the variety and range of motifs and styles.
Kaichi Kobayashi was a Japanese printmaker and designer popular in the 1920s and early 30s. During the late Taisho period through early Showa (1925-1935) he worked as a printmaker designing illustrated postcards and decorative envelopes for Sakurai-ya, a popular publisher in the heart of downtown Kyoto (that only just recently closed in 2012). His use of simple, sharp lines, luscious colors, and dramatic shadows created a moody and melancholic atmosphere that was highly popular with young girls of the time. The combination of western motifs, such as roses, crosses, and playing cards along with Japanese aesthetics, wrapped up in moody lyricism epitomized the Taisho Romanticism style popularized by early kawaii artists such as Yumeji Takehisa.
The San-X Files: A Brief History (2/3) – The Lost Decade, Tarepanda, and the Healing Power of Kawaii
In the wake of the second world war, Japan took the world by surprise, emerging from the ashes with rapid development and economic growth, and rising to the world’s second-largest economy by the end of the 1960s. However, in 1990 the massive bubble economy that had been growing since the late 1980s finally burst, ushering in years of recession and economic stagnation, commonly referred to as the ‘lost decade.’ What does this mini economic lesson have to do with the history of San-X?!? Well, surprisingly, this part of Japanese history had a huge impact on the evolution of kawaii! Learn all about how the social impact of the lost decade ushered in a whole new world of kawaii and how San-X rose to meet this new demand!
In honor of the recent birth of twin panda babies at the Ueno zoo on June 23, 2021, today’s post will explore the history of these cute and cuddly animals in kawaii art! Pandas burst into the kawaii world in the early 1970s. As with many kawaii trends, the initial panda boom in Japan can be attributed to kawaii pioneer, Naito Rune.
San-X is one of the top stationery companies in Japan and the creators behind charming and comical characters such as Tarepanda, Sumikko-Gurashi, and their flagship character Rilakkuma. While lesser known worldwide than their key competitor, Sanrio, within Japan, Rilakkamu is quite the formidable rival to Sanrio’s Hello Kitty….Learn more about how San-X rise to stationary domination!
With their bright red color and adorable heart shape, it’s no surprise that strawberries are one of the most popular kawaii motifs! The use of strawberries, called ichigo in Japanese, in kawaii art goes way back, starting with the godfather of kawaii himself, Yumeji Takahisa.
Artist and illustrator, Setsuko Tamura (田村セツコ, Tamura Setsuko) is truly the living embodiment of kawaii! Known for her playful illustrations of bright and cheery girls, Tamura has been spreading joy and happiness through her creative endeavors for over 50 years.…
Ado Mizumori (水森亜, Mizumori Ado) is a multi-talented artist, illustrator, singer, actress, tv personality, and author who rose to fame during the early postwar period and is still quite popular in Japan today. Affectionately known to her fans as Ado-chan, she was one of a few new female kawaii artists who became popular during the 1960s, each adding their unique, distinctively feminine style to the kawaii art world. Mizumori is particularly known for adding in a dash of romance with a hint of sexiness to her fun and flirty illustrations.
If you have ever been in a Japanese bookstore, you have probably noticed magazines bundled thick with various freebies ranging from simple stationery items to things like hair accessories, bento bags, and even passport cases! These free gifts, called furoku in Japanese, are commonly included with manga magazines and magazines for girls and women. I remember the first time I saw this was while living in Japan in the mid-aughts and assumed this custom was a more recent phenomenon as print was trying to compete with online content. However, I was quite surprised to discover that this custom of including furoku with a magazine purchase actually dates back to the late 1800s, and furoku have been included with Shojo magazines since their debut back in 1902!