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.