Born from the trauma of World War II, this bow-wearing cartoon icon became a powerful tool for diplomacy, reinvention, and ...

Part of the confusion stems from a misunderstanding of “kawaii,” which is Japanese for “cute” but also connotes a lovable or adorable essence. Sanrio recruited Shimizu and other ...

Kawaii is the culture of cuteness in Japan. Kawaii can refer to pretty much anything cute and childlike, including products, anime, characters, handwriting, and more. Though the kawaii style has ...

Japanese high-tech toys, fusing advanced technology and "kawaii" culture, are booming, even in education and space exploration. Through a Chinese woman at a toy maker, we look at their global advance.