Pop Japan

Japan has been known for an undoubtedly unique culture when it comes to aesthetics, consistently from the pre-war until today.

Until comes the supermodernity era, where eccentricity, childish, and cute got mixed. The youth has been crazy with otaku and kawaii and spread like a contagious craze.

What we can say is, weird and cute are subjective. Somehow, not all can appreciate the fashion and uniqueness of the Otaku, and some says it is too much. Too much detail, too much of color, and too much of cuteness.

There was even a survey conducted among 50 foreign men who had been living in Japan for at least a year asking what they think about the Japanese women, originally published in japan Today. It says:

"When asked if they thought that Japanese were “kawaii,” a whopping 98% replied “yes.” Out of those men, when asked to name the most “kawaii” feature about Japanese women, 82% replied “their faces/makeup,” 78% replied “their general attitudes,” 76% replied “their hairstyles,” and 72% replied “their figures.” Rounding off the bottom of the list at only 28% was “their way of walking.”

Perhaps, we can see it as countering the status quo of Western fashion and marking its own identity, the kawaii street fashion has its own meaning depending on the wearer.

It could mean a strange childhood or a disturbing one. Some perhaps wated to look beautiful like lolitas imitating dolls. Some just wanted to imitate their favorite anime character because he or she sees his/her personality on that work of fiction. Some of them are exploring more and infuses technology to their every day wear.

Japan may be peculiar when it comes with fashion and what they look, but their efforts in pushing their creativity and the willingness to mark an identifiable style makes it more loved by many. Perhaps they just don't like a fashion style that fits to all.