-Looking for what's kawaii? Interested in kawaii, cute fashion + goods from Japan, Japanese cuisine or language? Come look find kawaii shopping and what's more in Tokyo- Tokyo Kawaii, etc. Shop cute cool products or stuff and fashion clothing from Japan. Shop Japanese cute products, cute stuff and cute things. Find out this cute blog or cute website about Japanese pop culture. It's a blog from Japan, Japan blog in English by a Japanese girl.

There are a “Hello Kitty Sweets” cafe, a Hello Kitty hospital, and a Hello Kitty inspired airport in Taiwan. These cannot be found anywhere else in the world. They are so unique! Why do they need Hello Kitty inside the hospital? “We tried to have the surroundings that make our patients feel easy and relaxed.” says the hospital director.

European and American celebs like to take Hello Kitty elements into their fashion. Over 50,000 kinds of new Hello Kitty items are produced yearly in the total of 70 different countries. Above all Hello Kitty is the top of all in Japan – a country of character superpower with about 2000 unique characters.

Yamaguchi-san is the 3rd generation of Hello Kitty designer who has led Hello Kitty to this popular character inside and outside Japan. Hello Kitty was not such a successful character when it appeared in 1974. At that time it was designed for kids and the sales were weak. Since Yamaguchi-san became the 3rd designer of Kitty in 1980, she’s tried to modify it to make more sales. She took fashion trends into the style of Hello Kitty. With some trial-and-error approaches, adults such as housewives and female workers have started to buy Hello Kitty since 1995.

Nowadays look at QUESTINA in Ginza, Tokyo, for example, adult customers come here to shop Kitty-chan that is not too childish. There are women who like to have Hello Kitty nails .

Yamaguchi-san’s Hello Kitty for the year 2008 wears extension bangs, fake eyelashes, and she even has a neck as if she were a human.

Sanrio, a maker and the licenser of Hello Kitty, regards it very important to agree with the right image when they collaborate with any brands for licensing agreements. They plan to produce over 2000 kinds of new products every year, and they are basically open for licensing agreements with any brands except for liquor and tobacco. Many fashion brands nowadays produce outfits with Hello Kitty on. A Gyaru fashion brand uses rocker Kitty, a British trad fashion brand uses chic Kitty, a jeans brand supported by Japanese young men uses Kitty on hip pockets and on T-shirt, and a luxury bag brand that targets the wealthy even takes out eyes and nose from Kitty, with Sanrio’s permission. Hello Kitty is so flexibly collaborated with other brands like this.

It’s 58,000yen per night to stay at Hello Kitty resort villa in Taiwan. The furniture, the electrical appliances, the amenity goods, and anything inside the villa are all something Hello Kitty inspired. The villa is full of reservations from the Asian customers. In Taiwan, a famous actor, 39 years old, has been a big fan of Hello Kitty for over 21 years. He likes Hello Kitty mah-jong best of all his collections. In Japan, this housewife is so crazy about Hello Kitty. She drives a very unique Kitty car that she won the chance lottery to authorize the purchase of the car. Inside her house, there are Hello Kitty goods everywhere! Her husband is totally amazed, tired and speechless.

Yamaguchi-san thinks it’s important to design Hello Kitty for men’s fashion, reflecting demands from young men today. 5 young men are selected to share their ideas with Yamaguchi-san what kind of Kitty fashion they want to have.

Cat cafe is popular at the city area in Japan. (as well as rabbit cafe today) It’s where we can stay with the cat that we choose from the list by paying 1500yen per hour. Customers are those who need healing and people who are tired of human relations.

referral links
Neko Cafe Mike in Kawasaki
Neko No Mahou in Gotanda

Kirin’s opinion:
I didn’t know that Taiwanese like Hello Kitty that much! I’d feel sick if I were surrounded by characters all over, even if I usually find them cute.
I feel sorry for the husband of the Kitty craze housewife, but that looked funny. He was even wearing Hello Kitty T, because he was forced to? (LOL)

***There are archives of episodes listed under the page titled “Tokyo Kawaii TV” that is just located under the title banner of this blog.

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Anna Umemiya’s semi nude was shocking because she’s got the flab on her belly, neverthelss she’s been a well-known model. Whitney Thompson and Beth Ditto are also well-known as a chubby cute model/singer.

Chubby cuteness is becoming popular these days in Japan, too. Especially middle aged men are likely to find chubby women beautiful. Yamamoto-san, the chief editor to STORY magazine created the word “Motepuyo” 3 years ago, meaning moteru(=popular among men) puyopuyo(=chubby). “Plump women look beautiful!” That’s why Hiraguri-san, a dokumo to the STORY magazine is not as skinny as normal fashion models.

What was so fascinating about Hiraguri-san as to be chosen as a STORY model?
Q.1-What part of her body did Yamamoto-san, the chief editor like most?
A.1-It was the waist without curve. Believe it or not, there are men who like it.

Q.2-What are the 3 major points that men think beautiful for plump women to have?
A.2-butt, upper arm and decollete
But there is a big difference between “puyo” (plump but cute) and “buyo”(fat and ugly). If one tries to keep cuteness or beauty in some ways, it’s a Motepuyo woman. She may have complex and embarrassment against certain part of her body, but when she tries to make it look better, that’s the kind of woman men like. Collarbone under decollete can be observed whether she is fat or not. So it’s good to open this part if she wants to be looked slimmer than she actually is.

Morisanchu (森三中) is a Japanese comedian group from 3 plump girls. They are very cute and popular. Everytime they are on TV, they get a flood of inquiries from the audience about their chubby cute fashion. Tanaka-san is a stylist who supports them. She broke 4 basic fashion rules for the chubby girls intentionally.

4 basic rules for the chubby girls to follow so they look better. (in general)
1) The chubby should not wear pastel and primary colors, because that make them look swollen.
2) The chubby should not wear striped or polka-dot pattern, because that make them look wide.
3) The chubby should not wear mini length.
4) The chubby should not wear fluffy garments.

Tanaka-san broke all these basic rules, and that’s what Morisanchu are dressed. She even launched her original brand that is especially designed for the chubby girls who want to enjoy fashion proactively. Kasumi-chan is a sales assistant to the shop. She studies what kind of coordination can make the chubby girls look cuter everyday.

2 chubby girls get advice and they are made over with Forever 21 clothing. We tend to hide ugly parts of our body more and more, but the point is to notice the good parts of our body and emphasize that part.

Japanese market have not paid attention to the chubby customers so far. This results there are no kawaii designed items for them. Now many Japanese companies such as this lingerie brand started to target these people, asking what they want to buy at a development meeting. The chubby users know what they want more than anyone!

Kirin’s opinion:
Compared with the U.S for example, Japanese stores have very limited size ranges. S(36), M(38), and L(40) only at most of the places. I’ve been wondering how the outsized people cope with this. These days there are more size ranges but they are more small sizes, such as XS, XXS or too skinny jeans which I will never even put a leg in!! XD
In Japan I always have to consider myself fat because of too many skinny girls around. I also feel tired of the notion that skinny is the best always. I expect our society to have more values that do not stick to a single absolute way, idea, thought, goal, and etc.
What do you think?

***There are archives of episodes listed under the page titled “Tokyo Kawaii TV” that is just located under the title banner of this blog.

Over 5000 items of “my kawaii” photos have been sent to Tokyo Kawaii TV. Some of them are introduced at the end of every episode. They are basically hand-made cuteness such as Charaben, deco nail, sweets accessories, cute face masks, or under pants.

Kuji-san is a buyer to Tokyu Hands, who joins Mr. Ikki, Beni-chan, and Kubo-san, a ptissier to evaluate my kawaii items as an advisor.

My Kawaii surprising ranking ~!

No.9: Felt-made rabbit by Imai-san.
She has made over 100 pieces of animal toys from felt. It’s only that she keeps pinpricking for a couple of hours. She shows how she make a panda with 4 small black balled felt over a handful white felt. She was into this felt work 4 years ago, and her works became popular once she uploaded them onto her blog. Some of them are purchased from a zakka store in Tokyo. (I know this store! It’s in Marui One!) The most popular one is alpaca. But it needs 3 hours of constant pinpricking work!

No.8: Bony chops amigurumi by Miyagawa-san.
It’s been 1 year since she started crocheting. She likes to make whatever appears on her mind. Imagining Mr. Ikki, who is known as “Mr. erotic baron”, she made a boob.

No.7: Extra mini bento by Hisamoto-san.
Hisamoto-san is a 54 years old man. He used to work as an engineer for trains, but 10 years ago he retired from it and became an illustrator. Since then small world has been the theme of his works. This bento is 1/4 of normal size. Each ingredients are small but it has good taste!

No.6: Diorama cell phone by Michisawa-san.
It’s simple. Cut off the green that is usually used for model railroad. Put cows on it. “There are many decoden designed for women, but none for men.” says Michisawa-san. In fact, cool designed cell phones are hot.

No.5: Hime room by hina sama.
Hina sama is a housewife. She quit her job on her marriage to her husband. Since then, she keeps making kawaii hime goods all day long. Now she makes business from hime goods she makes. She has monthly sales of 500,000 yen (USD5000) today. Some people find her from her blog. This German girl for example came over all the way from Europe only to buy hime mules and a couple of other items from her. There’s a sponsor company that tries to have her hime goods sold overseas.

No.4: Felt cake by girls living in Miyakojima island
They prepare paint color, sponge, and starch glue to make fake cake and sweets.
Unlike Tokyo, there are items they can hardly find in Miyakojima.

No.3: Decorated contact lenses case by an eye clinic nurses.
Nurses gather in a room and make deco case for contact lenses. They have done this at lunch break everyday and have already made over 1000 deco cases. What for? To please kids and patients!

No.2: Recycled socks monkey by employees who belong to an IT company.
This company has over 120 types of clubs. Most popular one is handicraft. There are more unique clubs such as bento club and Majikara club. (maji de karaoke: 1 person per room to practice karaoke!) Why these club activities at work? “We spend a lot more time at work than at home. If we get closer to coworkers by doing something together, that’ll be good.” says the C.E.O of the company.

No.1: Glass eggs by a couple
Making a glass horse everyday is important to stay skilled.
The couple makes glass-made foods that have similar texture to the real things.

Kirin’s opinion:
I like No.9 felt animals! Even if it’s only pinpricking, it’s going to be a hard work when she has to keep doing that for hours! Kudos to her perseverance!! I’d feel sick if I were surrounded by the hime pink, pink, all over pink world, but she must be happy as she can make a business from what she truely loves! That’s the coolest thing and very ideal way of life to me.

***There are archives of episodes listed under the page titled “Tokyo Kawaii TV” that is just located under the title banner of this blog.

CONVERSE is an American sneaker brand but these days they try to listen to the voices from Japanese streets. They ask girls walking down the streets in Harajuku to try their 6cm high-heeled sneakers on and tell them what they think. High-heeled sneakers are good for those who usually don't wear sneakers. VANQUISH from Onii-kei brand and no name from girly brand stresses sneaker fashion.

When you choose what to wear, do you choose from clothes or shoes?
Girly dress and girly shoes are too normal and just girly. It's cool if we combine girly dress with fashionable sneakers!

The star patterned sneakers of X-girl's collaboration with Vans were limited-line but they sold very fast.

Urahara is one of the best places in the world to shop fashionable sneakers. Many international celebrities pay an incognito visit to this area. Kenye West and Black Eyed Peas are not exceptional. The day of recording the episode, Tokyo Kawaii TV caught Keri Hilson's shopping in Urahara. She visits CHAPTER and KICKS LAB.

3 men are collectors of vintage sneakers. Each of them bring 3 pairs of sneakers and Mr.Ikki and Beni-chan guess which one is most expensive or which one sold fastest. Vintage sneakers could be priced as much as 700,000yen (USD7000) at online auction today.

In 1995 it was NIKE that gave a new value to sports shoes. They suggested customised design sneakers using PC. The variation of design was as many as hundreds of millions patterns. ADIDAS also changed their image and started to target woman customers. Pumps shaped sneakers are fashionable as well as functional. They are popular among female office workers because they are so comfortable enough to wear for hours.

Imai-san is a designer of MADFOOT. 210,000 people in Japan wear the shoes he designed, which means he can find 4 people wearing his shoes within 1 hour in Harajuku. MADFOOT shoes are sold at 500 stores in Japan, and also in London and Taiwan. Their colorful sneakers are so popular. He chooses theme first, then color from 1000 colors.

Kirin's opinion:
MADFOOT's colorful sneakers are not my taste. When I first saw them I wondered how we were supposed to coordinate with these too many colors. I'd definitely choose simple colored base plus accent color if I choose sneakers for myself. I like pumps shaped sneakers, but when heels are too high, that makes me tired. I am also interested in sneaker boots. But this winter I didn't have a chance to buy them.

***There are archives of episodes listed under the page titled "Tokyo Kawaii TV" that is just located under the title banner of this blog

We may not be able to buy as many things as in the time of robust economy, and that’s why we like to spend good money focusing on one point only now…

Aoki-san’s one point is Kimono, while Naoko-san’s is western tableware.
Team Ashiya opens one point rich party from time to time. The members work very hard to save money to buy something luxurious. Murakami-san is a member of team Ashiya who works as a dokumo to a fashion magazine and also owns her fashion brand. Her one-point to which she spends money is bag. She has been collecting bags since high school days.

Nowadays even our economy is not good, people tend to spend much money focusing on one point that they like, while they try to save by not spending for other things. In fact, in spite of weak economy today in Japan, things at high prices as followings were sold in 2009.
-26 million yen for a watch,
-190,000 yen for a set of skin care products,
-80,000 yen for a pair of jeans made of partial platinum strings,
-15,000 yen of a bottle of water.
Yucasee is a membership site that targets customers who care for one point rich. To be a member of the site, you must have assets over 100 million yen!

When income of family reaches over 20 million yen, they are considered the wealthy in Japan. Those people tend to spend 40,000 yen in average per a pair of shoes, 190,000 yen in average for a suit, and 970,000 yen in average for a watch. Watch is still considered to be a “one point rich” to the wealthy.

Gyaru-kei brands also started to target one-point-rich customers of over 20s working women. They call it “petit rich”. Elegance plus trends creates upgraded fashion image to the brand. Sales assistants must produce the right brand image at service and with their physical appearances.

It was about 3 years ago that sweets accessories from Q-pot became an instant hit in Harajuku. Then Q-pot expanded its market to jewelry and they even produced choco bar imaged eyeglasses. Q-pot has increased its branch stores inside and outside Japan. When they opened a branch store in Hong Kong, over 300 people including Japanese fan gathered at the opening. They plan to open 2 more stores in Hong Kong.

Ginza, Tokyo is one of the fashion brands districts in the world.
Motoyama-san is the one who first brought western fashion brands to Japan.
He started to negotiate with famous European brands in 1955, when he was completely ignored just because he was Japanese. They often asked him where Japan was located in a world map. 7 years later he met Gucci and exchanged pens when they signed to the contract. He’s kept the pen since then for over 40 years. “It’s important to know what looks good on you. That’s the basics of fashion.” according to him.

While many people like to spend money for materials, there are people who want to spend money to enhance their mental wealth. These women lean how to walk beautifully, table manners, how to makeup, and even how to smile to the camera at a manner school. The owner of this school learned international table manners and etc. in Swiss. She checks if Mr. Ikki and Beni-chan’s manners are OK. She says when we have a toast, we should not make a sound from contacting wine glasses. We should not hold the wine glass with both hands, unlike when we drink green tea. She says, “I just want to tell you that good manners will allow you to have leeway in your mind.”

Kirin’s opinion:
If I pick out one-point to which I spend money, that’ll be travelling. I don’t want to stop travelling!
I’m not interested in high fashion brands at all! I don’t have Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, or anything very popular among most of Japanese girls.
I wish I had a chance to learn basic manners before I turn to be adult.
I don’t know walking manners, table manners in depth, how to wear Kimono, and etc.
What is your one-point if you are to choose it?

***There are archives of episodes listed under the page titled “Tokyo Kawaii TV” that is just located under the title banner of this blog.