Twee Tsunami!

“Cute” to become official export of Japan.

Japan has appointed three adorable women as cultural envoys in an attempt to rub the rest of the world’s face in the fact that nobody out-cutes the Japanese. What exactly does a cultural envoy do? Who cares as long as they wear ruffles! The envoys are an attempt to build up Japan’s soft power by parading representatives of Japan’s craze for Kawaii. Because of diminished military and economic power (especially with respect to China) Japan is now bringing out their biggest weapon–quirkily dressed young women!

The envoys are SUPPOSED to be “inspired” by anime characters and manga books. There is a schoolgirl, a Victorian doll and a singer dressed in a polka-dot bunny print shirt – collect them all! (NOTE: the Reuters article says that the envoys are inspired by anime characters, but they are more likely inspired completely by Japanese street fashion).

One has to wonder, however, why the three cultural envoys are all women. After all, men are pretty well represented in anime and Manga. Perhaps it is because the men are not as “cute” as young women? And if the Japanese mean to export “all things cute” and not a fetish, then why not send out a pokemon–you know the Japanese have genetically engineered them by now. I am just saying the choice of cultural envoy is a bit suspicious. Remember, this is the country whose citizens came up with Rapelay and a virtual girlfriend webcam.