Ambassadors of Cute, from left: actress Shizuka Fujioka, Yu Kimura, center, and Misako Aoki
REUTERS

'Kawaii ambassadors' head overseas to promote Japanese pop culture

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 102 Total Comments Show All

Loki520 at 10:21 PM JST - 14th June

Stupid question, but..... do they have that "annoying as hell" high pitch voice that most female workers do?
Loki520 at 10:23 PM JST - 14th June

How is this any different to sending a couple of geisha oversea to some tourist seminar? It is exactly the same, except this is showing a diffent aspect of Japan.

Yes, EXACTLY the same. Except for the whole "culture", as well as "historical" thing...
jonnyboy at 10:41 PM JST - 14th June

this kind of girl is exactly the kind of knows least about, and would be capable least of dealing with the world outside of nice, safe, kawaii japan, or should i say tokyo, or should i say harajuku

there are sure to be many human blue-screen-of-death personality crash moments when they come up against their own culture shock...
SebastianFlyte at 12:43 PM JST - 15th June

Anyway, much better than projecting an image of military violence like the USA.
jonnyboy at 02:38 PM JST - 15th June

Anyway, much better than projecting an image of military violence like the USA.

not really accurate. the US presents an image of riches, freedom and glamour. the reality (it could be argued) is obesity, poverty and aggression (as you point out)

as for japan, you could say it's trying to present an image of youthful, "cute" and playfull when the reality is old, grey and conservative.
Loki520 at 08:20 PM JST - 15th June

Anyway, much better than projecting an image of military violence like the USA.

Oh give up already. Not EVERYTHING has to be tied to the mistakes of the US. Japan, and the mere idiotic idea of "Kawaii ambassadors" doesn't need to be tied to any nations foreign policy.
jeffrey at 05:45 AM JST - 16th June

Freespeech at 06:24 AM JST - 14th June I was only laughing, laughing my head off... Then I stumbled on the post of EmiMiura and became indignant : to pretend that the French are "in love" with Japanese culture (or was it pop culture ?) is just showing one's low level of understanding. The French (particularly the young ones) know practically nothing of Japan outside of manga and anime and a little (very little) pop music.

I realize that the world has changed a great deal in the last fifty years or so, but I've always thought that the Japanese fascination with all things French sad. I can't remember what exactly it was that De Gaulle said about the Japanese back in the 1960s, but it was far from complimentary, and he wasn't half as stupid Sarkozy. In short, the French have never taken the Japanese very seriously.
Freespeech at 05:18 PM JST - 16th June

jeffrey :

you are right my friend ! The French take what Japan has to offer and that looks pleasing or advantageous to them ; the futile take manga or eat (bad) sushi in one of the numerous pseudo-japanese restaurants that are now so numerous in our towns, the pragmatic buy the high quality electronic or automobile products from Japan ; in this context, they may well have a look at these pathetic kawaii puppets, just for a good laugh. A minority of definitely warped ones may try to imitate, but that will remain a "boundary layer".

And deep down Japan as a nation will never be taken seriously ; authentic J-culture itself will remain a mystery that not many want to spend time exploring because that very culture never tries to open itself to curious foreigners' understanding (on that, read Oe Kenzaburo's "Aimai Nihon no watashi").

And still deeper, 99.9% of the French have no knowledge at all of the details of recent history (only the "ah, poor guys, they were A-bombed..."), which obviously is a lubricant for an easy and superficial relationship.

We can continue this analysis, but I am afraid the moderators are going to accuse us of going off-topic !
roninexile at 03:10 AM JST - 17th June

Should be "kowai ambassadors" not "kawaii".
coopers at 03:29 PM JST - 17th June

These little piglets will unfortunately be laughed at every convention they go to.
Mittsu at 03:32 PM JST - 17th June

Bet they get more action than most of the people critiscising them on this site.
jonnyboy at 04:11 PM JST - 17th June

this story featured in the japan times today. there was a leading photograph with these girls at some kind of event. i noted that there was an older lady in the picture, holding a microphone. i imagine that it was her doing the talking and these girls were little more than models, unable to talk for themselves

what a great image to present.
isthistheend at 09:01 PM JST - 17th June

Ok, while all the above is not incorrect, for those of us living here, it does at least say that things, ordinary things Japanese still hold some attraction to other nations/cultures. How is "Playboy" culture better or more acceptable than Kawaii culture? Not that I support it, nor like the seemingly brainlessness of most of their advocates, but it does seem to be rather innocent way to gain attention, and from there.....who knows?
Disillusioned at 07:45 PM JST - 18th June

A sad day for Japan if this is how they wish the reat of the world to see them.
womanforwomen at 10:16 PM JST - 18th June

Oh wow what a coincidence. I just noticed that JT is promoting the Japan's Fministries campaign by having the commercial for the asian dating site with another status symbol from Asia!