If you have been reading this site on Thursdays you must have noticed that Japan likes to use characters be it from the animal or anime world on packaging, signs and in many other circumstances.
The paperback Hello, Please! Very Helpful Super Kawaii Characters from Japan by Matt Alt and Hiroko Yoda (published by Chronicle Books, August 07) offers many illustrations on the topic and also helps us understand why they are used, where they come from and their connection to Japanese popular culture.
Kawaii could be translated as cute. Wikipedia offers some illustrations of Cuteness in Japanese Culture such as Pikachu characters on some All Nippon Airways jets.
The book came to my attention thanks to PingMag.
That's all for Tokyo Thursdays #20.
Last week: Fashion goes to the Dogs in Tokyo according to 'Putting on the Dog'
Related stories: In 'Japanamerica', Roland Kelts rides the New York-Tokyo Express
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