In recent years, Japan's kawaii culture has exploded in popularity. WSJ's Eric Bellman speaks with author Manami Okazaki about how cuteness has gained a global fanbase.

“Shrewd” is how Mika Nishimura, a design professor at Tokyo’s Meisei University ... stems from a misunderstanding of “kawaii,” which is Japanese for “cute” but also connotes a ...

In Japan, ‘cute’ is a big deal. Their own word for it, kawaii (“ka-why-ee”), is more of an ethos than an adjective. Shops and billboards are filled with big-eyed fluffy figures.

TOKYO--Hello Kitty turns 50 on Friday ... Part of the confusion stems from a misunderstanding of “kawaii,” which is Japanese for “cute” but also connotes a lovable or adorable essence.

Before moving to Tokyo in ... his genre as Kawaii Metal (or ‘Cute Metal’), which mixes some elements from heavy metal and J-Pop. One of the pioneers of this genre is a Japanese idol trio ...

This super kawaii shop in Harajuku offers a sweet version of the popular dish, combining colorful taco shells with a variety of sweet fillings. Choose from four ice cream flavors, all with a whole ...

So naturally, he had to travel to their hometown of Tokyo to discover ... Bunny Bissoux. "Kawaii" means cute - but as Bunny explained, anything can be cute in Japan. She took us through the ...