Writings on Cuteness for General Readership

Below is a list of full-text links to articles written by team members of Kawaii in Japan & Beyond that are intended for a general readership. You'll find everything from op-eds and art editorials to interviews and literary essays with a personal touch.

Dale, Joshua Paul. "What gave rise to the global power of cute and kawaii?" The Japan Times, March 26, 2024. Reprinted on Cute Studies, May 26, 2024.

Dale, Joshua Paul. "On the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty." The Japan Times, April 22, 2024. Reprinted on Cute Studies, July 13, 2024.

Dale, Joshua Paul. "Understanding Japan’s Cuteness Culture With the Founder of the ‘Cute Studies’ Academic Field in Tokyo." By Nicholaus Hines. No Fixed Address Podcast, May 23, 2024.

Dale, Joshua Paul. "Cute Conduits: Diving Deep into the Adorable." Hyundai Artlab. Hyundai Motor, June 24, 2024.

Galbraith, Patrick. W. "'Idols' in Japan, Asia and the world." In Idols and Celebrity in Japanese Media Culture, edited by Patrick W. Galbraith and Jason G. Karlin, 202–214. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Galbraith, Patrick W., ed. The Moé Manifesto: An Insider’s look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2014.

Galbraith, Patrick W., and Megan Catherine Rose. "Animated Femininities, Queer Discontent: An Interview with Colin Armistead and Phoebe Chan." Journal of Femininities: https://doi.org/10.1163/29501229-bja10001 (published online ahead of print 2024)

Kanesaka, Erica. "The Healing Power of Virtual Cuteness." Public Books, March 17, 2022. 

Kanesaka, Erica. "The Mixed-Race Fantasy Behind Kawaii Aesthetics." Catapult, January 17, 2023. 

Rose, Megan Catherine. "Kawaii Affective Assemblages: Cute New Materialism in Decora Fashion, Harajuku." M/C Journal 25, no. 4: https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.2926 (original work published October 5, 2022).

Rose, Megan Catherine. "Burning Bunnies and Kawaii Resistance: On LARME's 10th Anniversary Video." Unseen Japan, May 9, 2023.

Rose, Megan Catherine. "Sharp Blades, Soft Frills: Femme rebellion in lolita fashion, Japan." Anime Feminist, May 24, 2023.

Rose, Megan Catherine, et al. "Cute Guide: Selected Objects Exploring the Theme of Cute." Somerset House CUTE Exhibition, 2024.