Japan: The Cutest Culture

Of course we develop our idea of "cute" during childhood and Japan has certainly created a long and cute-ass list of figures like Hello Kitty and Pokemon, which have spread worldwide. The photos above show one of the many cute Japanese kids I crossed paths with, undoubtedly just being a kid and representing the cute movement. I swear Japanese children are the cutest children in the world. There must be some correlation between societal understandings of "cute" and the upbringing of children.


Upon arriving any foreign visitor to Japan is assailed by a psychedelic show of billboards, neons, flashes, and noise. Part of many Japanese advertising schemes is the cultural love of cute figures and characterizations. Josh informed me soon after landing of the Japanese love of cute and during my stay I decided to shoot photos (only a few compared to the prevalence of subject matter) of what cute animals or animated figures I found simply...cute.

Japan: Reflecting faces

Japan in many ways kept things veiled during my week stay.
Fuji-san remained blanketed the entire week, despite many attempts to glance upon its mass.
Clouds buried the horizon for days.
Rain limited my sight underneath umbrella.

Despite small bumps along my route I found profound and distinct beauty in very small places. The ubiquity of water in Japan-- and especially during my stay with days of solid rain--left many small pools and puddles to glance into and seek this place--and became my guide during my travels.