I spoke with Michael Motamedi and Vanessa Salas in Harajuku for their No Fixed Address podcast. We talked about the science of cute as well as kawaii. My favorite topics! You can listen to it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Here’s some information:
Can Cuteness Make You a Better Person? This Expert in Japan says ‘Yes!’
“We're in Harajuku, Japan's capital of cuteness, to meet Joshua Paul Dale, a professor in Cuteness Studies and a leading authority on everything cute. Everywhere we turn, something adorable catches our eye. We can't resist smiling at the bunny-shaped cotton candy, and when we pass a mini pig café, Vanessa exclaims, "I just want to squish them!" Joshua assures us this reaction is completely normal. He breaks down what happens in our brains when we see something cute, how it charms us, and its influence on our everyday lives.”
The exhibition “Cute: the Irresistible Rise of Cuteness in Contemporary Culture” begins January 24, 2023 at Somerset House in London.
What happened when I showed an 800-year-old puppy statue at a Japan Foundation New York workshop.
Sanrio exhibition “The Beginning of Kawaii” featuring Hello Kitty and friends.
Exhibitions on Japanese kawaii art.