KAWAII Unchained : Sailor Suit & Machine Gun

By David Wilentz at The Brooklyn Rail (November 2006) :

‘Kawaii’, the Japanese word for cute, is more than an adjective, it’s a far-reaching concept and cultural phenomenon. During the ’80s, Japan saw so-called ‘idols’ dominate pop culture with an emphasis not on traditional sex appeal, but girl/boy next door ‘cuteness’ instead. Marketing geared towards young audiences who identified more with an ‘average’ adolescent like themselves than a larger than life star. The Japan Society’s “Lolita in Full Bloom” series features five popular ‘idol movies’ from the ’80s, offering a revealing look at what makes Japanese pop culture tick and what ‘kawaii’ really looks like.