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Kawaii Culture Defends Global Appeal

Updated 2026-07-02 12:25 UTC 1 source Neutral

At the 2026 Golden Melody Festival in Taiwan, artists Nakagawa Yusuke and Kimura Misa argued that Japan’s kawaii culture succeeded by maintaining its unique identity rather than adapting to Western tastes. This approach is seen as a key factor in its global success.

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Variety

Japan’s Kawaii Culture Went Global by Refusing to Change, Say Nakagawa Yusuke and Kimura Misa at Golden Melody Festival

Japan’s kawaii culture didn’t go global by adapting to Western tastes – it did it by doubling down on its own identity. That was the central argument at one of the 2026 Golden Melody Festival’s most colorful opening sessions, held in Taiwan ahead of the Golden Melody Awards. Kawaii

2026-07-02 12:10 UTC