WRITTEN BY HEATHER STEWART, MARKETING INTERN
From Hello Kitty to Pokémon to Harajuku girls, there’s no doubt that modern Japanese culture revels in pop culture. The Museum has loaned several works to Epcot for its current exhibition in the Japan Pavilion. Kawaii: Japan’s Cute Culture shows the origins of kawaii and its dominance across modern Japanese culture. From entertainment to clothing to mannerisms, kawaii isn’t just a trend; it’s a way of life. The exhibition opened last year and will be on view for the next four years in the Bijutsu-kan Gallery. Pieces from the Museum include: Ando Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797 – 1858), 100 Views of Famous Places in Edo: Susaki and the Jumantsubo Plain near Fukagawa, 1856, woodblock print (AG.1998.4.13); Turtle netsuke with crane inro (AG.1974.13.4, AG.1974.13.52); Rat netsuke with abstract inro (AG.1974.13.269, AG.1974.13.38); Sleeping Dog netsuke (AG.1974.13.330). 
