Japan picks "schoolgirl" among cute ambassadors

[Blackjack Palazzo]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090312/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_japan_ambassadors_cute;_ylt=AqNptkclt7wix 5PRP6AND0XtiBIF


TOKYO (Reuters) – Ever seen an ambassador dressed from head to foot in pastel frills? How about a diplomatic envoy in a mini-skirted school uniform?

In a bid to raise its international profile, Tokyo has appointed three young women as cultural envoys because they represent Japan's long-running craze for all things cute.

Inspired by the characters in Japan's distinctive "anime" animated films and "manga" cartoon books, one of the new ambassadors dresses as a schoolgirl, another as a Victorian doll in voluminous frilly skirts.

The third of the women, presented at a news conference on Thursday, was a singer dressed in a polka dot shirt with a bunny print, offset by bouffant back-combed hair, a look that has made her a fashion leader in Tokyo teens' favourite haunt, Harajuku.

Japan wants to exploit the popularity of the "kawaii" (cute) culture, which has influenced young people in Asia and Europe.

"It's all about mutual understanding," said Tsutomu Nakagawa, the head of the cultural affairs division at the Foreign Ministry, after presenting the three envoys to the foreign media.

"We want people abroad to know these kind of people exist in Japan and to feel close to them."

Faced with the prospect of being overtaken in both economic and military might by giant neighbour China, Japan has been making concerted efforts to boost its "soft power," a strategy that analysts see as important.

"You get people to love your culture and use that as a way of gaining power around the world," said Phil Deans, professor of international relations at Temple University's Tokyo campus.

"America has a lot of soft power, because people like American culture."

But these ambassadors, whose role will be to speak at cultural events such as a Japan Expo to be held in Paris in July, may have narrower appeal than Hollywood movie stars.

The envoys, chosen for the clothes they choose to wear in their everyday lives, said they believed their styles would last.

"Every female from small girls to grandmothers loves pretty clothes," said nurse and part-time model Misako Aoki, now ambassador for the doll-like "Gothic Lolita" style.

"I think I can continue to dress like this all my life. Age has nothing to do with it."

Actress Shizuka Fujioka, 19, wears a school uniform even though she's graduated because she felt she missed out by going to a school with an ugly uniform.

The appointment of the three envoys comes a year after Doraemon, a rotund blue cartoon cat with no ears, was named a special ambassador.

While serving as foreign minister, manga fan Prime Minister Taro Aso also launched an international prize for the genre.

"Whether this is a strategy on which the world's second largest economy can base its diplomacy, I have yet to be convinced," said Temple University's Deans.

(Editing by Rodney Joyce)

[Nekusagi]

The Lolita ambassador made me squeal with delight.

Especially as I actually knew who she was- a model for Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. I've seen her before in magazine scans. She's adorable.

[♥Lady Marie♥]

I love the Lolita style of clothing, mostly Sweet Lolita, the one type of style from "Kamikaze Girls"(hope i got the film name right). And seeing Gothic Lolita it as a cute ambassador is cool.

And Nekusagi, I love "Baby the Stars Shine Bright". I wish I can afford the dresses.

[Nekusagi]

Originally Posted by Lady Marie

I love the Lolita style of clothing, mostly Sweet Lolita, the one type of style from "Kamikaze Girls"(hope i got the film name right). And seeing Gothic Lolita it as a cute ambassador is cool.

And Nekusagi, I love "Baby the Stars Shine Bright". I wish I can afford the dresses.

You got the film title right.

BtSSB is what Kamikaze Girls' whole plot is about. And yeah... same here about affording the dresses.

[♥Lady Marie♥]

Originally Posted by Nekusagi

You got the film title right.

BtSSB is what Kamikaze Girls' whole plot is about. And yeah... same here about affording the dresses.

I Finally got something right for once. :)
I love the movie and the way Momoko dressed in the movie. It's such a awesome style to me.
-----
And Angelic Pretty is another one that I like but can't afford. The dresses are so pretty.

[Neko Godot]

Why does this article have no pictures?

And, possibly an even more disturbing problem, why is there no maid ambassador?

[Mooites]

Ambassadors for what?

[The Big Al]

Originally Posted by Mooites

Ambassadors for what?

All things cute as the article says.

[Blackjack Palazzo]

Cultural ambassadors. I guess they spread culture.

[Maxim Posthumus]

OMG, that confirms that

Hanguk > Ilbon

*gets shot by animetards*

Seriously, it's the second most perverted nation in the world (after US).

What will we be getting next? A Ganguro Emperor?

And yeah, I would like to see pictures too.

[C7CACorncas12]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/12/2514879.htm

I checked the photo provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and my reaction essentially boils down to, "Uh... wow.". I will wish Japan's new cute ambassadors success and good luck, and yet, leave it to me to propose that Japan choose a certain yellow electric mouse known to all of us as a future cultural ambassador, if to reinforce these girls' mission. At any rate, if this strategy succeeds, then kudos to whoever came up with the idea in the first place.

[Nekusagi]

Originally Posted by Maxim Gwanjangnim

OMG, that confirms that

Hanguk > Ilbon

*gets shot by animetards*

Seriously, it's the second most perverted nation in the world (after US).

What will we be getting next? A Ganguro Emperor?

And yeah, I would like to see pictures too.

What's perverted about it?

I've long said Japan should start exporting its fashion, and it's just now catching on. J-fashion is so much more fascinating and vibrant than the western tribes of prep/punk/goth/scene/emo, because while they DO have those, they all cross over into each other.

[PikaJ]

I wish I had more confidence to dress pretty in real life...*still dresses a little tomboyish...like I have a lot through parts of my teen years while I was confused and stuff*...lol (though I used to wear dresses and skirts all the time as a kid)


Anyways...I love the Lolita fasion, though..it's soo cute and adorable. x3;; aww...n.n

And, yes, Japanese fasion is waay more intresting than the American stuff. :P American fasion is kinda boring...