Editor’s note: This series showcases what we are calling “kawaii” (cute ... Many of the shop's unique items, which have proved popular both in Japan and abroad, are designed to have uneven ...

In recent years, Japan's kawaii culture has exploded in popularity. WSJ's Eric Bellman speaks with author Manami Okazaki about how cuteness has gained a global fanbase.

In Japan, ‘cute’ is a big deal. Their own word for it, kawaii (“ka-why-ee”), is more of an ethos than an adjective. Shops and billboards are filled with big-eyed fluffy figures.