MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON is launching a new series which we are calling the Kawaii Creators Club. Each episode, we'll be introducing to you, the readers, to Kawaii Fashion Creators from around the world who are interested in kawaii fashion from Harajuku.   You'll get to know each of these creators―who all live in different countries around the world―as you learn how they came to know about kawaii fashion, where they buy their clothes and accessories, who their fashion inspirations are, and more, in the form of an interview. In Episode #9, we welcome Luzia from Portugal, who expressed her kawaii through fashion and illustration. In this interview, we get to hear about how she came to love fashion, the anime series that have influenced her, and lots more.   --What is your nickname (or name)? Hi! My name is Luzia! It’s not a super common name, though... so I get called Luiza or Lucia all the time haha!   --Which country do you live in? I’m from Portugal but I moved to Sweden exactly a year ago!   --What is your occupation?
 At the moment, I work as an artist (I earn my life through drawing commissions) but I am working on my first clothes and accessories collection. --What made you interested in kawaii fashion? I’ve always loved pastel and overall kawaii things ever since I was a kid. Me and my brother would watch magical girls girl animes every day for years and those memories always stuck with me. For this reason, when I found photos of Sweet lolita and Fairy Kei online and noticed how, in a way, I could look and feel like a magical girl every day, I became obsessed with them and really wanted to try it. My family was not super supportive of my style in the beginning but, now they accept it a bit more.   --At what age did you start experimenting with kawaii fashion? I first started experimenting with kawaii fashion around my 19th birthday. I was in recovery after suffering with a very severe case of Anorexia Nervosa and I just went: “Screw what people may think. I almost died. I’m not going to keep living my life looking like what other people want me to. I want to wear what makes me happy”, and I did! --Where do you buy your kawaii accessories and clothes from? I buy most of my stuff in the second hand market (Lace Market, Closetchild, facebook groups, etc...). It’s one of the things which I love about kawaii fashion, in fact! It makes it more affordable and also more sustainable since people are a lot more careful with their clothes and tend to prefer higher quality pieces.   I also really enjoy getting stuff from different artists and to support their work! –What sparked your interest in creating kawaii art? Seeing all the amazing kawaii art out there and the realization that i could do it too and make others smile!   –At what age did you start making kawaii art? When I was a kid, “Santa” would always give me a big tin of Caran’dAche coloring pencils. It was, probably, a bit of an extreme gift for a 4 years old, BUT, it did lead me to not only draw A LOT of princesses and fairies, but also to respect art supplies (and not break them like all those kids in kindergarten haha). I was not allowed to study art in High school but I never stopped practicing and drawing cute anime girls non-stop! Eventually, we reached “today” and that is my job! It’s great! –What do you use to create your art? Most of my art is currently done on my 6th gen ipad and I use the app Procreate. Before that, I had a pretty long copic markers + fine liners phase and before that, coloring pencils. I am working towards getting a better set up, though! One day... –What do you like doing on your days off? I draw! A lot! I also do some gaming here and there (not as much since I started doing commission work this often) but I also really enjoy doing makeup, put on a kawaii outfit and taking photos for my instagram account.   –What is your favourite food and why? (It can be from any country) Cheese, mushrooms and sushi! –Do you have a favourite anime? Cardcaptor Sakura and Puella Magi Madoka Magica will always have a place in my heart.   -- Do you have a favourite Japanese celebrity? If yes, who is it and why? Misako Aoki! She is a lolita model for several brands and she is also a nurse! And nurses are super awesome heroes!   -- Do you have a favourite website about Japan or Japanese culture? If so, what is it? I’ve recently found the youtube channel Abroad in Japan and I absolutely love it since it is full of beautiful scenery, yummy food, fun facts and British humour! Would definitely recommend it if you’d like to see a lovely view of Japan, without the usual focus on the anime and fashion districts. --What is your favourite Japanese word or phrase? I use the word “Kawaii” several times a day for years. It is my life at the moment so, as cringy as it may be, it describes my dreams and what makes me happy.   --Have you ever been to Japan? what is your favourite place? No… I would love to one day, though! My boyfriend went there a couple of years ago on a tour with his band and his stories always make me so jealous.   --Tell us about your dreams for the future. I would love to: 1: Get a nice set up going which helps me be more productive, 2: Launch my first collection of apparel and accessories and, lastly, get more healthy or, at least, get healthier or, at least, get help to manage my chronic condition. –Finally, what does “kawaii” mean to you? As I’ve said above, ​it describes my dreams and what makes me happy. It’s more than just pastel colours. It’s warm and cozy, it’s beautiful, everything is perfectly balanced (as all things should be), it comes with an amazing community and it makes people smile!   If you want to see more of Luzia then be sure to follow her on Instagram where you can check out many more of her looks.   Luzia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alnilan_luzia/

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON is launching a new series which we are calling the Kawaii Creators Club. Each episode, we'll be introducing to you, the readers, to Kawaii Fashion Creators from around the world whose kawaii fashion is reminiscent of that seen in Tokyo's fashion hub of Harajuku. You'll get to know each of these creators―who all live in different countries around the world―as you learn how they came to know about kawaii fashion, where they buy their clothes and accessories, who their fashion inspirations are, and more, in the form of an interview. In Episode #8, we welcome Milli from Germany! We get to hear about how this kawaii fashion creator, whose gorgeous short hair has us hooked, came to be interesting in fashion, how anime has influenced her, and more.   --What is your nickname (or name)? Milli   --Which country do you live in? Germany   --What is your occupation? I'm a student, nearing the last year of German secondary school (similar to High School). --What made you interested in kawaii fashion? I saw a YouTube video way back, when I was just getting into cosplay, discussing whether Lolita Fashion fell into the cosplay category or not (obviously it doesn't). I had no idea what Lolita Fashion or Fairy Kei was then, but I saw the two lolitas featured on the thumbnail of that video and thought "wow, I wanna look like them!!!"   --At what age did you start experimenting with kawaii fashion? When I was 12 years old.   --Where do you buy your kawaii accessories and clothes from? Accessories I buy at random or make myself. For clothing, I like to go thrifting as much as possible, although I looove the following online-available brands: Nile Perch ／Milklim／Listenflavor／Peiliee Shop／Kokopie Shop／Good Fortune Shop／Pastelloves Store／Devil Inspired--Is there anyone who inspires your fashion style? There are so many amazing creators out there, so I could name a bunch of people haha... When I need particular fashion inspiration, I often go to the accounts of @laaagkki@pixieelocks@dewybun@fairy.izzi@kao_kitsune@newniji@katiebabydoll   -- What do you like doing on your days off? Anything creative! Drawing, sewing, scrapbooking, going out and taking photos... Oh, and bake a cake!   --What is your favourite food and why? (It can be from any country) Mango curry with vegetables and fried tofu (for a meal), but something my sweet tooth can never get enough of is German poppyseed cake! --Do you have a favourite anime? I'll have to name multiple... Kuroshitsuji: love because: it combines my favorite past time (the 1880's) with my favorite city (London) and an AMAZING set of characters fav character: Ciel Phantomhive because I relate to his cold, sarcastic energy. Which gives me confidence that one can use these traits for good, not for evil or to be mean. Haikyuu: love because: sooo many characters to cheer for! Best sports anime out there and it focuses on each team so nicely, you literally can't pick sides. fav character: Hinata Shoyo because he shines like a happy, energetic sun for everyone around him. I want to be that for my friends. Ouran Highschool Host Club: love because: hilarious, queer, absolutely out there, and so different from any other anime I've watched. fav character: Haruhi Fujioka because I have NEVER before related to any fictional character this much. And I just love the way she breaks gender stereotypes! --Do you have a favourite Japanese celebrity? If yes, who is it and why? I don't really keep up with celebrities in general haha, sorry... I only really know influencers, so in that case: Haruka Kurebayashi (@kurebayashiii on Instagram) Her style is so creative (the way she puts together outfits and combines the pieces + makeup is amazing!) and her personality just SHINES! Which makes the videos and vlogs she does especially enjoyable.   --Do you have a favourite website about Japan or Japanese culture? If so, what is it? Well, since the part of Japanese culture that I currently educate myself on the most is the language, I will name the website I'm learning through: japanesefromzero.com Moreso, the author George Trombley is so helpful with the teachings he gives on his YouTube channel! --What is your favourite Japanese word or phrase? 十人十色 // juunintoiro // Ten People, Ten Colours I find this proverb so joyful and fitting, as it allows me to take it literally (in the sense of individual style and "don't judge a book by its cover") or interpret it according to an occasion (when I might be upset because someone has a different outlook on something, that might however be interesting to consider). It also promotes diversity!   --Have you ever been to Japan? What is your favourite place? Not yet, but I want to go as soon as possible!! Mainly to Harajuku, as I'd love to see the district where my favorite fashion styles originated and flourish.   --Tell us about your dreams for the future. I dream of living freely and finding an occupation I love (this is especially important right now, as I need to know what to do after I finish school). I want to travel with friends and one day live in an old house in my hometown, with a big garden and many cats. It might sound like just wishful thinking, but we attract what we believe in!   --Finally, what does “kawaii” mean to you? "kawaii" is a lifestyle to me, as well as a feeling of childish, careless happiness and unrestricted creative freedom. It's definitely more than just "cuteness"; it's the way I view and design my surroundings and how I choose to find brightness and positivity in the world, regardless of how dark it might be some days.   If you want to see more of Milli then be sure to follow her on Instagram where you can check out many more of her looks.   Milli Instagram: @plantlovingrose

In our Kawaii Creators Club series, we introduce to our readers to Kawaii Fashion Creators from around the world who are interested in kawaii fashion from Harajuku.   Each episode, you'll get to know a different creator―each of whom live in different countries around the world―as you learn how they came to know about kawaii fashion, where they buy their clothes and accessories, who their fashion inspirations are, and more, in the form of an interview. In Episode #7, we say hello to Chirikku from Norway. We asked her about her roots in "kawaii," what brands she likes, her dreams for the future, and more.   --What is your nickname (or name)? My name is Henrikke, but I go by Chirikku online.   -- Which country do you live in? I currently live in Norway.   --What is your occupation? Employed with a company. -- What made you interested in kawaii fashion? I first got interested in Japanese pop-culture back in high school, and that lead me to find out about different kinds of Japanese fashion trends. I was already dressing a bit different than the other kids at my school so the different street styles in Japan really facinated me. Back when I first got into it it wasn't even called Kawaii fashion.   --At what age did you start experimenting with kawaii fashion? I must have been about 13 or 14 years old when I first started experimenting with different styles, that also included different elements of what we now call kawaii fashion. -- Where do you buy your kawaii accessories and clothes from? I usually buy most of my clothes and accessories whenever I'm in Japan, but I also have some online stores I like ordering from.   -- Is there anyone who inspires your fashion style? Yeah of course! I get really inspired by many of my friends and other people I follow on Instagram etc.   --What do you like doing on your days off? I love spending time with my friends just doing whatever. I also really enjoy playing games and occasionally I read manga and draw. --What is your favourite food and why? (It can be from any country) Sweets and desserts, haha. I would have sweets over food any time of the day, jk ...unless? But yeah, I really like pizza, any food with salmon, and many other Japanese dishes that does not have any meat in them.   -- Do you have a favourite anime? Who is your favourite character? I honestly don't watch that much anime anymore, but Black Lagoon has always been one of my favorite animes. I really like most of the female characters in this anime, they are all so bad ass but Revy is my favorite for sure.   --Do you have a favourite Japanese celebrity? If yes, who is it and why? I haven't really been keeping up with Japanese celebrities so I can't really say I do have one right now.   --Do you have a favourite website about Japan or Japanese culture? If so, what is it? I actually really enjoy your website https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ , and I always pop by it before going to Japan to see what's up or if there are any cute restaurants popping up. -- What is your favourite Japanese word or phrase? My favorite word is 天使 meaning Angel, and phrase 仕方がない.   --Have you ever been to Japan? what is your favourite place? Yeah I have been there 5 times by now. I studied at a university there back in 2017-2018, and I'm planning om on moving back for a little while in the near future. Tokyo has a special place in my heart, but I have really enjoyed every place in Japan I have been to this far. I just really love exploring new places, preferably by bike. --Tell us about your dreams for the future. My dreams for the future is to be able to work and live in Japan for a period of time and just see where life takes me.   -- Finally, what does “kawaii” mean to you? kawaii /kəˈwʌɪ/ adjective (in the context of Japanese popular culture) cute. "she paints elephants that are extremely kawaii" noun the quality of being cute, or items that are cute. "even in a cosmopolitan city like Tokyo, kawaii is everywhere"   Just kidding, no but to me it just cute and youthful, and there is just something so pure and sweet about it.   If you want to see more of Chirikku, then be sure to follow her on Instagram where you can check out many more of her looks.   Chirikku's Instagram: @chirikku

We are introducing a new category to our Kawaii Creator's Club: "Kawaii Art Creators," in which we showcase individuals that have caught our attention for their artwork which has been inspired by Japan's 'kawaii' subculture.   These individuals live outside Japan in different countries around the world. So how did they come to learn about kawaii culture? What influences their art, and do they have any favourite creators and artists themselves? These interviews are packed with tips and interesting information for those interested in kawaii art. Kicking off our Kawaii Art Creator category is Faith Varvara from Canada. --What is your name? Hi!! My name is Faith Varvara!   --Which country are you from? I am from Canada!   --What do you do for a living? I illustrate and design clothing and other cute items often themed around cute animals and adorable food! My favorite thing to design was my own plush collection.   --What sparked your interest in creating kawaii art? I've always really enjoyed light and pastel aesthetics and as my interests grew and evolved, I found myself leaning more towards kawaii art. I have had a lot of influence from watching anime since I was a kid and some of the cutest desserts I would see online were from wonderful Japanese cafes. --At what age did you start making kawaii art? Probably around age 16. I used to do a lot of water colour painting, I would paint a lot of portraits and animals but as I started practicing digital art I found what really made me happy was creating cute and kawaii art. --What do you use to create your art?  I've used many different digital tablets over the years but my favorite and what I currently use is an IPad pro 12" and the program Autodesk Sketchbook. It's a free app that I've learned when I first started drawing digital art. --Is there anyone who inspires your work? There are lots of people that inspire me. Although his artwork is not very kawaii Guillermo del Toro has always been a big inspiration. His ability to create creative and whimsical worlds with his artwork is something I've always admired and something I hope to be able to do in a more cute and kawaii way.   --What is it that inspires your creations? My main inspiration for my illustrations mainly come from desserts and cute animals. Whenever I am stuck on what to draw I love to go to cafes, I watch videos of people baking or look at pictures of adorable desserts online. When I'm traveling I try to find cafes and restaurants that have unique sweets that I might not be able to get back home for both inspiration and my personal love of eating desserts! --What do you do on your days off? On my days off I love going out to restaurants with friends and family. I also often play video games since a lot of my friends and my significant other are not usually in the same city or country. It's a great way to stay connected.   --Do you have a favourite anime? I started watching anime as a little kid so there are so many I could name that I love. It's hard to choose since each anime brings something different. Whether it's beautiful animation, fleshed out worlds with deep story lines or light heartedness that makes you laugh and maybe forget about a bad day. If I had to choose one it would perhaps be either Samurai Champloo or Ouran highschool host club. I remember watching them both when I was younger. I've seen both shows many times and I find I always enjoy rewatching either of them in the background while I draw.   --Do you have a favourite Japanese creator or celebrity? Hayao Miyazaki. It might be a bit of a bland answer because I don't think there's anyone who doesn't like what he creates haha! I find his illustrations and world design incredible. To me he is very similar to Guillermo del Toro in that way, they build such beautiful and creative worlds through their art.   --Do you have a favourite Japanese word? With any language I think the most interesting words are those that don't have proper translations. I think it shows that that thing or action is important enough to its culture/community to have it's own word to describe it. One I learned recently was "Shinrinyoku 森林浴 '' meaning forest bathing which is to walk through a forest and help improve your well being. I think that is a wonderful concept and I think more people would benefit from reconnecting to nature and seeing the beautiful world around us. --Have you ever been to Japan? If so, where is your favourite place? If not, where would you like to go? Sadly no. There have been a few times that I had plans but unfortunately work or other things outside of my control came up causing me to cancel my trips. One place I'd love to go to would be Harajuku. The fashion boutiques look so mesmerizing and wonderful. I definitely get a lot of my inspiration when designing clothes from this area. Clothing means a lot to me, It's an amazing way we can express ourselves and I believe a well constructed outfit can become art in itself. I also love the adorable sweet treats you can find there. That being said I think Kyoto would also be wonderful. It seems so beautiful and a lot more traditional, very different to the bustling streets of Tokyo. --Tell us your dreams for the future. I would love to keep creating new clothing designs, plush and other cute goodies but my biggest dream would be having my own cafe themed around my illustrations and characters!!   --What does the word "kawaii" mean to you? When I think of the word "kawaii" it makes me think of the great community of artists I am surrounded by. I don't use the word in my everyday speech but I see it as more of a genre of cute inspired by Japanese culture.   If you want to see more of Faith's art, please check out her Instagram.   Faith’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithvarvara/

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON is launching a new series which we are calling the Kawaii Creators Club. Each episode, we'll be introducing to you, the readers, to Kawaii Fashion Creators from around the world who are interested in kawaii fashion from Harajuku.   You'll get to know each of these creators―who all live in different countries around the world―as you learn how they came to know about kawaii fashion, where they buy their clothes and accessories, who their fashion inspirations are, and more, in the form of an interview. In Episode #5, we welcome Sandra from Finland! In this interview, we asked her about her favourite brands, her dreams for the future, what sparked her interest in kawaii fashion, and much more.   --What is your nickname (or name)? My name is Sandra. I go by the name BubbleChuTea on social media. I chose that name because I love bubble tea (or boba tea), and I thought it’d be cute to add the “chu” in between.   --Which country do you live in? I live in Finland.  --What is your occupation? I’ve graduated from a vocational school with a major in fashion design. And I'm currently studying graphic design.   --What made you interested in kawaii fashion? When I was 12 years old I found a blogger whose style was inspired by Japanese fashion, and she wrote a lot about Japan’s pop culture. I think that’s when I got interested in kawaii/Japanese fashion. -- At what age did you start experimenting with kawaii fashion? I’ve always been interested in fashion and clothing styles in general. I think I started experimenting with kawaii fashion when I was around 16 years old, when I had just started studying fashion design, and started buying more cute pastel clothes from online shops.   --Where do you buy your kawaii accessories and clothes from? Some of my current favorite Japanese brands are W♡C and Listen Flavor. I also recommend Yesstyle, Lazy Oaf, MIXXMIX for example.   --Is there anyone who inspires your fashion style? I get inspired mostly by people I follow on Instagram with similar styles as mine. --What do you like doing on your days off? I like to create content for Instagram and Youtube, photography, and doing makeup looks. Lately, I’ve been playing a lot of Animal Crossing New Horizons.   --What is your favourite food and why? (It can be from any country) Sushi! I know it’s a pretty basic answer, but I like that there are so many different kinds of versions and you can pretty much use any ingredients you like.   --Do you have a favourite anime? I don’t watch a lot of anime anymore, I used to watch it more often a few years ago. My favorite anime has to be Cardcaptor Sakura. I remember when I went to elementary school, and Cardcaptor Sakura used to come on TV when I came home from school. Since it was the first anime I ever watched, it holds a special place in my heart. I’ve also cosplayed Sakura Kinomoto.   --Do you have a favourite Japanese celebrity? If yes, who is it and why? No I don’t have.   --Do you have a favourite website about Japan or Japanese culture? If so, what is it? I like Tokyofashion.com, sometimes I check out their website or Instagram for fashion inspiration. I’ve also watched a lot of Youtube videos in the past to learn about Japan’s culture.   --What is your favourite Japanese word or phrase? My favorite Japanese word used to be kawaii, but now I think my favorite word is nani, because of all the memes. --Have you ever been to Japan? What is your favourite place? Yes, I visited Japan (Tokyo to be specific) in October of 2017. I liked Harajuku the most, even though it was very crowded it felt so cool to be able to explore all the streets and go to the physical stores of my favorite clothing brands. I definitely wanna go back and explore more places in Japan someday.   --Tell us about your dreams for the future. I would like to work in a creative field, something with graphic design for example. Or maybe start my own company/brand. I’m not sure yet. --Finally, what does “kawaii” mean to you? I think the word kawaii has changed so much over the years, it has turned into a whole subculture. For me, it’s almost like a lifestyle, to not be afraid to express who you are, being able to embrace your inner “child”, having interests like collecting character plushies, wearing cute clothes even when you’re an adult. It can be a distraction from all the struggles in your life, and I think that’s just a good thing.   If you want to see more of Sandra then be sure to follow her on Instagram where you can check out many more of her looks.   Sandra's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bubblechutea/

MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON is launching a new series which we are calling the Kawaii Creators Club. Each episode, we'll be introducing to you, the readers, to Kawaii Fashion Creators from around the world who are interested in kawaii fashion from Harajuku.   You'll get to know each of these creators―who all live in different countries around the world―as you learn how they came to know about kawaii fashion, where they buy their clothes and accessories, who their fashion inspirations are, and more, in the form of an interview.   In Episode #3, we welcome Naomi from the Philippines! Naomi is a fashion student who has her own brand. We asked her about her daily life and her experiences with kawaii fashion.   --What is your nickname (or name)? My name is Naomi but some of my friends call me Naomeow (Now-meow) or Nao!   --Which country do you live in? I'm living in Japan now but I'm from the Philippines!   --What is your occupation? 

Naomi's Brand Omi Omi

I'm a full-time fashion student, part-time model and creator/designer of my new brand: Omi Omi.   --What made you interested in kawaii fashion? I’ve always had a love for cute things, and have always been told I've been stuck daydreaming in my own world. So being able to wear kawaii fashion enables me to express my love for cuteness while being able to show people what it means to me. --At what age did you start experimenting with kawaii fashion? I've been dressing in kawaii fashion for as long as I can remember, but I think it's just evolved in different ways now.   --Where do you buy your kawaii accessories and clothes from? I really love thrift shopping! This is where I usually buy my clothes if it's not given to me from online shops. Koenji and Shimokita are usually my go-to places in Tokyo. I also like re-making old clothes, and some of the things I wear I designed myself ♡ I just started my brand recently and have been doing pop-up shops around Tokyo from time to time, and will launch my website soon at www.omi-omi.com   --Is there anyone who inspires your fashion style? I don't have a particular real person, but I do think my favorite heroines from shows and video games have affected my style in some way. For example, Mathilda from Leon the professional and Miwako Sakurada from Paradise Kiss. --What do you like doing on your days off? During my free time, I tend to just sleep and play video games.   --What is your favourite food and why? (It can be from any country) Katsu Curry is my ultimate favourite dish! It just tastes so good I'm getting hungry thinking about it. I can finish that in 10 minutes.   --Do you have a favourite anime? I have my top 3 favourite animes that I love, which are Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Chobits, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. The stories of these are amazing, and I love animes with deep, complex plot twists.   --Who is your favourite character? (If you have one) Chii from Chobits!   --Do you have a favourite Japanese celebrity? If yes, who is it and why? I don't know much about Japanese dramas or celebrities unfortunately :( --Do you have a favourite website about Japan or Japanese culture? If so, what is it? I don't know much about Japanese culture websites as well :(   --What is your favourite Japanese word or phrase? Probably 「ヤバイ！」   --Have you ever been to Japan? What is your favourite place? Yes! I live here. My favourite places are Shimokitazawa, Koenji and Harajuku.   --Tell us about your dreams for the future. I'm currently studying fashion right now, and once I graduate I plan to expand my brand around Tokyo. Maybe, in the near future, it would be such a dream to open a physical store in Harajuku.   --Finally, what does “kawaii” mean to you? To me, I feel like "Kawaii" is more than just physical aesthetics. I think it's also a feeling, culture, and a lifestyle. You don't have to be a model, a certain gender, or popular to be "Kawaii". For me, someone who is "Kawaii" radiates that happiness from within, just like the way we feel when we see our favorite cute toys. They aren't afraid to be different, and are real with our love to express joy and cute things. There's a difference between kawaii and childish and I think being able to express your inner child is a brave and rebellious thing to do in a world full of people who push that side of themselves away!   If you want to see more of Naomil then be sure to follow her on Instagram where you can check out many more of her looks.   Naomi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomeoww/ Blog: http://www.naominikola.com Brand: http://www.omi-omi.com