My first encounter with Yami-Kawaii:

I’m so surprised none of my mutuals on Spacehey didn’t know about it. Then again, I’m not surprised because it could be mistaken and easily blend into other categories such as Guro-lolita, Jirai eye-makeup, Nursecore, Gurokwa, and Pastel goths. It’s actually hard to tell which one is which anymore but I like to think one category likes to gravitate towards the others. I remember stumbling upon and discovering when I was just a simple ten year old online. Since the aesthetic was plastered everywhere in tumblr because there was an official mascot for said culture, Menhera. There were mood boards, posts and profile layouts dedicated to her and they were basically making a trend out of pixelated heart engrained pills. 

What is Yami-Kawaii?:

This could be referred to as the “dark side of kawaii” or just dark kawaii. If you google the header, you’ll get a simple, clean answer: “Yami-kawaii — "yami" meaning sick or alluding to the hospital — is a "sick-cute" aesthetic that has been bubbling out of Tokyo's streets and manifests through accessories such as fake guns, syringes, gas masks, pills, bandages and plasters,” (Google). It’s true but there is more to it. Yami Kawaii-inspired (Japanese) aesthetic with a larger emphasis on dark themes and colors. This is a prime example of Anti-Kawaii, which incorporates contrasting components within the traditional “kawaii” style in order to make a stronger statement. Because the term can also be used as an adjective, its meaning can vary greatly depending on the context. For example, describing a character as Yami Kawaii can simply mean that their demeanor is dark and charming without referring to the aesthetic. Occasionally, yami kawaii entails medical issues. It has more of a cute twist to it like shoujo-romantic mangas but has minor dashes of blood and huge emphasis on suicidal tendencies (Syringes, pills, band-aids, and so forth). Like pastel colored nooses and magical box cutters that could turn you into a Sailormoon scout. It takes on a psychological mental aspect and it signifies "intellectually anguished" or just emotionally drained. 

It started presenting itself around 2013, when people started wearing the key colors of red, black, pink and purple while wearing a specific design of makeup. Like always, makeup is worn regardless of any gender in Yami Kawaii (and any other subculture). This is important to achieve a sickly look by applying pink or red pigmented blush right under the eyes and the nose, and use dark neutral tones or purple as exaggerated enhancements of the natural eye bag line. This way it could appear that they’re sleep deprived in the most cosmetically appropriate way. There are numerous ways that Yami Kawaii can be incorporated into the design, because there isn’t an exact uniform for subcultures. The most widely recognized appear to be “dull easygoing outfits” as bases but highlighting themes with restricting components with more enticing colors, adorable creatures and negative texts with a little bit of pizazz. There are likewise numerous clinical extras as acessories, for example, bandaid barrettes, needle neckbands, and pill wristbands because of the idea of the tasteful and relevant to the fashion statement. Here’s some that I got while I was browsing the web:

My personal favorite was the small accessories of having eye patches with little lacey frills and decorative hearts. I wish it came around soon because I think it's perfect for people who have a lazy eye because the idea of being stylish and still training your eye muscles is super cool. I would’ve killed for this to be a legit western trend in the early 2000’s or at least the time period when I had to do that to “fix” my eyes. Yup, fun fact, used to have a lazy eye and got picked on it for it. Made a lot of good friends because of it so I don’t feel embarrassed about it. Speaking of my adolescence, I think this subculture has some significance to me and actually influenced my style today. I used to wear bandaids and draw Menhera throughout my high school freshman year when I had privacy (which was pretty rare because I was always surrounded by people). If you can’t afford said outfits and want to be involved in the scene, the best thing is to express yourself online, appreciate the art, branches of said fashion and educate yourself on mental health blemishes. You don’t gotta dress something to be something, it's better to be involved with the contents than to dress as it, even if it is fun as it seems. Well, at least that’s how I subsided because I had super strict parents too and I would just wear as much pink and replicate the makeup in a “moderate” manner. I still do it but now I’m goth, a baby-bat goth to be precise but it still holds a special place in my heart. 

Yami-Kawaii and The Internet:

For the next two years after the community had formed itself and scattered through the streets of Harajuku, it blew up because of the creation of Menhera-chan. This character is the new face of the counterculture’s movements against the biased opinions of mental health. I have her on my profile but to save you some time shifting back and forth from my blog to my layout and then to my blog again after scrolling, Menhera was created by Bisuko Ezaki. She’s a girl with a set of two pink pigtails wrapped in lavender ribbons centered with a pink heart, dressed in a pink and white framed japanese middle school outfit, knee high socks with brown loafers, seen with a cute white bunny with pill divided ears and has a resting, intimidating face for a teenage girl. She ended up getting a Manga in 2014 and I haven’t gotten my hands on one but when I do, I'm gonna be prancing around with it in my arms like any other book. It’s about a discouraged Ordinary High-School Student, Momoka Sakurai is one day targeted by envious an evil spirit and cohorts moved by intense emotions. Her stuffed bunny starts to address her, advising her to spill her blood on it. At the point when she does, he engages her to turn into the Magical Girl Menhera Pink (or Menhera-chan, as her companions call her). 

Because of the publication, it went on the internet and people started to fawn over the book and fashion correlation. Her media became the gateway and cataclysm for Yami-kawaii. Thus, she became an icon and new face, and inspired artists to express themselves through cute highschool girls. To be honest, as much as I like it, I wanna see some masculine representation! Someone please make it happen!!

So the internet favored this and started to join the community and supported some bloggers. At some point, there was even this little popular youtube style-account that decided to interview some members. The character and artist inspired many other people to use art as a creative outlet to break the silence regarding their suffering. It's an imaginative outlet to end the quiet with respect to their anguish through online. Notwithstanding, in the new years, there have been basic voices from online communities guaranteeing the rising prevalence of Bisuko Ezaki’s work, and powered by his endeavor to enlist Yami Kawaii as his brand name in 2017 as well as an expansion in everyday show and dangerous comments from the craftsman himself. There are always two sides of a coin, not everyone loves it but that’s respectable and it could be seen as to why people don’t like it. When joined with the Menhara style, insinuating individuals who experience the ill effects of psychological instability or are related with critical digital gatherings, Yami-Kawaii design delivers a plainly disputable "sick-cute" aesthetic and could entice a different message than what it appears. Once again, illness shouldn’t be glamorized because there are people who are suffering as a host. If someone isn’t familiar and knowledgeable on it, it could be easily misunderstood which is why I think it’s important to approach this in a healthy, civil, cordial manner. Many scrutinize the subculture, as the pastel 'ouch’ or kawaii-pastel goth. Not accurate but I could see where their perspectives are. 

Yami-Kawaii and The Media:

To be honest, I only know two accurate characters that fall under the archetype in video games. One actually, if I don’t include the notorious Menhera-chan. It’s a recent game called, “Needy Streamer Overload” and I was SUPER obsessed with it. I’m talking about having a whole binging youtube let’s-plays from Manlybadasshero. I had to see all of the endings and I have this huge desire to add her in my layout somehow!

https://youtu.be/sWFv9umtBNE

(and I ended up doing so, thanks to a moot, fae!)

Needy STREAMER OVERLOAD is a "multi-finishing ADV" portraying day to day existence with an online streamer: "OMGkawaiiAngel", a teenage girl with a fairly outrageous requirement for endorsement endeavoring and reassurance from her boyfriend (the player) and the online world to turn into the #1 "Web Angel". She shifts personas pretty quickly just for a couple of bucks to pay the rent. Do you see where I got some inspiration from when it came to my online format? Yeah, don’t worry though, I actually got it from an Andypants post a couple years ago before this came out. 

For music, there are A LOT but I think it’s best to recommend some because they’re the pioneers of catchy Yami-kawaii songs!

One of these days, I should make a playlist dedicated to this subculture. Maybe even do it for the rest of these entries. UGH, if only I could do some coding just to customize the blog. How cool would that be? There are more artists out in the field and you’re more than welcome to explore! I recommend Vocaloid for more upbeat angst. These are just some songs that I liked. 

Thank You!

I’m gonna wrap things up because that’s the most I can actually discuss about the culture. If I’m not satisfied with the content’s length, I’ll do part two! Perhaps discussing the other subcultures that are associated with Yami-kawaii. 

• Jirai kei

• Guro-lolita

•  Nursecore

• Gurokawa

• Pastel goths

This discourse was about six pages long, three outfit examples, two characters, and three artists along with a summary. So, I think I did a good job? Hopefully, this shed some light and my information made you guy’s knowledgeable on the subject. Maybe, some of you guys have found out that you are interested or identify with it. Before I finalize everything, mental illness struggle is a universal problem and the discrimination isn’t stuck in Japan. I believe all cultures shunned the idea of mental illness so this subculture is open to all. It’s not only made of Japanese people and could extend to a wider, greater and more powerful audience. If you find comfort within this range, so be it. You do you, as long as you’re not hurting yourself or other people! Regardless, I hope you all have a good day and stay safe!!

Cherub Logging off!

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