The Gods Of Kawaii Anoint The Most Inexplicable Animal Yet
At the time I bought these, I thought I’d better snap them up, because I’d never see another piece of tapir-themed goods as long as I lived. Haha, I thought. Seriously? Tapirs?
If there was a vote on which animal is least likely to be described as “fluffy, “winsome” and “cuddly,” I think tapirs would pretty much win the internet.
Okay, to be fair: baby exemption. Tapir babies are pretty cute. Which makes it even more inexplicable that the merch makers steadfastly ignored this fact. Unless there’s some sort of secret Challenge Accepted award I don’t know about. (Thank you, Bristol Zoo, for clarifying)
So why are tapirs suddenly everywhere? Honestly, I’ve been trying to ignore this. How can tapirs be a THING? Of course, Japan has tasted the depths of cuteness desperation before, but this has to be a new low.
First inkling of the tapir takeover: beady tapir rice bowls ‘n teacups at last year’s Design Festa.But when they started appearing outside Shibuya station, I realized resistance was futileAn appropriately anxious-looking tapir gracing a subway card stickerTapirs + coniferous trees of the far north + chartreuse = let’s design the WTFiest socks everPrehensile-nosed mammals snuffling about on a cosmetics bag at Shibuya Loft.Hiding among otherwise adorable chopstick restsThe kimono obi most appropriate for tapir-viewing-in-the-rain seasonAnd finally, my favorite: a box of what-the-whating-what animal crackers discovered by my friend and fellow writer Laurie Fellezs at DonKi. Bonus points for shape not even remotely resembling a tapir. Also, peafowl.
Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!
13 thoughts on “The Gods Of Kawaii Anoint The Most Inexplicable Animal Yet”
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Not only that, every Grateful Dead show used to have a tapir section!
It is apparently “baku” (I learned something new, thanks to you!) although I don’t know why they have a word for it, since no tapirs live in Japan. lol
They ARE, however, the perfect example of animals one would definitely squee over as a baby, but when it grows into a beady-eyed prehensile-nosed bathtub-size mammal lurking in your swimming pool…maybe not so much.
Wow, who could have predicted this? They are pretty cute, actually. Plus I like the glimpse of a fox above the subway card sticker. Perhaps their moment is winding down.
Jonelle Patrick's Only In Japan 
Not only that, every Grateful Dead show used to have a tapir section!
A tapir section? (*_*) I’ve never heard of this! I googled, but the results failed to enlighten. Do tell!
I love the little cloth with the tapir and the crown. btw what’s the japanese for tapir?
It is apparently “baku” (I learned something new, thanks to you!) although I don’t know why they have a word for it, since no tapirs live in Japan. lol
thanks for looking …. it might have been “tapiru” since there are none in Japan ^^
bakudan no baku? je sens que ma prof de japonais va encore détester mes blagues hihi
Issues. So many issues….
What, you’re not rushing out to buy?
Well, the baby is cute!
Surprisingly cute! I had to amend that caption instantly once I saw those stripy spotty little watermelons.
Good way to describe them! 🙂
They ARE, however, the perfect example of animals one would definitely squee over as a baby, but when it grows into a beady-eyed prehensile-nosed bathtub-size mammal lurking in your swimming pool…maybe not so much.
Wow, who could have predicted this? They are pretty cute, actually. Plus I like the glimpse of a fox above the subway card sticker. Perhaps their moment is winding down.