Question

The authors mention Pokémon and Hello Kitty in order to:

A) Provide examples of popular kawaii products from Japan.
B) Clarify an earlier statement by showing that some products use cuteness in their marketing.
C) Demonstrate that cute products are more likely to be exported than other products.
D) Support the claim that kawaii products are found in various fields.

Answer 1

The authors use Pokémon and Hello Kitty as examples to show that the use of cuteness in marketing, or 'kawaii' products, permeates various industries, demonstrating its widespread appeal and effectiveness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The authors mention Pokémon and Hello Kitty to support the claim that kawaii products are found in various fields (option D). These examples illustrate the widespread use of cuteness in marketing strategies across different product types and cultural contexts. The reference to these well-known characters underscores how the concept of kawaii, or cuteness, is not just limited to one area but pervades many aspects of consumer culture, from video games to accessories.

These examples demonstrate the ubiquity and appeal of cute designs in global marketing and how companies capitalize on this aesthetic to attract a broad audience. Due to their substantial popularity and recognition, Pokémon and Hello Kitty serve as clear evidence of the proliferation of kawaii culture in marketing across different industries.