What ‘Chiikawa’ could teach us about identity and storytelling

August 26 — Japanese people might feel tired of being seen as curiosities rather than people, with certain stereotypes holding true, such as the enduring love for cuteness. This is evident in the popularity of the Chiikawa movie, which drew large crowds despite the presence of other films. Japan's unique kawaii obsession, or cuteness, is a distinctive aspect of its culture, with mascots and characters like Chiikawa, Pokémon, and Hello Kitty being well-received.

A study by the University of Hiroshima even demonstrated that viewing cute baby animal images improved fine motor dexterity tasks by 44%, compared to 12% for grown animals and only 1% for normal objects.

Japan's success in creating adorable characters mirrors South Korea's rise in producing pop idols, both being highly profitable ventures. The Chiikawa movie exemplifies Japan's affection for these endearing creatures. In Malaysia, a similar gap exists in the creation of mass-appeal intellectual property (IP), as evidenced by the popularity of the Upin and Ipin animated series in Indonesia.

With Malaysia Day approaching, the nation still grapples with differences rather than shared values, and is plagued by divisive rhetoric. Malaysians are still reliant on cari makan (looking for food) and lack storytellers and bards to weave uplifting narratives. Nagano, the illustrator of Chiikawa, likely did not foresee its widespread success, but her daydreams have given life to a world where even adorable creatures face hardships and the simple joys of life are still cherished.

The author hopes Malaysians will rediscover the power of dreaming, storytelling, and singing to remind themselves that happiness can still be found in the midst of adversity. On both Hari Merdeka and Hari Malaysia, the writer expresses these sentiments.