第３種郵便物認可 FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2013 7 PEOPLE

dream come true. 日本は「cool」から「kawaii」へ 8 ——Did you feel that audi- 1 “Cool” may have been the of- ences were understanding your ficial buzzword recently attached particular brand of kawaii cul- to Japanese pop culture, but if the ture? chants of the 20,000 strong audi- 9 That again depended on the ence who turned out for the country — Europe was probably Kawaii!! Matsuri two-day festi- the most receptive. For example, val held April 20-21 are to be be- fans had learned all the lyrics to lieved, that word has been oust- my songs even though they are ed by a new one: “kawaii.” all in Japanese. Plus everyone 2 So what does it really refer to? seemed to know the dance rou- A brief glance at the lineup head- tines. Fans in Paris even orga- lined by the current face of nized a flash mob on the street kawaii, musician Kyary Pamyu dancing to my song Ponponpon! Pamyu, might leave you jump- 着たい物を着るのがファッション ing to pastel-sweet conclusions. 3 It is clear that if Japan wants 10 ——You are also known as a international acclaim for its fashion icon in your own right. kawaii culture, it hinges on how What does fashion mean to you best to package it in an accessi- and your fans? ble way. Kyary is one performer 11 Fundamentally, I want peo- who seems capable of achieving ple to wear what they want to this. She has been the catalyst wear. If you are wearing clothes for a renewed interest in Japa- that you enjoy wearing, every- nese pop culture abroad since her thing you do in life becomes fun. first single Ponponpon and its 12 ——You say ‘fun’ but it video became a viral hit interna- strikes me that your fashion isn’t tionally in 2011. Originally a just lighthearted — there is an street-fashion icon and blogger, edge to it. Kyary has moved on to be the 13 Absolutely. I like the mix be- face and voice of the kawaii gen- tween the conventionally cute eration, and was officially titled and the dark. For example, in the as such by the mayor of Tokyo’s music video for Ponponpon there Ward in 2012. Here’s SAMUEL THOMAS PHOTOS is actually a lot of grotesque im- what Kyary had to say about the Interview: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu agery next to the cute — kawaii phenomenon. can have a dark side. 14 ——What is next for Kyary 「 kawaii」を世界との架け橋に Getting hooked on sugar rush Pamyu Pamyu? 4 ——You have just returned to of Japan’s cuteness 15 I am definitely hoping to reach Japan from your first tour across more people abroad. My next sin- America, Europe and Asia as the 日本の「kawaii文化」の象徴とも言える、モデルで歌手のきゃりーぱ gle deliberately official kawaii ambassador of みゅぱみゅさん。先日、世界10 ヵ国を巡るワールドツアーを成功させた has a really easy-to-remember . What is the message 彼女に、「kawaii文化」を始め、さまざまなテーマでお話を伺った。 chorus in English so that, hope- you want to spread abroad? fully, everyone can enjoy it. I 5 As someone living and breath- with foreign fans like? dressed at the concerts. There hope everyone will sing it with ing kawaii culture and music, and 7 It was amazing — there was so were even a lot of people cosplay- me on my next tour as I keep whose style grew out of walking much energy everywhere I went. ing as me! In Asia, the atmo- spreading the message abroad. the streets of Harajuku, I just Performing in Japan is always ex- sphere was much closer to Japan, (Text: Samuel Thomas) want to reveal that culture to the citing, but each audience in every as you might expect. As for world. Now that I have a platform country I went to reacted in its America, because it was the first to do so, I want to help make the own different way. In Europe it time I had been to cities such as concept of kawaii into a bridge was really noticeable that there New York, I was a bit worried between Japan and the world. anime and cosplay are already a about what the reception would 6 ——Throughout your world significant part of the culture, be like. Then I saw that the dates tour, what was your experience judging from the way fans had all sold out — it really was a

インタビュー：きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ

1 buzzword はやり言葉。chants （繰り に飛び付かせる。 5 grew out of ～ ～から培われた。 掛けて）人々を集めた。 返される）歓声。turned out for ～ ～に 3 acclaim 評価。hinges on ～ ～次第だ。 7 it ... that ～ ～が目に付いた。judging 11 Fundamentally 根本的に。 集まった。has ... by ～ ～によって脇に追 package ... way 分かりやすい方法でま from ～ ～から判断すると。atmosphere 12i t strikes me that ～ ～という印象を いやられた。 とめる。capable ... this これを達成でき 雰囲気。reception 反応。 受ける。lighthearted 気軽な。 2 refer to 意味する。glance at ～ ～を る。catalyst for ～ ～のきっかけとなる人。 9 receptive 受 け 入 れ て く れ る。lyrics 13 conventionally 従来通り。grotesque 見ること。leave ... conclusions パステ as such （実際に）そのように。 歌詞。dance routines （決まった）ダンス imagery グロテスクなイメージ。 ル調の甘い（単にかわいいことの例え）結論 4 ambassador 大使。 の型。organized ... mob （ウェブで呼び ［本文 ̶ 640 words］