Lesson 6: Kawaii Culture
Aoi-chan’s name is adorable.

I can listen to and understand someone talking about Japan’s kawaii culture.

INTRODUCE

Kawaii culture has captured many hearts around the world! It’s good to be able to explain this unique Japanese trend to your foreign friends.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the expressions with your tutor and answer the questions.

    1. When something is very cute, you can say that it’s adorable.

     

    I couldn’t help but hug the stuffed bear I saw! It was so adorable!

     

    Q: Which do you find more adorable? Why?

    a bunny

    a kitten

     

     

    2. The mecca for something/someone is a place that many people want to visit because it is either very popular or very important for a certain thing or type of person.

     

    My dream is to go to Broadway! It’s the mecca for theater.

     

    Q: How would you describe Italy? Why?

    the mecca for art enthusiasts

    the mecca for food lovers

     

     

    3. When someone says that something is so cute/ugly/stupid it hurts, he/she thinks it’s extremely cute/ugly/stupid.

     

    Did you hear why he said he quit his job? The reason is so stupid it hurts.

     

    Q: What do you think of hedgehogs? Why?

    so ugly it hurts

    so cute it hurts

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When one word ends with a consonant sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, they are often linked together.
Phrase Example

cute it

/ kyoo-tit /

Your room is so / kyoo-tit / hurts!

stupid it

/ stoo-pih-dit /

The idea’s so / stoo-pih-dit / hurts.

UNDERSTAND

LISTENING

Saori received a voicemail from Catherine.

TRIVIA

While it’s normal to use the Japanese word kawaii for both children and grown-ups in Japan, cute is not generally considered an ideal word for adults in Western cultures. It’s better to use the words pretty or beautiful for mature women and reserve cute mainly for children.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Choose the correct expressions in the parentheses.

  1. Many people dream of going to Paris because it’s (so cute it hurts / the mecca for gourmet food).
  2. This movie is absolutely awful. It’s (adorable / so stupid it hurts).
  3. If you like fish, you should go to Hokkaido. It’s (the mecca for delicious seafood / adorable).
  4. I’m sure she’ll love your gift! It’s (adorable / the mecca for everything cute)!

STEP B EXERCISE

Make sentences using the pictures, words, and the expressions in the box. More than one answer may be possible, and the form of some expressions may need to be changed.

adorable
so cute/stupid/ugly it hurts
the mecca for something/someone

ex. (cat figurines)

→ Those cat figurines are so adorable!

1. (costume)

2. (Akihabara)

3. (corgi)

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your foreign friend who loves kawaii culture is going to visit Japan soon. On TV, one of your favorite shows is introducing a new kawaii-themed shop in Harajuku. Listen to the TV show host talk about the new shop. Then, tell your friend about it.

Today's Expressions

  • adorable
  • the mecca for something/someone
  • so cute/ugly/stupid it hurts

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

KAWAII CULTURE
2

MECCAS
3

BABY NAMES
1

KAWAII CULTURE

  1. Are you a fan of kawaii culture?
  2. What age group is this culture most popular with?
  3. How would you explain kawaii culture to foreigners?
  4. How do you think most tourists react to Japan’s kawaii culture?

2MECCAS

  1. What city/area in Japan do you consider to be the mecca for food lovers?
  2. What city/area in Japan do you consider to be the mecca for shopping?
  3. Which country do you consider to be the mecca for beach lovers?
  4. Which country do you consider to be the mecca for soccer fans?

3BABY NAMES

  1. What are some of the most common/popular baby names in Japan?
  2. Do you think it’s okay for Japanese parents to give their children English names?  
  3. What do parents usually consider when naming their children?
  4. Would you like to have a very unique name?

FEEDBACK

I can listen to and understand someone talking about Japan’s kawaii culture.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK