Japan’s culture has a such huge stigma against mental illness, that the mere mention of the topic is enough to get ostracized by society. The word and topic itself has become taboo to Japanese people. To show their willingness to speak out, Japanese teens and young adults have been wearing the fashion trend “Yami Kawaii”, which is a seemingly cute take on suicidal thoughts.
The trend is a subculture of Harajuku, one of Tokyo’s most famous fashion districts. The clothes in Yami Kawaii consist of cute characters or clothing that have objects such as syringes, pills, fake blood, and knives, basically representing fragility and emotional instability. In America, this entire trend would be considered outrageous and insensitive to those suffering from mental illness, but the standards are different in Japan.
A popular character for Yami-Kawaii, Menhera-Chan, looks like the average Anime heroine, but if you look closely, there are shocking details to her character. Menhera (メンヘラ)which is actually a slang in Japanese refers to mentally unstable people. She wears bandages around her wrists, has scars, and she carries a small blade that is meant to be used to cut her wrists.
The trend is a subculture of Harajuku, one of Tokyo’s most famous fashion districts. The clothes in Yami Kawaii consist of cute characters or clothing that have objects such as syringes, pills, fake blood, and knives, basically representing fragility and emotional instability. In America, this entire trend would be considered outrageous and insensitive to those suffering from mental illness, but the standards are different in Japan.
A popular character for Yami-Kawaii, Menhera-Chan, looks like the average Anime heroine, but if you look closely, there are shocking details to her character. Menhera (メンヘラ)which is actually a slang in Japanese refers to mentally unstable people. She wears bandages around her wrists, has scars, and she carries a small blade that is meant to be used to cut her wrists.
Yami-Kawaii is extremely insensitive to people with mental illnesses, but in a country where there is little acceptance for discussion about mental illness, how else can people express their feelings? Before we claim that Japan is trying to turn suicide and mental illness into fashion, we must recognize our cultural differences. Yami-Kawaii is a trend that at first seems like people making fun of suicide, but behind the scenes there’s more happening.
The world doesn’t always share our own personal views, and the problem with this trend is that people are discriminating against it without looking into it. This trend is not for fun, it’s the only way for Japanese teenagers to say they need help in a place where there is no access to mental help. The only way to express inner demons and not be shunned by society is to make it seem like you’re wearing a fashion statement.
It’s awful that this is the only way for people to express their pain, but at least it is a small step in accepting that mental illness is a very true reality for many people.
The world doesn’t always share our own personal views, and the problem with this trend is that people are discriminating against it without looking into it. This trend is not for fun, it’s the only way for Japanese teenagers to say they need help in a place where there is no access to mental help. The only way to express inner demons and not be shunned by society is to make it seem like you’re wearing a fashion statement.
It’s awful that this is the only way for people to express their pain, but at least it is a small step in accepting that mental illness is a very true reality for many people.