Japanese culture drills into the Japanese mind from a young age that you are to be aware of how others perceive you.  This has created a marketer’s dream.  Someone in the media or pop culture does or wears something that is considered to be cute and a whole country of young women flock out to buy it.  It’s pretty much that simple.  If a company is lucky to start a trend, the financial rewards are astounding. 

Understandably, companies go to great lengths to market products to young women.  I played reporter and hit the drug stores to candidly take pictures of some really wacky cosmetic stuff.  If you get a kick out of the absurd items pawned off on television home shopping networks, have a look at some of the latest cosmetic items to hit the shelves in Japan.

Click on these for a full English explanation