In the U.S., something was different: Kirby, the epitome of kawaii with a puffy pink marshmallow face, had a dangerous mean streak. It began with an infamous 1994 print ad (embedded below ...

Crack open the door to self-described “kawaii tech creator” Celeste Fleurs ... with furry creatures of all sorts. Slack jawed Kirby keycaps, and sprawling fields of pink.