Kyary Pamyu Pamyu: Japan’s new kawaii Harajuku sensation

Fans of that strange and queasy world of Japanese kawaii — part cute, part sexy, part kitsch — will love the bizarre look of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, a new singer with a growing fan base here.

Even her name is crazy — full version: Caroline Charonplop Kyarypamyupamyu — along with her “fashion”, a mishmash of Harajuku on speed.

Following a short career firmly in the lolicon world as a junior idol when she was 12 years old. Then she went by the name of Kiriko Takemura. She emerged after appearing in a street fashion magazine and then becoming a dokusha “reader” model.

Now she has her sights set on occupying an weird zone somewhere between Perfume and Yuki, with her doe-eyed cutesy face and gold shock of hair.