The Obsession with Snoopy in Japan
Japan is a Snoopy-lover’s paradise, from cafes to museums, they have it all!
Snoopy and Japan objectively seem like they have nothing in common. However, Snoopy and Peanuts began to gain popularity around the 70s in Japan. Although the phenomenon seems strange, it is important to remember that Japan has a fondness for cute characters. Therefore, it makes sense that Japan has dedicated a museum, cafe, chocolate shop, and more to the beloved character.
As a fellow lover of Peanuts and Snoopy, I was absolutely giddy to have had the opportunity to visit the chocolate shop in Kyoto as well as both Peanuts Cafes in Nakameguro and Harajuku. I was also lucky enough to be able to snag some Shibuya Sky x Peanuts merchandise before I headed back home.
To explain this art piece, I decided to go for a the look of a more traditional Japanese painting. That is why the colors are muted and flat. I opted to draw autumn leaves on the tree instead of the more popular sakura blossoms because I visited Japan in the fall and it was gorgeous (and VERY underrated). Snoopy is drawn sitting calmly and watching the breeze blow the leaves around. I decided to draw this scene because on my walk to the train station, the wind would blow golden leaves into a beautiful storm and I could not help but watch until the breeze subsided and the leaves stilled. Whether it was during the day or at night, watching the autumn leaves was a calming moment in what could sometimes be a very chaotic time.
