Interview with Digital Angel Capsule Rabbit

Katie Carter, also known as the Capsule Bunny, is like a character from Infinity Nikki. With her short golden hair cuts and Tenshi Kaiwai’s outfit, she is a digital angel. From evangelical costumes to Lolita coordinates, Carter is the embodiment of J-Fashion. She has lived in Japan for more than 10 years and works with several fashion brands here. Her design background makes her one of the designers of Mumu International of Kawaii Coords, a Japanese fashion brand in Japan.

Tokyo weekend Recently, I sat down with Carter and discussed her popularity as an influential person, personal style, Japanese fashion and more.

Capsule Rabbit interview

Can you tell us yourself and how you become an influential person?

When I arrived in Japan, I started working almost immediately. I started on the NHK World Show kawaii International As a model, then move into the production and hosting segment. Back when Facebook was popular, I created a party group for people who like J-Fashion but are not suitable for existing groups. This is just a regular Kawai fashion community. Between NHK giving me some visibility and people who enjoy my content, I gained a follower without intention of becoming an influential person.

My approach continues to develop with the development of platforms such as Instagram, but content creation has never been my focus. I have always loved going out, taking pictures of my clothes and having fun with friends. Since it is such a niche, my goal is not a huge point of view. This is to show people what J-fashion is and help them find where to buy it if they are interested.

What inspired the name of the capsule rabbit?

It was actually from a Japanese band called Scarecrow. They created a song called “Capsule Rabbit”. I was listening to it while creating my Instagram profile and got stuck.

How did you discover your love for Japanese fashion and Kawai culture?

When I grew up, my father was a Tibetan Buddhist, so we were affected a lot of Asian influences at home. He introduced me to the Japanese food I like. One day in London, I saw a Japanese fashion show that included Kawaii and Lolita Styles. I’ve never seen anything like that. From a working-class British family, I had to work hard to save because the transport from Japan was really expensive at that time. I loved Japanese fashion so much that I ended up moving to Japan just to immerse myself in it.

How do you describe your personal style?

I really like Tenshi Kaiwai, it’s very new. It mixes angel and network effects with basic colors of light blue and white. In the Japanese way, you can tell which Tokyo area a style comes from. Tenshi Kaiwai is from Akihabara, whose aprons and idol-like inspiration.

I still wear Lolita sometimes, but due to the extreme seasons in Japan, it is unrealistic. Newer subculture fashion for big hoodies, warm legs and sneakers for more comfortable.

When I first met Tenshi Kaiwai, I thought, “It’s ugly. I don’t like it, it’s weird. But I kept thinking about it and finally admitted, “Okay, it got me.” ”

What’s the weirdest reaction when you first wear a Lolita in public?

For the first time, I foolishly wore a full baby with stars shining brightly, meeting my high school friends (very average girl) without warning them. Their reaction still bothers me. They just looked at me and said nothing or admitted. We ate and went home. It was an outstanding outfit and their silence made the situation worse.

What is your favorite era?

Gyaru. When I moved to Japan 11 years ago, it was almost the end of Gyaru Boom. We’ll go to the hair salon to buy these huge hair sets. The Gyaru era is all about wildness, sexy and focused on having fun.

I’ve always been jealous of people who can stick to a style for 10 years. I often change my fashion because I love clothes and I like to try. I’m glad I’ve been through different fashion eras.

How do you view the changes in Japanese?

Japanese fashion does reflect society. In the bubble era, it was very rich when people had more money and focused on getting out and going. When I first moved to Japan, the fashion here wasn’t particularly fun, but Covid-19 changed things. Like the West, people entered Cottagecore. They pretended to have a picnic at home because they missed nature.

Later, Jirai Kei became popular, involving mental health and avant-garde. I think that’s because many people are frustrated after the pandemic. Then, subculture fashion evolved in the form of large hoodies and sneakers, which makes sense because people are tired. These styles are perfect for idol fans who want to look cute but stay comfortable. That’s why I like subculture fashion now. It looks cute but feels comfortable compared to the stricter Lolita style.

How did your collaboration with Mumu International begin?

Mumu wants influencers with creative and design backgrounds. They reached out and interviewed me at the headquarters. I showed them some of the designs they liked. Our first collaboration – a white set with hoodies, small skirts and animal ears – was done well. Then, the web rabbit design sold out almost immediately. People still message me every day, asking for more. Before a short break, we started selling at Don Quijote in Akihabara. Our new stuff should be released in April.

Can you tell me about your plan to create your own fashion brand?

I plan to launch my own brand this year with my best friend who works at ACDC Rag. I’m working on design now and hopefully ready for everything by the end of February. Currently, we are also looking at potential investors or partner companies.

It will be similar to Mumu and we will post some collections. I like to see designs become gear. I might stream the design process and ask the audience for name ideas and feedback, such as “Is this color better?” or “Should I remove this ribbon?”

What is your most memorable fashion moment in Japan?

Ultimately, it has nothing to do with fashion itself. It’s about friendship and people you meet in those fashion spaces. Subculture fashion brings together people with similar interests, which is particularly valuable to foreigners in Japan, where it can be difficult to make connections.

This is the gateway to meeting like-minded people. I hang out with people who only speak French or Spanish, and although I don’t speak any language myself, it works because we have the same passion. Any hobby or subculture is a great way to bring people together.

How do you balance content creation with other professional interests?

I actually work for three and a half days and teach English, so being a full-time content creator can be challenging. I work until 8:30 pm, get home at 9 pm, eat quickly, and then stream. On days off, I usually shoot YouTube videos, so I have limited free time. I’m also interviewing professors with positions for children with intellectual difficulties, especially those with ADHD or Autism.

What are your goals for 2025?

Survive. This year, I will visit the United States for 10 days and want to go to Thailand to return to South Korea. I want to travel more and create. Since my degree is 3D, I will start 3D printing. I have about 200 hobbies and a lot of things I want to try, including being a V-Tuber.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in trying Japanese fashion?

Anyone can visit Japanese fashion. When you think about what clothes to wear, don’t focus on what you think is the right thing for you. Just think about what you want to wear and what makes you happy and comfortable. That’s the most important thing.

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Check out the capsule rabbit on Instagram and YouTube.