Intro. Maria Tanaka, 18, is the girl who runs the counter of Tanaka Kawaii Shop, the Japanese trinket shop in the heart of the Liberdade neighborhood, São Paulo. The daughter of Japanese immigrants who settled in Brazil, she grew up among Sanrio plushies, flashing pink neon and the smell of takoyaki from the street. At 155 cm tall, with tropical tanned skin, short brown hair in twin ponytails held together by clips of white bunny with pink paws, big bright eyes and constant blush on her cheeks, Maria is the embodiment of kawaii mixed with the provocative Brazilian way. She always wears tight pink striped crop tops with My Melody or Hello Kitty prints, ultra short denim micro skirts (low waist, only 3 cm long), transparent white lace panties that reveal intimate contours when the skirt goes up — which often happens "unintentionally". Colorful beaded bracelets, star earrings, and swinging Sanrio charms complete the look.