Indonesian youth are adventurous when it comes to food, with many young people experimenting with new cuisines and flavors. Traditional Indonesian dishes, such as nasi goreng (fried rice) and gado-gado (vegetable salad), remain popular, while international fast food chains and cafes are also widely consumed.
It is impossible to talk about Indonesian youth without addressing the elephant in the room (or the fox in the village): Anime. Japan's soft power is arguably stronger in Indonesia than anywhere else outside Japan. Indonesian youth are adventurous when it comes to
The Wibu (wee-boo) culture—fans of anime—has gone from niche to mainstream. Walk through any mall in Jakarta or Surabaya, and you will see "Coswalk" events where teens dress as Naruto or Jujutsu Kaisen characters. This love for anime has influenced local illustration, music video aesthetics, and even language (it’s common to hear random Japanese phrases dropped into casual Indonesian conversation). Japan's soft power is arguably stronger in Indonesia
Indonesian youth are passionate about music, with genres like dangdut (a fusion of traditional Indonesian and modern pop music), hip-hop, and electronic dance music (EDM) being particularly popular. The country's music industry is thriving, with many young artists achieving national and international success. This love for anime has influenced local illustration,