Humans are wired for empathy. When we see someone in pain, our anterior cingulate cortex activates as if we are feeling the pain ourselves. Itsukaichi has mastered a specific frequency of eye movement—the "wet shiver"—where the tear film in her eyes catches the light just before a drop falls. Your mirror neurons fire wildly, forcing you to feel the sorrow you are watching.
Unlike mainstream idols, Itsukaichi built her career on the concept of "Ma" (間) – the Japanese aesthetic concept of a pause or interval in time. While K-pop idols focus on the "killing part" of a song, Itsukaichi focuses on the agonizing second before the tear falls, or the trembling lip before the scream. If You Can Withstand Mei Itsukaichi-s Amazing T...
In a recent interview (translated by @JapaneseCultureNow), Itsukaichi commented on the viral trend: Humans are wired for empathy