Kumamon: The Multi-Million-Dollar Mascot Bear
Chapter 1

The kitchen cabinet companions

Chapter 2

Silicon Valley and the digital zoo

Chapter 3

Japan's cute mascot explosion

Chapter 4

Stars of the stadium and screen

Ch 3 · Japan's cute mascot explosion
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schopenhauer The official human identity of the cartoon character Hello Kitty

Sep 25

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schopenhauer Yuru-chara Mascot Craze

We've got a thousand fuzzy mascots on the stage competing for our votes!

Sep 25

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schopenhauer The cultural legacy of Fujiya confectionery mascot Peko-chan

Sep 25

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Domo-kun's eggshell birth

schopenhauer Japan's public broadcaster NHK has a saw-toothed mascot named Domo-kun who hatched from an egg.

Sep 25

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Fun Fact

Hello Kitty's heights: Hello Kitty (Kitty White) is officially described as being precisely five apples tall and weighing exactly three apples.

Sep 25

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The multi-million-dollar bear Kumamon

schopenhauer Kumamoto's rosy-cheeked black bear mascot, Kumamon, is a public relations powerhouse that works for the local government.

Sep 25

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Glossary
mascot (noun)
An animal, person, or object adopted by a group as a representative symbol. In 2011, Kumamoto’s black bear Kumamon won a national contest, sparking a major Japanese character phenomenon.

Sep 25

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Quiz

What is the name of the brown, open-mouthed, saw-toothed mascot of Japan's NHK broadcasting station?

Sep 25

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Gossip

Which Japanese mascot is the most adorable?

Sep 25

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The rise of local yuru-chara
BETA

schopenhauer Match each cute mascot to its brand to learn the names behind famous logos.

Sep 25

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schopenhauer The Japanese mascot Kumamon is a major economic force

Sep 25

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Quiz

According to her official backstory, in which European city does Hello Kitty live?

Sep 25

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schopenhauer The eggshell birth of the Japanese mascot Domo-kun.

Sep 25

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Quiz

Which Japanese prefecture created the iconic red-cheeked black bear mascot Kumamon in 2010?

Sep 25

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Quiz

How many apples tall is Hello Kitty according to her official Sanrio profile?

Sep 25

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Quiz

What is Kumamon's official job title in the Kumamoto prefecture government?

Sep 25

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Quiz

What is the name of the pigtailed, tongue-licking girl mascot of the Fujiya candy company?

Sep 25

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Quiz

What is the official full name of Sanrio's world-famous Hello Kitty character?

Sep 25

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Quiz

In Japanese pop culture, what does the term 'yuru-chara' refer to?

Sep 25