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Ayaka Umeda, 20, a member of the idol group AKB48, has been named the Tokyo Tower image girl for 2009. At the inaugural ceremony, held on Tokyo Tower's observation deck, Umeda admitted that, before her AKB48 audition, she had come to the shrine inside the tower and prayed in hopes of passing.
She received the title from her predecessor, fellow AKB48 member 23 year-old Ayumi Orii. Umeda said she hopes to have the lighting she has designed decorating the tower. Organizers said there are plans for the lighting to be used during Tokyo Tower illumination and other events.
© Japan Today
20 Comments
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herefornow
Wow, a picture promoting something with an image girl and a character/mascot. How original.
bamboohat
Yay!
Freddy5
Great mascot. A long pink tube. Who created this gem?
UnagiDon
I've met it - it even has a reservoir tip.
gogogo
What the hell? A big pink .... yeah okay...
PaulieWalnuts
I've seen toys of that mascot I'm pretty sure. battery powered ones that wobble around
bdiego
I've seen miniature versions of this mascot too, all colors.
blvtzpk
The creator of 'Bananas in Pajamas' should sue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJkPWMaNaIM
This look suspiciously like a pink version of B1 (or was it B2?).
Disillusioned
Why are the advertising campaigns so childish in this country? Is there a lack of maturity in the general population? Sorry, stupid question. A quick flick through the channels and 'talento' shows will answer that question.
techall
What size batteries does it take???
smithinjapan
Sorry... but this does NOT look like a tower, it looks like... well... seems others get the picture. The poor girl. Anyway, is this one of those boy/girl bands that has 12 people who cannot sing on their own, dance, or play any instruments (or write the lyrics)?
saborichan
Yah, that mascot has been around for years. I must ask my Japanese friends what they think.
European1
I wrote in one of thread a while ago. Japan is like a communistic (it is) land. Almost the same as N.K. but with less parade. They always have these 12 y.o. (Upsss...she is 20) kids as ambassadors of something. Ambassador of oldies, now towers, next unfriendly for moms and granny buses, trains and so on. So, my question is: what is her role? hanging at the tower?
thethudelh
The mascot is kind of obscene...What is it supposed to be.
Sarge
"she had come to the shrine inside the tower and prayed in hopes of passing"
Passing away or just passing out?
techall
Hye, maybe it's a pink North Korean rocket!!!
marvenp
Mascot looks like a big penis. Who thought of this ridiculous design and is that the best they could come up with? Jeez!
nath
Phallic Mascot.
Altria
Looks like a giant TaepoDONG
kirakira25
Ooh! The first Japanese mascot I`ve ever taken an interest in!