Why are mascots so popular in Japan?

Beats me. They look like they were designed by someone who did a PHD in design who couldn't get an original idea to save his/her life. They all look pretty much the same.

I'll second that Bertie

B/C if you infantilize the population for long enough they're perfectly happy to follow some Daddy figure? I think of the weathermen on TV pointing sticks w/a big nerf ball on the end at a map, or the NHK girl in the morning going on about kaeru-tenki, as if folks wouldn't pay attention if not for the picture of a cute little frog. Get it, kaeru! Hahaha, laughing, crying, what's the difference really.

Child-like mentality?

Why it's 可愛い so popular in Japan? If you could answer that you would know why mascots are so popular.

Easy image to follow? Like things in costumes?

I like the chubby cut things.

Not sure as to why, but it does seem rather childish to me. It could be that those who create them just assume people like them, or they are just following the copycat routine 'they have one so we need to have one too"... I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of adults couldn't care less about them...

The adult population here in Japan doesn't feel embarrassed to be into mascots which usually isn't the case in other countries.

I quite like them... I don't see a problem with mascot characters.

Because, rather than larger, everything is smaller than life in Japan.

Because Japan is inherently childish. (Which is not necessarily always a negative)

towing:

Not sure as to why, but it does seem rather childish to me. It could be that those who create them just assume people like them, or they are just following the copycat routine 'they have one so we need to have one too"... I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of adults couldn't care less about them...

That's what I think too. Nobody ever questions whether they are popular, they just become de rigueur somehow and that is it. Rather like the way all TV programmes have to have a studio full of giggling ninnies 'reacting' to things in little windows while the main action is being shown. Most mascots (and most ninnies) could be safely dispensed with and nobody would miss them.