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13 Comments
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theeastisred
towing:
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.
HollisBrown
Because Japan is inherently childish. (Which is not necessarily always a negative)
Moonraker
Because, rather than larger, everything is smaller than life in Japan.
Thunderbird2
I quite like them... I don't see a problem with mascot characters.
Speed
The adult population here in Japan doesn't feel embarrassed to be into mascots which usually isn't the case in other countries.
towingtheline
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...
MsDelicious
I like the chubby cut things.
Wakarimasen
Easy image to follow? Like things in costumes?
Garthgoyle
Why it's 可愛い so popular in Japan? If you could answer that you would know why mascots are so popular.
Pukey2
Child-like mentality?
jcapan
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.
Aly Rustom
I'll second that Bertie
BertieWooster
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.