The organizers of the 2025 Osaka World Expo have decided to once more enlist the help of the public, this time to help them come up with a new name for their mascot.
You may remember the mascot was making waves online when it was first announced, as unlike normal character mascots, it looked like something straight out of a horror movie.
As one of the mottos of the event is designing a future society of shining lives, the monstrosity of a mascot has already been given an unofficial name by netizens — Inochi no Kagayaki-kun (Shining Life-kun). However, organizers have recently commented: “We aren’t considering that as the official name at this point.”
▼ “Wait, its name isn’t Inochi no Kagayaki-kun?! I hope they can find a great name for it!”
Instead, the organizers have decided to ask the public for suggestions for a name. Seeing as the mascot will be used for promotional activities and official merchandise, this is a great opportunity to really be a lasting part of the 2025 World Expo.
Before you go rushing to suggest the mascot be named Sleep Paralysis Demon, be aware that the person who suggests the winning name will net themselves a cool 300,000 yen. The entry form also requires you to write your reasons for coming up with your suggested name, so “I’m suggesting ‘AGGGGGH-kun because just look at it,” probably won’t do you any favors.
Although you definitely won’t be alone in suggesting horror-based names, if comments by Japanese netizens are anything to go by. Those who had recovered from the shock of learning it was not in fact called Inochi no Kagayaki-kun were quick to come up with some gruesome suggestions of their own.
“I’m gonna suggest Death Bringer.”
“I think Curse from the Abyss would be a good choice.”
“What about End of the World-kun?”
“I’ve seen a lot of suggestions for Kill Me-kun, haha.”
Anyone can submit a name for consideration, and two suggestions are allowed per person. The name must be written in either hiragana or katakana, and names that are gender based will not be considered, as the mascot is genderless. Unfortunately, only Japanese nationals or people with Japanese residency are eligible to enter, but anyone who meets those requirements can send their suggestions here. Entries will be open until May 16.
Source: Livedoor News via Hachima Kiko
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© SoraNews24
76 Comments
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starpunk
You know, for a while there was a 'Mr. Yuck' series of stickers on certain household products in the US to keep kids away from there (instead of the skull-and-crossbones). How about naming *this*** **mascot that moniker?
momoclo
So I wasn't the only one who found this to be lacking in both taste and dignity.
Roten
ホルモンちゃん
starpunk
Mr. Bleeeccchhh!!!
starpunk
Grotesque and Ugly to the Max. Or 'Hideous Maximus'.
Cricky
Can you imagine a person in that suit bouncing around and an eye falls off! Not a good look.
Newgirlintown
Badlydesignedmascot… kun
badman
Is there a kawaii way to say "inflamed anus with polyps"?
Saine
This is what happens when a design is decided by a committee of out-of-touch autocratic oyaji.
RonriiUrufu
Well... it's a grinning, dripping, bowel-headed thing with 5 eyes. Not even Lovecraft imagined anything like this.
I have no idea what to call it but whatever you do, do NOT say its name thrice!
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
There's nothing Japanese about it .
It doesn't represent or even look human.
Its repulsive !
Mocheake
Eyesore-kun/ Go-me-nasai kun
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
This is how Japan wants to represent itself for the world expo ?
Really a bad idea !
Japan is circling the drain.
Get rid of this disgusting mascot and get a mascot that represents a civilized nation that's ready to become a team player with the international community.
semperfi
.
this repulsive 'mascot' ai a reflection of the dissolution of Japanese identity.
.
Speed
Cancer
factchecker
Stupid.
Reckless
Myutanto-kun
Lord Dartmouth
Gomoku-kun
Lord Dartmouth
Creepy-kun
SDCA
This is what I looked like after hearing 45% of firms will be raising prices for products while me and my wallet melt away!
samuraivunyl
Okanenomuda kun
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Oozie saka kun
dan
Grotesque drippy nipples & innards ...kun.
John-San
I say it is a very Brave decision to go with this design. The Atlanta Brave were once named the beaneaters so that the mascot name for is Beaneater kan.
TrevorPeace
"Ugly" works for me.
Dee
How about Mr. "Say no to drugs so you don't end up like me"?
smithinjapan
"Korona-kun". Can't wait to see the reaction videos on how people from other countries laugh and ask what was going through the minds of the decision-makers when they chose this.
Reckless
Looks like it evolved after drinking Fukushima water.
Thomas Goodtime
The used condom
Derek Grebe
Klepto-kun
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Red eye gooey roid
tamanegi
Vomit-chan
Chabbawanga
Goatsie
Ssrp
How about the Nagasaki blues?
Only sold as a "45' record..
Bizmates Renie
Kimo kawai
gross-cute-kun
Spidey
Wroom kun
W e
R an
O ut
O f
M oney
S
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Its LGBTQ art and completely obvious what it represents.
It should be changed to something more appropriate that represents Osaka and less controversial and disgusting.
Is this how you think Osaka should be represented ?
TokyoLiving
Kaiju-Kun..
Future enemy of ultraman..
ArtistAtLarge
What is it supposed to be?
starpunk
Hideous and sick.
starpunk
How about just calling it 'What the (insert your favorite 4-letter word here)'?
NickPrime
Faily McFailface
Jtsnose
Ten thousand limit . . . ? hope they receive a submission for a wonderful character . . . .
Seigi
Looks like a new variant of Covid.
Rodney
SakuDesignoHito-kun.
krustytheclown
The Thing!
WA4TKG
The Blob; Reserected
Peter Neil
Baka-kun.
DPOTI
blue
I found the 2 Tokyo Olympics characters looking too much like Pokemon characters, but at least they still looked the part. But this...
I don't know what is the most disturbing:
.the multiple eyes and their, err...alignment(?)
.the melting(?) arms / tendrils(?)
.the happy smile (arguable the most "normal" thing in this character-design, which unfortunately stands out in the overall thing...)
Generally, the characters are going to be sold in so many forms before and during the event (i.e. plush-toys, keyholders, etc, etc), hence this is going to mentally scare a whole generation of kids. What the heck were they thinking?
MountingFuji-san
Schizoidi-kun
David K Anderson
Nightmare Fuel-kun
Mizuame
Mohkari-kun.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Just looking at that thing make my stomach churn so how about name it QUEASY !
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Oozie the doozie
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Disgusting hemorrhoid
snowymountainhell
Even organizers admit they are at a loss for words. “Ok, we paid for it. Now, what do we do with it?”:
Algernon LaCroix
Fukuppi is already taken, so Kokkei-chan (こっけい: farce, ridiculous) might be in with a chance.
shogun36
How about
“the someone actually paid money to have that designed and actually green lit it to be official kun?”
too long?
Yrral
Call him Eye over Osaka
Skeptical
In the event it will not be reconsidered upon further sober reflection . . . how about Abracadabra?
snowymountainhell
“Queasy” is the feeling most people will get. Need to sit down from a few minutes to clear the head.
Sven Asai
W (double u) or UU-chan (for ‘ultimate ugly’)…lol that’s not only fitting as description for that design, but also on the other hand opens space for describing a positive effect of potentially doubling your knowledge and experience when visiting that wonderful Expo. Very much balanced, isn’t it?
Cricky
That is frankly just frightening, might be appropriate for nuclear accident but not a world expo.
noriahojanen
My idea: Omae Nanyanen (おまえ・何やねん) "who the hell are you?" said in Kansai dialect :)
gokai_wo_maneku
Intestinal-eyes-kun.
kohakuebisu
Drippy
Both for the mascot and the people involved.
leighkf
Covid-kun
kurisupisu
Hennakun
virusrex
The organizers must be completely detached from the social media to be unaware of the negative feedback gained from the mascot design, maybe after getting a huge lot of names making fun of it they will realize people consider this things anything but cute.
rainyday
Mascot McMascotface.
diagonalslip
可愛いですねー (◎-◎；)
Capuchin
Teenage-body-dismorphia-kun
purple_depressed_bacon
How about Demented Terrifying My Guts Are My Face Monster From Hades because that's what that mascot is. My gods who approved that monstrosity?!!!
dagon
Lovecraft-kun.
antifun
Ikura-kun
Cricky
Mr you’ve got to be **** kidding.