Emperor, empress meet Kumamon

For those complaining about mascot, guess what college football teams have? Other than that home console games/smartphone apps are better than gun collection etc.

you go ! Kumamon! くまモン!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBBZop5j6D0

Kumamon has surpassed Kumamoto city.

George B PlanteOCT. 30, 2013 - 11:27AM JST Unfortunately it seems that the Japanese monarchy has now become a marketplace showpiece. Honor and dignity is no longer a valid quality in the Japanese culture. This is rather sad. Tough to see

George, monarchy everywhere is an anachronism and there is no honor or dignity in lavishing the wealth of a people on a group of families who have done nothing more deserving than being born.

Some folks just need to take a chill pill ! Goodness !

Photobomb! :p

Kuma is abbreviation of Kumamoto, not only city but prefecture and old Hyuga area. The last lord was Hosokawa. Mono in Chinese character, Mono. In Southern Honshu and Kyushu,dialect, Mon, Kumamon, if politely meant, people who have ancestorrs in Kumamoto Prefecture area. Finally Japanese Emperor gave visit to Kyushu themed Kumamon, . Lord Hosokawa's descendants must be tickled somewhere ,

I'd bet to boost Kumamon popularity. Emperor has been very popular since when he proposed to Empress. She has been popular, too. So, nobody has to boost Royal family popularity.

He does not seem too happy about it, and she looks a bit nervous. Reminds me of another bear that is a more internationally famous meme!

Unfortunately it seems that the Japanese monarchy has now become a marketplace showpiece. Honor and dignity is no longer a valid quality in the Japanese culture. This is rather sad. Tough to see.

Is this a way to boost Kumamon's popularity or Emperor Akihito's?

There really is something bizarrely infantile about Japanese and their affection to cartoon characters. I mean come on, the Emperor?

Agreed this mascot crap is over the top, Japan really desperately needs to grow up!

Really, how infantile can we get. The god Emperor and a cartoon mascot (and not even a real one but some wage slave in a slightly mouldy costume).....