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© 2014 AFPHundreds of mascots face chop with finance ministry budget cuts
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© 2014 AFP
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kurisupisu
A 'chopping' of the mascots?
Sounds like a horror flick....
LFRAgain
Well, they aren't necessarly that wasteful an idea. The Kumamon and Funashi characters are still raking in a staggering amount of extra revenue for their respective local governments due to their enduing popularity. So, clearly, these characeters do their appointed job in some cases.
In the Japanese world of mascots and "image" characters, lightning only has to strike once to see a success. Each government organization took it's chances, rolled the die, and waited to see if they won. And in any game of chance, particularly one as fickle as the Japanese public's reception of "cute" characters, there are bound to be both winners and losers. This retirement of unsuccessful characters isn't an indictment of the idea. It's simply the natural progression of an business idea that didn't catch on as well as others.
Michael Grant
They don't dare get rid of Funasshi, or else that crazy lawyer lady on TV might just off herself!
Elizabeth Heath
Good. I loathe them.
KB Gardener
Farmboy
Wolfpack
It is true that the government should refrain from spending money on things that do not support core government functions - like whale "research." At the rate things are going it will not be long before the population of mascots will exceed the population of children to enjoy them. Besides it's not as if there is a shortage of 'cute' in Japan to bring happiness to the populace. Even government instructions on recycling are filled with cute characters. There are a surprising number of publications of all sorts that are manga-like.
Raymond Chuang
Kumamon is staying because it has helped tourism in southern Kyushu tremendously and is still a huge moneymaker in terms of licensed merchandising.
sighclops
I have no issue with the mascots per se, but the incessant bombardment in the media (looking at you, Kumamoto) is what bothers me...
zurcronium
I suggest they marry off and if they are like the Japanese they will not have kids. In a decade or two problem solved.
Tohka
Just so as long as they keep Kumamon...!!
Disillusioned
These mascots are not that bad. I don't get into them, but many people do. Spending public money on these mascots that bring a little happiness to many is much better than wasting on that fascicle whale research in the southern oceans.
wtfjapan
@choiwaruoyaji We shouldn't do anything to reduce Japan's cuteness factor. unfortunately i think youve been totally assimilated.
kaimycahl
LMMFAO lets see if the finance ministry cut the funding for the 2020 Olympic mascot!
nath
Good.
chomskyite
I hope they don't cut Dioxo-kin, the mascot of rubbish incineration, or Chikan-kun, the mascot of city subways with 4 hands.
warispeace
The mascots should be escorted to the chopping block by the wasteful bureaucrats and politicians who though a cute public service is somehow an effective one.
squeeks
Can one be a mascot if there is no purpose?
ClippetyClop
I suggest a Hunger Games Death Match style contest to decide who gets culled. I'll be Fuji-Pyon, and Kumamon is getting both barrels early doors
Lowly
Oh, chop them, please chop them!
FizzBit
Not a good idea. It's just going to create a bigger problem once these mascots start living in parks and under bridges.
GW
Some DAMNED good news for once!!! Yeee HAWWWW!
Now start axing the politicians & useless civil servants & we can save some serious $$$$$!
Cricky
Most politicians are mascots for their electorate, should investigate them?
praack
so strange that only a few months ago we were reading articles about the positive image mascots gave to the military and other agencies. Even Zoos!
now all of a sudden they are a waste of time and money- or is it that there is a need to cut spending and the projects of real waste are not going to be touched- but these will be ...
tmarie
I do recall I pointed out what a waste of money this crap was a few weeks ago and was voted down and told it didn't cost much. Ahem. Glad to see folks are coming to their senses with this BS>
M3M3M3
If the money isn't spent on mascots, it might be spent on something even dumber.
I think restricting mascots to 2-D form would be a fair compromise.
JTDanMan
Fukuppy!
Kurobune
Ganbarre, Kumamon !
OssanAmerica
Kumamon is great. But I agree that they should axe all those countless mascots that you look at and go "WTF is that?". Funashii may be an exception because it's really funny.
Wolfpack
Whenever a bureaucrat finds a way to spend money on something this is what happens. Hundreds of mascots (or whatever) that serve no real purpose other than to exist. The people in government are always seeking ways to increase their budgets and justify their existence. The truly miraculous thing is that there is even an attempt to rationalizing such an extravagantly stupid waste of the publics scarce resources.
choiwaruoyaji
If anything, we need more of these.
We shouldn't do anything to reduce Japan's cuteness factor.
wildwest
I think some people would say the politicians also have those same issues.
SenseNotSoCommon
Sense at last?
YongYang
And, although a start, they really do need to focus on the real wastes of tax payers monies. Bridges to nowhere, parties, travel, sweetners, pork barells etc, etc, etc.
FullM3taL
Don't think Kumamon will be axed since it's working for Kumamoto Prefecture. I would guess this is performance based. There indeed are a lot of wasteful mascot characters which do not accomplish anything in terms of changing public perception, etc. And many mascots were just created because others had one.
oldman_13
Indeed waste of money.