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Battle of the Mascots: official vs. unofficial “yuru-kyara” characters
As Japan’s population continues to decline, we see more and more non-human characters pop out and come to life on a daily basis. The yuru-kyara boom which started less than a decade ago is now gaining...
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Communism Goes Cute: The Japanese Communist Party’s new kawaii mascots
You might have thought that communism was safe from mascots but then you’d be wrong. As shared by Matt Alt, the Japanese Communist Part has its own kawaii characters now, the so-called Proliferation...
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Yuru-kyara mascot Funassyi launches “Funanomics” strategy
A little while ago we introduced a plucky newbie yuru-kyara mascot, Funassyi. As a native of Funabashi in Chiba prefecture, he has been striving to revitalize the local culture and economy of the city....
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Top Trends in Japan in 2013
Another year, another packed calendar of trends. What were some of the main ones that caught our eye throughout the past twelve months? Olympics Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympic Games amidst great...
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5 “Wacky Japan” myths we don’t agree with (and why)
Japan is a country that seems to inspire more than its far share of stereotypes and myths. The overseas media is also complicit in perpetuating many of the images of Japan that make it seem weird,...
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US Embassy Tokyo creates “Noriko’s Study Abroad” drama series with yuru-kyara...
Tears. Tantrums. And a yuru-kyara mascot character. The Public Affairs Section/Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has produced a very original video promoting studying abroad in America....
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Funassyi fans! Head down to Funa Cafe in Shibuya Parco for dishes dedicated...
Funassyi just can’t be stopped. The pear (nashi) character that famously started off as an unofficial yuru-kyara mascot for Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture has become so popular that he now has his own...
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Roboko: Shinjuku Kabukicho Robot Restaurant gets its own mascot character
It generated enough headlines when it opened and now it will surely get some more. The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku Kabukicho launched in late 2012 on a wave of publicity, not least for its enormous...
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Funassyi has a kid brother: Chiba pear mascot gets a sibling called Funagoro
Yes, Japan’s most famous unofficial mascot, that lovable jumping yellow pear Funassyi now has a kid brother. If you believed Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture already had enough mascots with just one,...
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R/C Tractor Kumamon: Mascot farmer bear does wheelies
If you like unusual RC toys and if you like yuru-kyaru (Japanese mascots), then these two things are about to come crashing together in amazing style with this R/C Tractor Kumamon from Tamiya. The...
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Funassyi TV anime series, starts March 30th
It was surely just the next logical step: Funassyi the anime is here. A series of animated shorts will premiere on March 30th on Nippon TV’s Sukkiri starring the yellow pear mascot. Funassyi no...
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Hello Kitty does regional cosplay for Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance exhibition
Hello Kitty is no stranger to spin-offs and tie-ups. But this one is pretty innovative. Sanrio’s iconic cat character has teamed up with Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Company for an exhibition in...
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Funassyi Fantasy World: Funassyi’s first exhibition, at Shibuya Parco Museum
Everything you ever wanted to know and see about Funassyi in one place? Then head to the Parco Museum at Shibuya Parco Part 1 from April 24th for “Funassyi Fantasy World”, the first exhibition by the...
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Japanese journalist Junpei Yasuda held hostage in Syria “in danger of execution”
It is sad to feature this kind of news at this time of year, but Reporters Without Borders have highlighted the fate of Japanese journalist Junpei (also Jumpei) Yasuda, missing in Syria. He is believed...
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Q-Pot Cafe celebrates Year of the Monkey in 2016 with themed menu
The popular Q-pot Cafe is celebrating the start of 2016 — the year of the monkey in Japan — with some themed special items on their menu. Available only from January 3rd to January 11th, the New Year...
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Biggest Trends in Japan in 2015
A lot happened in 2015, not least for Japan Trends, as we relaunched the website. We hope you like the new design. What were the big trends of the year? Political Renaissance During the course of the...
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Takatsuki Art Expo 2015 mural celebrates burial mound culture in Osaka
American street artist DAAS has produced an awesome mural in Takatsuki City, a suburb of Osaka. Part of the Takatsuki Art Expo 2015, the mural was first featured on Street Art News. The mural is...
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Japanese TV show mocking Scottish ramen and sushi restaurant exposed as fake
As Japan deals with the massive increase in inbound tourism, a rather ugly side to the country’s popular culture is rearing its head. Part of this is due to pure ignorance and part of it is the...
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Madoka Magica branded vending machine at Comiket sells overpriced coffee (and...
The final weekend saw Comiket take over the Odaiba bay area, as thousands of cosplayers, dojinshi readers, and manga fans descended on Big Sight for the three-day festival. Japan’s video game, anime...
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Japanese police mascot character Tewatasanaiinu helps fight crime in 2016
In Japan, even the police have their own moe cute mascot characters. The Japanese metropolitan police has a “crime deterrence measures” department. While that sounds very serious, in Japan that needn’t...
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