Mondo Mascots
@mondomascots
I explore my adopted home of Japan, looking for fun and weird mascots (and other costumed characters).
The diminutive green prince character from the Katamari Damacy games appeared on a Ginza toy shop today
King Inobutan is the pig ruler of the fictional kingdom of Inobutan, a roadside attraction in the town of Susami, in Wakayama, Japan.
Mitsudon the apple fairy is the mascot of Iizuna, a town in Nagano. His face is the star shape you find in the center of Fuji apples.
Friendly monster Kaiju Booska from the ‘60s family TV show “Kaiju Booska” in Harajuku today:
Picarya, the mascot for the town of Taketomi in Okinawa, is a rare Iriomote wildcat from the area. The pattern on his belly represents the islands of Taketomi.
Pearanne is a French exchange student pear fairy staying in Funabashi City.
Tokoron, who is part-boy and part-plane, is the mascot of Tokorozawa City, the home of Japan’s first ever airfield.
One of Ultraman’s enemies, Alien Baltan, was in Harajuku today at the Ultra Mart pop-up.
Yachinyan, a feline version of a legendary local princess, appears in the window of a shop in Yonbancho Square (where she's the mascot) in Hikone City.
Fukuiine-kun is a hand with a raised thumb who promotes Fukui Prefecture.
Levmaru the lion is the tourism mascot for the Czech Republic in Japan.
The Fuwappi twins, who wear Mt. Fuji onesies, are the mascots of Fujimi City (near the mountain).
Marimu-chan, a mascot from Lake Akan in Kushiro City, is a sentient ball of algae wearing a traditional local Ainu costume.
Mizuhomaru, the mascot for the Tokyo town of Mizuho, is a combo of a Daruma (traditional lucky doll) and a tanuki (raccoon dog). Mizuhomaru is purple and pink like the local flowers, a crown of which is on its head.
Vanillan, a bear whose head is an upside-down ice cream cone, appears in the anime "iii Icecrin".
Fujikyun, the mascot for the coastal city of Fujisawa, has yachts for ears and the local island of Enoshima (complete with lighthouse) on his head.
Kuroshio-kun, a north-flowing Pacific ocean current, is the mascot for Kochi Prefecture, Japan.
Consarun, an apprentice insurance consultant lemur, is the mascot for Aeon Insurance.
Iruma-chan, a green bird with flowers in her hair and wearing a tea bowl, is the mascot for AEON Style Mall in Iruma City, Saitama.
Hirokuma, a bear who turned yellow after eating too many lemons, is the mascot of Hiroshima Pefecture. He actually smells of lemons in person.
Aopanda, a panda with enormous eyes, is a character who is popular on Tiktok.
Pushpush, a shapeshifting blob-like white character, appears in Synapusyu, a TV show made for babies to strengthen their synapses.
Children’s picture book character Pandorobou (the Bread Thief) is a a mouse who disguises himself as a loaf of bread to sneak into bakeries and steal fresh bread.