What is Yuru Chara Grand Prix?
The Yuru-Chara Grand Prix is an annual contest where fans vote for their favorite mascots, which also keeps tabs on the popularity of government-sponsored characters.
How many Yuru Chara are there?
Previous winners include Hikonyan and Kumamon. There were 1,727 entrants in the 2015 Grand Prix, over ten times the number in the first contest. 1092 entries consisted of gotōchi-chara (local characters), and 635 were corporate or other characters.
What was the last year of the Yuru Chara Grand Prix?
2020
Since 2010, mascots from across Japan have gathered for an annual event, known as the Yura-Chara Grand Prix to vote for the year’s most popular mascot. Sadly, the 2020 Yura-Chara Grand Prix will be the final of these events, heightening the significance the year’s competition.
What is Kumamon bear?
Kumamon (くまモン) is a mascot created by the government of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It was created in 2010 for a campaign created to draw tourists to the region after the Kyushu Shinkansen line opened.
What is the purpose of Yuru Kyara?
Yuru-kyara (ゆるキャラ), literally ‘loose characters’, are cute, friendly and sometimes bizarre mascots created in Japan by government organizations, local governments, companies and individuals for the purpose of public relations.
Why was Chiitan banned twitter?
One “inside source” was reported to have said that Chiitan’s accounts were banned because it had violated Twitter’s rules on spam. Twitter refused to make a statement on the suspensions, saying it was company policy not to comment on private accounts due to security and privacy concerns.
Who is Japan’s mascot?
Kumamon
Japan’s best-known mascot may be Kumamon, a cuddly bear from Kumamoto Prefecture that helped popularize the yuru-chara phenomenon about a decade ago.
What is Japan’s national animal?
Japanese macaque
The Official National Animal. What animals are Japan’s national symbols? The so-called snow monkey, the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata), is Japan’s national animal. Japan also has a national bird – the Japanese pheasant or green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor).
What is Chiitan the mascot of?
Chiitan, the unofficial otter mascot of Susaki in Kochi Prefecture who gained international fame for her hilarious stunt videos, released a statement on the worldwide protests and Black Lives Matter movement on June 5. Japan are your friends!
Where is Kumamon popular?
Japan
The Bank of Japan estimated that Kumamon, Kumamoto’s adorable mascot, had pumped ¥123.2 billion (around £900 million) into the region before his second birthday. Here’s how one of Japan’s most popular yuru-chara became a national sensation.
What gender is Kumamon?
Kumamon is a mischievous boy. His height and weight are also a secret (according to one explanation, his chubby build is from overindulging in Kumamoto’s delicious food!).
Why is Yurukyara popular in Japan?
Yuru-kyara (ゆるキャラ), literally ‘loose characters’, are cute, friendly and sometimes bizarre mascots created in Japan by government organizations, local governments, companies and individuals for the purpose of public relations. Public awareness campaigns also often use yuru-kyara to promote their message.
Who is the winner of the Yuru chara Grand Prix?
2010 saw the start of the Yuru-chara Grand Prix (ゆるキャラグランプリ, yuru kyara guranpuri), an annual event where the most popular mascot is determined by public voting. Previous winners include Hikonyan and Kumamon.
Why are yuru chara mascots so popular in Japan?
The popularity of mascots like yuru-chara in Japan has been linked to historical emotional bonds to non-human characters, such as in ancient polytheism. There are also many different yōkai in Japanese folklore, and certain types of yōkai such as kappa and tanuki have been the basis for several yuru-chara designs.
How many yuru chara are there in Japan?
They may appear as costumed characters (or kigurumi) at promotional events and festivals. Yuru-chara has become a popular and lucrative business, with character-driven sales reaching nearly $16 billion in Japan in 2012.
Is the proliferation of yuru chara a problem?
The proliferation of yuru-chara by has become problematic in some regions. In 2014, the Osaka government expressed concern that there were too many local mascots, and it was diluting brand identity.
