Mascots in Japan: 日本のマスコトキャラクター

 

            Japanese create several characters to advertise many products ranging from children’s toys to cultural and natural landmarks. This form of advertisement is part of Japanese pop culture and is intertwined with “Kawaii” culture, which revolves around cuteness and round shapes. These innocent and docile characters were originally created to target teenage to middle-aged women, but have become popular with both children and adults, male and female. 

            These characters are not necessarily used for product sales, but also for public services and transmission of information. Some of these characters include: Pokemon, Rilakkuma, Hello Kitty, Mt.Fuji, Takoyaki, Suica penguin, and several other characters which can be seen on a daily bases.

            Pokemon, Rilakkuma, and Hello Kitty are examples of some of these mascots that have gone beyond a single product advertisement and now range from children’s toys to household items. Fujisan and the takoyaki mascots have been based off specific things. Fujisan is a cute mountain shape character representing Mt. Fuji, aside from Fujisan, a pink mountain character has been created as Fujisan’s girlfriend. The popularity of the takoyaki in the Kansai region has led to the emergence of the takoyaki characters which are cute round look like takoyaki. Both Fujisan and takoyaki characters have been given big oval eyes and other cute details very characteristic of all kawaii characters. The Suica Penguin is a character made for the Suica card and is an example of how these characters are used for public services.

These following character images are may not be as well-known as the prior, but there main purpose is to convey information or attract people. The extent to which these characters are utilized for product and service representation still takes me by surprise. Being in Japan has opened my eyes to many perspectives that I never took into consideration. I feel that the kawaii culture in Japan and these mascots are a form of soft power that Japan been able to promote and maybe as effective if not more so than hard power enforced by many other countries.

 

 

 

 

What don't Japanese people do?

           What do Japanese people do? This seems like simple enough question to answer. They go to school, play sports, work and during their free time they do karaoke or if its the right time of the year they do hanami, cherry blossom viewing. I'd say this is an accurate answer to this question, but even if the majority of Japanese people do these things its not nearly as important as to why they do these things.

            It is difficult to just put in a few pictures and words what Japanese people do, but I figured I'd focus two aspects. One that can be easily enough  compared and contrasted, birthdays, and the other being very unique to Japanese culture, hanami, cherry blossom viewing.

           Birthday's in Japanare celebrated in as many ways as they are in other countries. You can spend it with your family, friends, significant other, or just alone. You can through a party or make it more intimate with a few people.

These pictures are from my friends surprise birthday dinner last weekend, 4/7/12, at a restaurant in Namba, Osaka. She thought that she was going to spend the night with her boyfriendand a friend, but she didn't know that it was actually going to be a surprise.

All of the Japanese girls actually studied abroad in my school, FIU, in the U.S. We all actually met in since they all did their study abroad different universities in Japan. She was surprised when her Japanese friends came to spend time with her on her birthday, even more so when the American girl and myself were there to surprise her as well. Japanese people study abroad learn other languages make friends across the country and surprise each  other like everyone else does.

 

These second set of pictures are of something very unique to Japan, Hanami. I was fortunate enough to have been studying this spring semester in Japan and able to do hanami. Since most of Japan experiences the four seasons I feel that they have a deeper appreciation for nature. There is a very short window of when you are able to do cherry blossom viewing, lasting for about a week or two. I think this reminds Japanese how beautiful life is but at the same time how delicate and short it is too. http://sakura.weathermap.jp/

During these two weeks of hanami Japanese and tourist go to many popular spots where they can enjoy and appreciate these the cheery blossoms. I'm sure that many people wouldn't think that tree watching is the most ideal way of spending a day or two, but there is more than just viewing the trees. During this time many friends and families go out together looking for the best spots to sit under a tree and lunch. These two last pictures are of Japanese people sitting underneath the Sakura trees enjoy their hanami sake, liquor, and there picnic style lunch while having conversation with their friends and appreciating this beauty of nature.

Portrait of Masako Furuichi

I chose to do a portrait of Masako Furuichi because I felt I could somehow capture an image that shows her many dimensions. Masako is the owner of  cafe Istanbul, the shisha bar and Turkish restaurant, located in front of Kansai Gaidai's east gate.

This first picture I took of her is giving a beer can to a customer. I want to show her in motion and in a casual manner. It was difficult to come up with ideas and to portray her in motion, but this is a shot we both came in agreement in.

I never really put much thought into pictures the pictures I take because prior to taking the shots I have a general idea of the scene I want to capture and they tend to be associated with a feeling. I take pictures of things, places, or people I want to remember and the reason I want to remember them is because they evoke an emotion. I wanted to do the same with the pictures I took of Masako.

Every time I go to Cafe Istanbul she always has a smile and seems so relaxed, even when she is busy, she effortlessly manages her restaurants. I had visualized a shot I wanted to take of her smoking hookah because I feel it would have captured this aspect of her. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take the picture I intended, but I think this picture of Masako studying captures her hard work and dedication.  

Experiencing Hirakata

This Spring semester I'm staying in Kansai Gaidai's seminar house III located in Katahokohigashi-machi, Hirakata, Osaka. It is in a residential area, but it is about 5-10 minutes from stores, parks and restaurants. To the right of seminar house III there is a gym that Kansai Gaidai students and use free of charge, and to the right is seminar house II.

Aside from the gym there is a park two blocks away that is known as beer park, because of previous Kansai Gaidai students who used to gather around the park at night and drink. There is a city library, behind the park, that is known by most of the people in the area. This came in handy when I got lost the first couple of days and it was the only place I had come to recognize.

I really enjoy being able to go almost anywhere by bike because I haven't used a bike since I was in middle school; it makes me feel like a kid every time I ride it. The last couple of times I biked to school I took pictures of the route because I there is so much I miss just riding by. These are some of those pictures, along the path there are several house and small shrines, Izakaya, and schools.

One of the things that stands out the most about this neighborhood is that whenever I pass by someone and I greet them they respond if they aren't the ones who initiated it. Although, I am living in a residential area in Japanfull of children and families, I have yet to really experience Japanese family life. The closest situations to Japanese daily life have been with the seminar house mom and dad.

I have only been here for a month, but they have helped me out with a flat on my bike, suggesting where to eat, Japanese home work, and even tips and Japanese medicine for hangovers.

 I'm excited to discover other places around my neighborhood!!!!

The First Layer

Conveyor belt Sushi, マクドナルド, 自転車, Mascots, カラオケ, サラリーマン, Shinto, Recycling.

These are a few of the things that were going through my mind when I first arrived in Japanin 2008. My first trip was about a week long. I was excited to try sushi in Japan, visit temples, and practice my limited Japanese. Between my first and second trip, in 2009, I was able to learn about Japanese culture, but at the same time get even more confused by some of their actions and customs. I found it interesting how people taking the escalator stood to the right side and others in a hurry quickly walked up the left side. Even now I'm still curious as to how everyone knows to do that. The meticulous sorting and recycling of trash also intrigued especially when I saw it being done in McDonald's.

I had so many questions like: why is there a mascot for almost everything including the police departments, TV stations and even the JR Line? How does Japantechnologically advance but at the same time seems to keep many traditions, beliefs and family oriented? Why is McDonald's tastier than in America?


The way everything seemed to work amazed me, how polite people were, how you can order your dinner from a vending machine, the construction of buildings. The first time I went I stayed at the Prince Sunshine Hotel in Tokyo which was in the same building as a shopping mall, office building, and Toys R Us on the basement floor by a McDonald's. To the left of the building there was a park with a fountain and to the right was a highway with restaurants underneath it. All these various elements meshed perfectly together and make me think about how disorganized things are in other places.