Jeff Wysaski
Did you know there are Japanese mascots for everything? Every brand, every prefecture, EVEN whole religions have official costumed Japanese mascots. These Japanese mascots (a.k.a. yuru-kyara in native Japanese) a specific region, event, organization or business. And in true Japanese fashion, all of these are truly bonkers. The Twitter page Mondo Mascots is devoted to highlighting some the best Japanese mascots on the market, and is a good place to dive into this curious national pastime.
Jimmy Hattori, the ninja condom, promotes safe sex in Japan. pic.twitter.com/ucfaBqEQIK
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 29, 2018
Sanpuku Real estate agency mascot Madori-kun is a wrestler with the floor plan of a studio apartment for a face. pic.twitter.com/r5i4rWOUJ1
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) October 13, 2017
A cute deer with a shotgun, Momoiji-chan lives by the philosophy, "Hunt or be hunted." pic.twitter.com/Ux6S0khCxt
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) August 31, 2017
The mascot of Nyuzen Town is Jumball The Third, king of the watermelons. pic.twitter.com/4vm1rQr93m
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) December 22, 2017
Ishio-san, a sentient stone lantern from Sakuragawa City, was voted Japan’s “loosest” mascot in an online poll in 2010. pic.twitter.com/3PTuvpwxE8
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 18, 2018
Mori-ken, the mascot of Moriya City in Ibaraki, is a dog in a frog costume. pic.twitter.com/7Tj0ceIZKR
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 5, 2018
A Japanese mascot for the UFO-worshipping French Rael movement, hands out religious manga in Nakano, Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/ZkYnBWao3l
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 31, 2018
Robo-Sket (the new mascot of the Ibaraki Robots basketball team) throws a punch. https://t.co/YGpk0PhxHH pic.twitter.com/2lnvVJtBK6
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 31, 2018
Nomakey is the half-seagull, half-lighthouse mascot for the seaside town of Mihama, Aichi, where young lovers attach padlocks to the local lighthouse for good luck. pic.twitter.com/4B60JxRtVR
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) November 11, 2017
Kappa Kotaro is the tiny mascot of Tokyo’s Sumida Ward. He’s a kappa in the 2nd year of school, with a strict bedtime of 9 o’clock. pic.twitter.com/2s7KCL6yM9
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) October 18, 2017
The mascot for Bandai City’s shopping street is Bannyai, a cross between a cat and Bandai’s Rainbow Tower. pic.twitter.com/XxlVOyiaHr
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) October 19, 2017
I managed to catch a rare appearance by enema/penguin mascot, Kan-chan today. pic.twitter.com/vIC19CYtdK
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 19, 2018
Tomo-kun is the milk bottle/cow mascot for Tomoe Milk in Koga City, Ibaragi. pic.twitter.com/PuLBenpvke
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) December 30, 2017
Comu-chan, Yokohama City's safe sex mascot, is a pretty condom with a heart on top. pic.twitter.com/cvXEqIYjYC
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 29, 2018
Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals’ mascot, Netsusama-kun, is pretty cheerful for a boy who has a permanent fever. Luckily he has a patch on his forehead to cool him down. pic.twitter.com/20ZmGUpN8y
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) November 24, 2017
Gosshi, the mascot of Goryokaku park, is a carp possessed by the soul of a dead soldier, who happens to wear stockings and high heels. pic.twitter.com/LF8NFy41dU
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) November 1, 2017
The mascot of Nyuzen Town is Jumball The Third, king of the watermelons. pic.twitter.com/4vm1rQr93m
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) December 22, 2017
Shirao Kamen of Shiraoka, Saitama,
is a hero who doesn't fight crime, but does pick up litter and help kids cross the road. pic.twitter.com/Iq2KkzrLgx— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) January 30, 2018