R 3 – Japanese Mascots

I picked a character called

“あまっち” (Amacchi)

He is a fairy of a type of strawberry called “amaou” which is a type that is harvested in the Fukuoka prefecture. Amacchi is part of a group calle “Hakata Jomon-san All Stars” with 27 friends. It works to promote agricultural products from Fukuoka Prefecture, and Amaou strawberries (He is an Amaou fairy, after all) The name of the strawberry comes from it’s characteristics. “red, round, large, delicious” (They took the first letters of the words. *In Japanese.)

~About Amacchi~ ↓

Gender:

But he’s a fairy.. (Some websites said he was a boy, so a boy I guess!)

From:

Fukuoka prefecture

An image of Amacchi! ↓

Source: https://w.atwiki.jp/yurupedia/pages/2261.html

Drawing version of Amacchi! ↓

Source: https://localchara.jp/catalog/3719/#:~:text=%E5%88%9D%E3%82%81%E3%81%BE%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%82%E3%81%BE%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A1%E3%81%A7%E3%81%99,%E9%A0%91%E5%BC%B5%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%E3%82%93%E3%81%A0%E3%80%82

I chose Amacchi because I thought he was really really cute, and because I like Strawberries. Also, the fact that he is a character promoting a type of strawberries that grows only in Fukuoka got my attention. (My grandparents live in Fukuoka, and when I go visit them it’s like my home in Japan.) I found it cool that he and his friends have a group. Their reason to be a group is to help children all around the world to stop hating vegetables.

Their (the group’s) official website ↓

https://www.ja-fukuoka.or.jp/about/character

A photo of some members of his group ↓

What makes Japanese mascots different from the ones we see in Canada?

I think the mascots in Japan are more close to home, or relatable than the characters they have here. They seem to be cuter and more fluffy, and are more related to the items or places they advertise. I also think they draw more people, and have easier-to understand character concepts. The ones in Canada seem to be more human-like, and less soft and circular or cute. They also seem to have concepts that are harder to understand than the simple ones in Japan. (For example, they are advertising kelp snacks, the character looks like kelp.)

Why do you think mascots are so popular in Japan? Do you think Canada should have a similar take on mascots? Explain

I think that mascots are a very good way to advertise things, and people love cute things, so they will come see the characters, and then buying the products. Little kids too, even if they cannot understand about the store or the products, they can see the cute characters and want to learn more. (About the thing that is being advertised.) I do not necessarily think that Canada needs to have the same kinds of characters, I think that not many people would like them. (But in Japan, the concept of cute characters is already something everyone knows.)

If Coquitlam had a mascot, what would it be? Describe or upload a drawing of what it would look like.

(Face is pancake, French flag and Canada flag.)

When I asked about something special about Coquitlam, my dad told me about the “festivaldubois” which is to celebrate French culture and music that is held in Mackin park. (I had never heard of it before.) (Apparently it has a pancake breakfast, that is why I made the character’s face a pancake. I also included maple syrup because Canada makes a lot of it. He has a French flag and a Canada flag on him.)

Image of him ↓

~Thank you for reading~