Mascot Mania: Why Japan loves characters for everything!

Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite quirks of Japanese culture: mascots, or as they’re called in Japan, yuru-chara (literally “loose characters”). These adorable figures aren’t just for kids, they’re everywhere, and they’re serious business!

Take a look at today’s photo I took at work in Tokyo years ago:

• A black mascot shaped like a bowl of noodles, complete with a wooden lid hat, because food deserves personality too!

• And my favorite, an onigiri (rice ball) dressed as a samurai warrior. Yes, in Japan, even rice balls can be heroic!

What’s amazing is how these mascots are used for everything:

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