SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
A Rogue Mascot Causes Headaches for a Japanese City
Last year, the southern Japanese city of Susaki created a position — honorary tourism ambassador — for a real-life otter with a large social media following. So far, so cute. Then Chiitan, an unsanctioned mascot based on the otter, began staging dangerous and non-child-friendly stunts around town, like swinging a weed whacker and tipping over a car. And some residents began confusing Chiitan with the city's official mascot, Shinjokun, who is also modeled on an otter but is considerably more risk-averse.
Chiitan's darkest moment may be a video titled "Chiitan going to visit your house," in which the mascot silently removes a baseball bat from a locker, slips it into its costume and walks off camera.
After receiving more than 100 calls from around Japan about Chiitan's behavior, the city declined last week to renew the real otter's honorary tourism ambassador contract. But posts about Chiitan being "fired" (the mascot and the real otter have the same name) have since gone viral on social media, incorrectly implying that the city had officially sanctioned the rogue mascot's cheeky antics.
Susaki's public relations dilemma highlights a trend that may be unique to Japan: As more municipalities sponsor official mascots, unsanctioned spinoffs are proliferating — with mixed results. "I suppose it illustrates how the world of mascots is constantly evolving in fun and unpredictable ways," said Chris Carlier, a British writer in Tokyo who runs the website and Twitter feed Mondo Mascots.
(Score: 2) by RandomFactor on Saturday January 26 2019, @03:17PM
Google's translate fails utterly on the costumed otter's site :-\
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday January 26 2019, @03:38PM (5 children)
I thought Godzilla was their official tourism ambassador? Who wants to go to Japan to see an otter? There are otters EVERYWHERE!
Godzilla may walk like he has a stick up his ass, but he's still pretty cool - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muUZjovOFRg [youtube.com]
We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.
(Score: 5, Funny) by RandomFactor on Saturday January 26 2019, @04:19PM (4 children)
Japanese City's Unsanctioned Mascot Causes Otter Confusion
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: 2) by hemocyanin on Saturday January 26 2019, @05:32PM
I think "unsanctioned" is the wrong word - so is "rogue mascot". A correct term would be something like "impostor".
The more interesting part of the tale though, is how the power of social media coupled with a gullible and reactionary public is pretty frightening.
(Score: 3, Funny) by AthanasiusKircher on Saturday January 26 2019, @08:35PM (1 child)
Such loose language in this article. No, the "unsanctioned" one wasn't really a "mascot" at all -- the mascot was the otter one...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 28 2019, @11:08PM
In otter words, this is otterly ridiculous.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 27 2019, @04:19PM
No. You're thinking of the otter one.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 26 2019, @04:37PM
In the anime series "Locodol" (contraction of "Local Idol") ( Futsū no Joshikōsei ga Locodol Yattemita ) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locodol [wikipedia.org] is show the creation of one of such mascot; there is also a mascot festival, broadcast by national television.
JFYI :D
CYA
(Score: 2) by Rich on Saturday January 26 2019, @05:50PM
I wonder how often Nebaaru-kun (Natto? Mascot??? Only in Japan...) gets mistaken for Mr. Hankey.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 26 2019, @06:47PM
Follow on twitter. https://twitter.com/ogecebel [twitter.com]
@ogecebel
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 26 2019, @07:04PM
s/unsanctioned/anarchist/
Can't have any of THAT in .jp
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday January 27 2019, @05:49AM
The Sloth isn't really suited to our cold, rainy climate. Better would be the Garden Slug, or perhaps Slime Mold.
Former UCSC Chancellor Sinsheimer felt that the unofficial Banana Slug would discourage investment in the Stanford-Like Research Park he proposed to erect - heh heh, heh heh: I said "erect" - on the South Pasture. The resulting outcry from both students and the public of North Santa Cruz County resulted in the Banana Slug being adopted officially.
What about Portland? Ergot Fungus doesn't really capture the spirit. Perhaps the Opium Poppy.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 27 2019, @04:25PM
Otter nonsense