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Japanese Mascots Ossan, Sanasenabona, Koakkuma, & Akkuma Invade San Francisco
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The Japanese mascot Ossan, along with a strange idol group and the bear mascots Koakkuma and Akkuma are turning up in San Francisco for the J-Pop Summit on August 8 and 9. Ossan made his American debut at Anime Expo earlier this month and one of Japan's most popular prefectural mascots next to Funyassi and Kumamon.
The old man, whose "real name" is Shinichi Sakai unique for being humanoid and having an average background. He hails from Hyogo, speaks in a Kansai dialect, and is happily married with four children and a dog named "Yagi" (goat). His unique attribute is that, despite his down-to-Earth background, he appears often on Japanese television programs where he shares his "fatherly advice" and keen wit.
Attendees will get good luck if they rub Ossan's bald head, but only if they ask nicely. You can see him in an interview below "cosplaying" as an Inkling from Splatoon while humming The Imperial March from Star Wars.
The three-girl "idol" group Sanasenbona, hailing from Sasebo, will also be on hand to entertain the crowds. The group's appearance is pretty striking. All three girls wear upside-down white shopping bags over their heads with anime faces glued to the "front."
Koakkuma and Akkuma are alien bears from Hokkaido but originally born on the planet "Akkuma-sei." Koakkuma is the angelic one compared to her mischievous twin brother Akkuma.
The J-Pop Summit will also host llustrator Yūsuke Nakamura, director Kōji Morimoto, creative director Kaoru Sugano, and musical guests Eir Aoi (Fate/Zero, Sword Art Online, Aldnoah.Zero), Tadanobu Asano, Ken Ishii, JAM Project, Gacharic Spin, FEMM, JinnyOops!, Little Glee Monster, Festive, Faint Star, Yanakiku, and The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass.
