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INTEREST: Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Unveils Moe Mascots




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CrownKlown



Joined: 05 May 2011
Posts: 1762
PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:34 pm Reply with quote
You know I am really curious. In a lot of the anime they make otaku's look terrible and anime is frowned upon or almost mocked, but this site constantly has stories like this where even the government uses anime style characters to promote messages and views. I have to think just as a medium it has does not have that bad of a reputation.

So what is the general viewpoint on animation etc. in Japan?
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WANNFH



Joined: 13 Mar 2011
Posts: 1701
PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:54 pm Reply with quote
CrownKlown wrote:
So what is the general viewpoint on animation etc. in Japan?


If we are talking about the government, this is the same as to any thriving industry - cause it brings taxes from the sales and merchandise and support interest in Japan among consumers and foreign tourists, the government will support it. In addition, there is public funding and awards in the field of animation, so I doubt that the Japanese government has a negative attitude to this at all.

Using mascots to attract popularity to the ministry among ordinary citizens is quite normal idea. This is just a promotion.
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Alexander55



Joined: 19 Mar 2013
Posts: 104
Location: Ontario, CA
PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:39 am Reply with quote
CrownKlown wrote:
You know I am really curious. In a lot of the anime they make otaku's look terrible and anime is frowned upon or almost mocked, but this site constantly has stories like this where even the government uses anime style characters to promote messages and views. I have to think just as a medium it has does not have that bad of a reputation.

So what is the general viewpoint on animation etc. in Japan?


I don't think Anime is "frowned upon" as much like it used to be. In recent years, celebrities, and politicians have been coming out with their with their hobbies. On top of that, a number of local, state, and federal government sectors and businesses have been employing the use of Anime-esque mascots to promote their sectors/service/business. Even Japan's own NASA(or Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency as its called) partnered with America's NASA to promote an Anime art contest worldwide to select winners for making a comic about "Precipitation." In some ways, the medium has gained much more acceptance in Japan.

If you're curious about the contest held by NASA and the JAEA, here it is:
http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/anime
http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/anime-winners

You can also see all the artwork that was generated by the folks that participated in this contest which was held last year.
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enurtsol



Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 14766
PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:01 am Reply with quote
They're trying to do it too with every Oita municipality below:



Technically, it allows them to sell more merchandise, but it also makes them not be taken seriously by serious people.
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