10/30/2010

Duel of dorky mascots! Tokyo Sky Tree’s Sorakara-chan vs Oshinari-kun

DEATH DUEL
OF THE
DORKY!

WHO WILL WIN?

Mascots battle for supremacy over Tokyo’s new “Sky Tree” tower!

As reported before*, everything in Japan, has to have its own tacky-cutesy mascot. In this case, Tokyo’s new TV tower, the “Sky Tree, the highest structure in the city (3Yen /2010-04-15) first had a mascot, “Oshinari-kun” (3Yen / 2010-10-20) created by the neighborhood mechant’s association.

Now the “Sky Tree” TV tower’s owner has come up with competing cutesy mascot, “Sorakara-chan.”

Tokyo Sky Tree’s mascot Sorakara-chan unveiled to media
- The Mainichi Daily News
….Sorakara-chan is said to be a curious girl who has descended upon the tower from a planet called “Tongari.” She always carries a telescope in hopes of making new discoveries and wants to meet people from all over the world at the Tokyo Sky Tree…more...

According to the president of Tobu Tower Sky Tree Co., Michiaki Suzuki, “We hope people will love our mascot.” The parent company Tobu Corporation is one of the top 20 corporations of Japan and the Sky Tree’s mechant’s association represents the poorest neighborhood of Tokyo (which includes the San’ya district, Tokyo’s skidrow Wiki).

I would put my bet the blond, blue-eyed, rich girl, Sorakara-chan, to win duel of dorky mascots.

Don’t take my word for it. Check out the official websites of Sorakara-chan and Oshinari-kun.
. . . —www.sorakara-chan.jp
. . . —oshinari.jp

---

UPDATE!
The two mascots have kissed and made up! More….

Posted by Taro in Business News, General, Japan's creepy mascots | 6 Comments »

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6 Responses to “Duel of dorky mascots! Tokyo Sky Tree’s Sorakara-chan vs Oshinari-kun”

1. BigInJapan Says:
   October 31st, 2010 at 6:30 pm

   “Sorakara-chan is said to be a curious girl who has descended upon the tower from a planet called ‘Tongari’.”

   And here I thought it was Ichiro that made Tongari Corn…

   
   
   

2. peterpayne.net (via taro) Says:
   November 5th, 2010 at 10:38 pm

   Tokyo Sky Tree’s Silly New Mascot
   J-List side blog: peterpayne.net 2010/11/05

   …the new official character is “Sorakara-chan,” a girl from space with a star-shaped head who happened to notice the tower while passing by the Earth, so she came down to take a closer look. Why everything from the Japanese armed forces to the 1250-year-old Great Buddha statue of Nara require cutesy characters to represent them is one of the great mysteries of Japan.

   I often wonder what would happen if cute characters like these became commonplace in the U.S. For example, what if the subdued San Diego County Office of Record-Keeping decided to spruce up its image with an official character called Document-kun, who made a little angry face whenever people failed to properly safeguard their personal information? Or maybe not.
   More.…

3. Taro Says:
   November 16th, 2010 at 6:26 pm

   UPDATE!
   The two mascots have kissed and made up!

   
   

   Sorakara-chan,” left, the official mascot of the Tokyo Sky Tree broadcasting tower…. “Oshinari-kun,” a mascot for five nearby shopping districts….The two mascots promoted the Sky Tree and its surroundings together for the first time….more…

   Photo Journal – The Mainichi Daily News | Nov. 15, 2010

4. Taro Says:
   January 7th, 2011 at 2:41 pm

   Screams from the locals about Tokyo Sky Tree
   Pissing–fights–congestion–illegal parking …
   Nikkan Gendai – 2011/1/7 10:00
   (funky Google Translate of the Japanese
   　Tokyo Sky Tree construction proceeds for the opening of the spring (539 m at present). There is also such that there is around the Senso-ji Temple, in the first three days the New Year, spectators crowded around three million people. This explosive popularity, Sumida-ku Adumabashi shopping for your knee could not stop laughing.
   “Our sales have more than 10 million daily. Usual weekend times” (souvenir shop photo)
   “When 11 states fully occupied since opening. Arrivals last year compared with five in the premium, no breathless” (pork cutlet restaurant)
   　While some people boil the boom, but local residents are struggling with bad behavior of spectators.
   “Discarded one after another in front of the house, such as empty cans and garbage bags. Perhaps because there is no toilet around, some men piss on toward the wall of my house. During the day in shifts to guard” ( 47 year-old male)
   “Even if you think shopping with her grandchildren, not out of the city is badly congested. Is still more at home” (66 year-old male)
   “Early this morning, [Waa] When the sun would wake up in a great cheer. Many young people do come by car with big noise late at night. I sleep very slowly” (44 year old housewife)
   　In fact, the sidewalk filled with spectators, and a fight started between the drunken, high up on the floor of the apartment without permission, some older men to take pictures. Proudly pulled over the highway, many families take souvenir pictures against the sky tree. To call attention to patrolling police cars, but once it’s gone, now restored. Itachi is playing.
   “Not only television, but recently the CM broadcast is still sky trees. Sorakara chan] and also appeared in a cute mascot. When I think of this popularity will continue until next spring, is really a headache. I We are just a just want peace … “(a couple in their 60s)
   　According to the realtor, the sudden popularity of the tree, sky, Sumida-ku Koto, a land value of around ~ 20% of that raised. In the future, the residents, “property tax increase,” comes the burden of looms. Business people are not doing it any unwelcome New Year.

5. Taro Says:
   February 19th, 2011 at 9:12 pm

6. Taro Says:
   March 3rd, 2011 at 6:46 pm

   The busy lives of Japan’s super furry creatures
   Japan Times | March 3, 2011
   When first-time visitors arrive in Japan, a few things they may notice right off the bat include the juxtaposition of the high-tech and the ancient, the unfailing politeness of locals, and a curious fixation with cuteness – to wit, all the cute mascots that promote regions, historic sites, local specialties and events, the police, you name it. In recent years, these wildly imaginative mascots have exploded in popularity and profitability, bucking the downward trend of the manga and anime industries that have been declining for a decade. And, unlike multi-billion dollar stars such as Sanrio’s Hello Kitty, this variety known as “yuru-kyara” – which means something along the lines of “cheesy but lovable characters” …more…

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