Zushihocky

    In most people’s understanding, mascots are always cute and adorable. In fact,  NOT every mascot has a lovely appearance. In my first article in my blog, I mentioned that mascots are actually marketing strategies. No matter how ugly or weird the mascots look like, if they are capable to catch public’s eyes, they are considered successful mascots.

    In 2013, Hokuto-shi, Hokkaidō(北海道北斗市), Japan, held a mascot election to market the city since the first part of the Hokkaidō Shinkansen stopped in Hokuto-shi. And this why Zushihocky(北寄貝壽司君) was created. Zushihocky was created based on the concept of the hokki gai sushi(北寄貝壽司，ホッキガイすし), which is a famous food of Hokkaidō.

Hokki gai sushi.
https://goo.gl/RFnkmC

    Zushihocky’s looks is so horrify that lots of people complain it will scare children. However, still a lot of people love Zushihocky.

Zushihocky.
https://goo.gl/Guz79O

https://goo.gl/8doMcs

Zushihocky Konbu(昆布).
https://goo.gl/xqesP8

Da-e And Donkey

    Da-e(大義) is the mascot of the baseball team EDA Rhinos. Its friend Donkey(唐基), one of the mascot of EDA Theme Park, sometimes comes to the baseball game, cheering for the EDA Rhinos, too. Da-e is a blue rhino and Donkey is a donkey just like its name. Although EDA Rhinos establish in 2013, medias and some fans considered Da-e and Donkey "the best mascots of CPBL ever."

Da-e and Donkey.
https://goo.gl/nc9DqH

    Donkey soon became popular because of its characteristic and its appearance. Da-e, the truly mascot of EDA Rhinos, however, didn't be as popular as Donkey at first. In 2013, EDA Rhinos signed with Manny Ramirez, and EDA Rhinos started to sell Da-e's doll with dreadlocks. After that, Da-e's fame started to rise.

Da-e with dreadlocks.
https://goo.gl/TrWV5Y 

    With well marketing strategies, Da-e and Donkey become very popular. They even had a tug-of -war competition with the cheerleading squad. Especially Da-e, with its dancing skills and interaction with fans. It is now considered as the funniest mascot of CPBL.

Da-e and coach 徐生明.
https://goo.gl/8qu2o6

Funassyi

    Almost every mascot in the world is designed as a cute and kind character to catch more people's eyes.  There is a mascot that walks on a different way.  Funassyi(船梨精) is a mascot of  Funabashi-shi, Chiba-ken(千葉縣船橋市), Japan.  Not like other mascots are created or accepted by the organizations which they represent.  Funassyi is an unofficially mascot.

Funassyi.
https://goo.gl/C8tyR2

    Funassyi was created at November, 2011 by a Funabashi-shi citizen.  The designer spent about 30000 yen, making a puppet suit of Funassyi.  Because the puppet suit is too cheap, Funassyi looks cruder and more threadbare than other mascots.

Crude appearance.
https://goo.gl/15rtwt

    Funassyi was not accepted by the Funabashi-shi government, so the designer had to play the role by himself/herself.  Funassyi started to become popular after Funassyi it appeared in an advertisement of  Juurokuchya(十六茶).  The unique characteristics attract the public.  Finally, Funassyi win the championship of the 2013 Japan mascots election.

Funassyi win the championship of the 2013 Japan mascots election.
https://goo.gl/0OBlNd

   

Kumamon

    Kumamon, the mascot of Kumamoto-ken(熊本縣), Japan, was created in 2010 by Kunndou Koyama(小山薰堂) and Manabu Mizuno(水野學).  With great marketing strategy, Kumamon is now considered as the most famous mascot in the world.

Kumamon.
https://goo.gl/lKFIJw

    At first, Kumamon was thinner and taller, but it was too skinny to be accepted by the public.  Thus, the Kumamoto-ken government redesigned Kumamon.  Kumamon is now in the third version.  With a chubby look Kumamon soon became a very popular mascot in Japan.  It went to a lot of place in the world and participated in a lot of activities.

Three versions of Kumamon.
http://p.twipple.jp/3zRma

    Kumamon is also famous with its funny acts.  It is a bear that can do almost everything.  For example, he dances, goes fishing, cooks, and even goes bungee jumping.  It is also an horny bear that sometomes harasses girls.  Kumamon is such a lovely character.  Even the queen of Japan is Kumamon's fan.  How can you not like it?