Super Kawaii Characters

October 2, 2007 on 9:02 am | In Books, Culture, Society | | Email This Post

I just about this book, HELLO, PLEASE! Very Helpful Super Kawaii Characters from Japan, when reading an article in Kansai Time Out.

There are few things that strike me here.

First of all, Customs-kun is on the cover!!!

Remember Customs-kun? I met him on my visit to the Yokohama Customs Office! He was Very Helpful indeed! What a helpful little… bear-dog-mouse guy. I’m glad he’s moving up in the world. I don’t recognize the toilet paper roll character though, I wonder what she’s all about.

Second, I have met the co-author Matt Alt! He’s a hardcore translator living in Tokyo. Very cool guy. I interviewed him for a project I was doing at the time – unlike my project though, Matt’s project seems to have been a huge success…

I didn’t realize it at the time, but Matt also co-wrote this book about Japanese robot toys called, Super #1 Robot: Japanese Robot Toys, 1972-1982 as well. Do these guys know how to title a book or what?

And, finally, in case you missed it. Customs-kun in all his glory.

Growl. You can’t bring that into Japan. Growl.

- Harvey

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3 Comments »

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  1. Gravatar

    Are they revamping Customs-kun for the en masse foreigner fingerprinting / photographing hoopla this winter?

    Comment by Deas — October 2, 2007 #

  2. Gravatar

    Naw, customs-kun only handles customs. The fingerprinting would have to be under immigration I suspect. Which means they need a character.

    I just did a quick search but I couldn’t find an immigration character. They should have a design contest.

    Mine would have one shining red eye that would be used to scan all foreigners coming into Japan.

    Wouldn’t that be cool!

    Comment by Harvey — October 2, 2007 #

  3. Gravatar

    Can I be completely off-topic here?

    This is the most amazing blog on the Myanmar conflict that I have ever seen.

    http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/

    Comment by Harvey — October 2, 2007 #

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