The Hikone, Shiga town mascot ひこにゃん received 43 chocolate gifts from female fans nationwide.
On Valentine’s Day in Japan, only women are supposed to give chocolate to men. But how do the ladies know “Hikonyan” is male? And where does all that chocolate go? Does the mascot keep it?
A quick Japundit check on the web finds the mascots from other cities, including Hamamatsu, Saitama and Sendai did not receive chocolate.
“Why is Hikonyan so popular?” asked one mascot who declined to be identified speaking on official matters.
“I’ll do my best to receive chocolate next Valentine’s Day”, said another mascot.
ABOVE: Sendai’s and Saitama’s city mascots in happier times.(File photos)
LOL
Cute.
How can you tell Hikonyan is male you ask, well I’ll wager a guess and say that the warriors helmet is the gender identifier.
With regards to the other mascots, they just have to realize that when it comes to sweet lovin’, nobody beats the samurai cat, nyan!
Rune, Rune, Rune :::sigh:::… the Valkeries? See: http://kadmusarts.com/blog/?m=200711 half way down page. Or better yet: http://www.runegame.com/images/about_rune_images/Rune_-_Halls_of_Valhalla/valkyrie.jpg (only slight, humourous dig at you
).
Although, truth be told, my favorite depiction is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEhHroh2r4w .
If the mascot is, indeed, a male, I am sad to see the continuation of Japanese men (of 2- or 3-D kind) being depicted in such unmasculine ways. However, I suppose the only way to know if this is a male mascot is to bend ‘it’ (for the moment) over; it is has an ass, it is most certainly *not* a Japanese male, apparently.
I learn so much kulture from this here site!
Hahaha I am quite familiar with valkyries Betty. But let’s be honest, valkyries did not wear samurai warrior helmets, but the winged ones displayed in the pictures of both the lego valkyries and the game one =P
Interesting factoid on helmets, the viking helmets did not have decorational horns as they are often portrayed, those were bronzeage ceremonial helmets for religious ceremonies.
Well, back to our battleing beauties. Samurai women (which I learned is actually a misnomer and should be buke women were expected to give their life for their liege lord or their husband and some were quite proficient in using weapons and some became famous, feared and influential in their own right like Tomoe Gozen, Nakano Takeko or Hojo Mazako. But none wears a warrior style helmet in any of the depictions of them I have been able to find. Read more here.
I believe, but this is only conjecture, that seeing that “‘Samurai’ is a gender-specific word that comes from the Japanese verb meaning “to serve” and refers to male members of the buke, an elite Japanese military class. So, strictly speaking, ‘female samurai’ is a misnomer.” (quoted from the site I liked to earlier) they weer not allowed to wear the samurai helmets. I would really not put it past a culture that puts so much regard in following the rules and honoring tradition to make their female warriors wear a different kind of helmet from the males, especially the rank insignia as the crescent on Hikonyans helmet.
more pics
here
and here
But this is all the result of very hasty research and i could be dead wrong. Anyhoo, let’s hear more about why japanese males apparently have no ass?
My goodness, that Sendai critter is hideous! Why give it two sets of eyes, is that some kind of over-compensation for local hero Date Masamune?
feitclub wrote:” …that Sendai critter is hideous!”
Sendai mascot Q&A (Japanese) :
http://www.city.sendai.jp/senkan/senkan/aka/tetorin.html
The mascot design is based on the earth, and a boy and girl are represented. The eyelashes indicate the girl.
You mentioned the mascot of Hamamatsu! *^0^*
Do you know what is it?
It is “Unagi inu”(mixed character of Unagi and dog!).
It’s a character of Manga “Tensai Bakabon”.
Hamamatsu is famous for Unagi!
Miniballerina wrote: “It is “Unagi inu”(mixed character of Unagi and dog!).”
It looks like a cat mixed with lizard parts and the wing from a fly.