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Kumamon

created by

mascot for Kumamoto Prefecture↗

Kumamon is the official mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan: a jet black bear with red circle cheeks and permanently surprised eyes. He launched in 2010 to promote the region when the Kyushu Shinkansen opened, and the prefecture made a genuinely radical call by letting anyone promoting Kumamoto license his face for free. The result was a merchandising empire measured in billions of yen a year and the template for every government mascot since. His entire expression is two blush dots and a pair of raised eyebrows, which is somehow enough to carry surprise, delight, and menace as the moment requires.

9.8/10 apex little guy love

Kumamon — Kumamoto, Japan

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You made Kumamon?

Two questions. Can you prove it? And would you come on a podcast to talk about how this little guy got made? If that's a yes and a yes, the "created by" is yours, link and all.

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