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World Exposition in Osaka

Finland's Moomin fair-tail character mascot (R) and another character Little My wave to visitors during Finland's day at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 12, 2025.

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World Exposition in Osaka

Finland's Moomin fair-tail character mascot (R) and another character Little My wave to visitors during Finland's day at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 12, 2025.

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World Exposition in Osaka

Finnish President Alexander Stubb (5th from L) poses for a photo with Finland's Moomin fair-tail character mascot at a ceremony marking the country's day at the World Exposition in Osaka on June 12, 2025.

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Merchandising of the Jubilee 2025 - Vatican

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on December 2024. Gadgets of the ‘Jubilee 2025’ are on show in shops around the Vatican. The official merchandising of the Jubilee 2025 is ready. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. The start of the Jubilee year will be on Christmas Eve 2024, with the openin

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Merchandising of the Jubilee 2025 - Vatican

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on December 2024. Gadgets of the ‘Jubilee 2025’ are on show in shops around the Vatican. The official merchandising of the Jubilee 2025 is ready. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. The start of the Jubilee year will be on Christmas Eve 2024, with the openin

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Vatican’s Jubilee Mascot Stirs Controversy With New Look

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on November 11, 2024. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. Photo: Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican’s Jubilee Mascot Stirs Controversy With New Look

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on November 11, 2024. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. Photo: Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican’s Jubilee Mascot Stirs Controversy With New Look

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on November 11, 2024. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. Photo: Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican’s Jubilee Mascot Stirs Controversy With New Look

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on November 11, 2024. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. Photo: Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican’s Jubilee Mascot Stirs Controversy With New Look

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on November 11, 2024. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. Photo: Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican’s Jubilee Mascot Stirs Controversy With New Look

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on November 11, 2024. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. Photo: Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Vatican’s Jubilee Mascot Stirs Controversy With New Look

‘Luce’, Vatican’s Jubilee 2025 mascot on show at the Vatican on November 11, 2024. There is a controversy over Jubilee mascot called ‘Luce’ (Light) designed by the artist Simone Legno, well known for his popular ‘Tokidoki’ brand but also for having produced gay pride gadgets and a line of sex toys. The figurine depicts a blue-haired girl in a yellow coat named Luce, representing a pilgrim. Some say she resembles Greta Thumberg. Simone Legno is a supporter of LGBT people, and his works often reference the queer community. Vatican said this character was designed with the intention of reflecting pop culture, popular among young people, and brings with it a message of hope and welcome. The events of the Jubilee 2025 will be themed with the slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and the Ceremonies will commence on December 24th. Photo: Eric Vandeville/ABACAPRESS.COM

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【Breaking News】"Yuru-kyara" local mascot festival

HIKONE, Japan, Oct. 19 Kyodo - More than 100 "yuru-kyara" mascot characters from 32 prefectures across Japan as well as from abroad gather for a two-day annual event in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, on Oct. 19, 2024. (Kyodo)

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Mascot character of Sumida Optical Glass

“Naze-taro” and “Naze-pyo” are the mascot characters of Sumida Optical Glass.=October 11,2024,Saitama

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Giant mannequin character to pitch Osaka Expo

Photo taken on Oct. 2, 2024, shows the 6.1-meter-tall mannequin character Nana-chan clad in an Expo staff uniform in front of Nagoya Station in central Japan to promote the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka ahead of the six-month event in the western Japan city from mid-April 2025. Standing in front of Nana-chan is Myaku-Myaku, the official mascot of the Expo.

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Paris Olympics: Wrestling

Combined photo shows a man playing with a stuffed mascot of Paris Olympics official character "Phryge" at Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, the venue of the Games' wrestling events, on Aug. 6, 2024.

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US: Fan In Grimace Costume Chugs Beer During Rain Delay At Citi Field, New York 3

The game between Mets And Yankees was delayed by inclement weather at Citi Field in New York City on Wednesday, June 26. One fan in a Grimace costume was seen chugging a beer amid the rain delay at the stadium.

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US: Fan In Grimace Costume Chugs Beer During Rain Delay At Citi Field, New York 2

The game between Mets And Yankees was delayed by inclement weather at Citi Field in New York City on Wednesday, June 26. One fan in a Grimace costume was seen chugging a beer amid the rain delay at the stadium.

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Kumamon mascot writes in calligraphy

Kumamon, the official mascot of Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, writes in calligraphy at a press conference in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka on Nov. 6, 2023, to promote tourist spots in Kumamoto. (Kyodo)

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Spa Resort Hawaiians to have new hula, facility

IWAKI, Japan - President Naomi Inoue (L) of Jaban Kosan Co., an operator of Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is flanked by the new mascot character "Big Sister CoCo" on Dec. 11, 2014. Inoue said the hot spring theme park in northeastern Japan will introduce new hula dancing performances and a big aquarium in 2015 to celebrate the resort's 50th anniversary.

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Special newspaper made of silk

TOKYO, Japan - Gunma Prefecture's mascot character Gunma-chan presents a special edition of the Jomo Shimbun newspaper made of silk to a customer in a local specialty shop of the prefecture in Tokyo's Ginza district on June 22, 2014. The local newspaper in Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, produced 100 silk special editions of the newspaper to mark the listing the previous day of the Tomioka Silk Mill as a World Cultural Heritage site.

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Hikone city mascot Hikonyan turns nine

OTSU, Japan, April 13 Kyodo - Hikonyan (C), a mascot character of the western Japanese city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, receives a birthday cake during a celebration ceremony for its ninth birthday at Hikone Castle on April 13, 2015.

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Hamamatsu to host mascot character contest in 2015

TOKYO, Japan - Mascot character Shusse Daimyo Ieyasu-kun of Hamamatsu (L) in Shizuoka Prefecture poses with Mayor Yasutomo Suzuki at a press conference held in Tokyo on Jan. 14, 2015, to announce the selection of the central Japan city as host of the 2015 national contest for mascot characters in November.

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Hamamatsu to host 2015 national mascot character contest

TOKYO, Japan - Shusse Daimyo Ieyasu-kun (2nd from R), a mascot character of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, likened to feudal warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu, poses in Tokyo on Jan. 14, 2015, with the winners of the previous year's national mascot contest. Hamamatsu was selected the same day to host the 2015 contest.

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Some 60 mascot characters join Christmas event

GIFU, Japan - Some 60 mascot characters from around Japan, including national mascot character contest winner "Gunma-chan" (2nd from L) representing Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, gather at Yanagase shopping street in the central Japanese prefecture of Gifu for a Christmas event on Dec. 20, 2014.

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Elastic mascot character popular at Christmas event

GIFU, Japan - "Nebaaru-kun" (C), an "unauthorized" mascot character of Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, steals the show with its elastic body at a Christmas event joined by some 60 characters nationwide at Yanagase shopping street in the central Japanese prefecture of Gifu on Dec. 20, 2014.

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Yokai Watch character acts as stationmaster

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Jibanyan (R), a mascot character for the popular role-playing video game Yokai Watch, becomes "stationmaster" for one day of "Kemamoto Station," an imaginary railway station in the game, together with another character, Emeralnyan, (L) at Kyushu Railway Co.'s Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 6, 2014.

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Yokai Watch character swarmed by kids in western Japan

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Jibanyan, a mascot character for the popular role-playing video game Yokai Watch, is surrounded by children in front of Kyushu Railway Co.'s Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Dec. 6, 2014, during an event in which it acted as "stationmaster" for one day of "Kemamoto Station," an imaginary station that appears in the game.

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World mascot character summit held in Saitama

HANYU, Japan - Mascot characters gather for the annual World Mascot Character Summit in Hanyu, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Nov. 22, 2014. Some 400 mascots participated on the first day of the two-day event.

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Japan Rugby World Cup organizer speaks in London

LONDON, England - Akira Shimazu, secretary general of the organizing committee for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, refers to the possibility of introducing a mascot character to promote the event in an interview with Kyoto News in London on Nov. 18, 2014.

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Admission ticket bearing 'Kumamon' character on sale

KUMAMOTO, Japan - A railway station admission ticket featuring the "Kumamon" mascot character of the Kumamoto prefectural government is on sale at Kumamoto Station of Kyushu Railway Co. in the prefectural capital, southwestern Japan. The ticket, put on sale on Oct. 20, 2014, commemorates the centennial of the launch of the Hohi Line's service between the Kumamoto and Higo-ozu stations.

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Winning mascot character makes triumphant return

MAEBASHI, Japan - "Gunma-chan," a mascot character representing Gunma Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, poses at the prefectural government building in Maebashi on Nov. 5, 2014, after winning a national mascot character contest two days earlier.

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Israeli Embassy in Tokyo releases anime to PR Israel

TOKYO, Japan - Images of characters that appear in online anime series the Embassy of Israel in Japan created to promote the country are shown in Tokyo on Oct. 27, 2014, with the embassy's mascot character "Shalom-chan" (L).

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Girl holds pad for stamp collection at Japan spar resort

OITA, Japan - A young girl holds a stamp pad for a competition to visit 24 hot springs in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, issued by a local nonprofit organization to make children familiar with the well-known southwestern Japanese spar resort. An image of "Beppyon," the city's mascot character, is drawn on the pad cover.

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9 smart cards to be used for ANA's in-flight sales in Oct.

TOKYO, Japan - The penguin mascot character for the rechargeable Suica smart card of East Japan Railway Co. demonstrates how to use the card for ANA's domestic in-flight sales on Sept. 22, 2014. Nine kinds of traffic system smart cards will become usable for in-flight sales from October.

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Handmade 'Kumamon' teddy by Steiff on display in Japan

KUMAMOTO, Japan - A special "Kumamon" teddy bear, handmade from plush at German high-end teddy bear manufacturer Steiff Co., is displayed at Kumamon Square in Kumamoto, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 22, 2014. Kumamon is Kumamoto Prefecture's mascot character for promoting its tourism and local products.

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Osaka Pref.'s mascot character renamed 'Mozuyan'

OSAKA, Japan - The Osaka prefectural government's mascot character "Mozuyan" (L), renamed after the western Japan prefecture's symbolic bird, the shrike ("mozu" in Japanese), is cheered by Gov. Ichiro Matsui and Universal Studio Japan's trademarked "Moppy" on Sept. 17, 2014, in the prefectural capital of Osaka. The Osaka character previously had the same name as the USJ mascot.

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World Santa Clauses meet for congress in southwest Japan

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Many Santa Clauses from around the world, authorized by the Greenland International Santa Claus Association, parade in Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Sept. 12, 2014, together with the southwestern Japanese prefecture's popular mascot character "Kumamon" to promote the Sept. 14 World Santa Claus Congress in Amakusa.

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Mascot 'Kumamon' fails to win top prize in national contest

TOKYO, Japan - "Kumamon," a popular mascot character of Kumamoto Prefecture widely used to publicize the southwestern Japan prefecture, holds an award certificate during a prefectural policymaking contest from Kyoto Governor Keiji Yamada (R), head of the National Governors' Association, in Tokyo on Sept. 4, 2014. Osaka Prefecture received the best award.

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Mascot 'Kumamon' fails to win top prize in national contest

TOKYO, Japan - "Kumamon," a popular mascot character of Kumamoto Prefecture widely used to publicize the southwestern Japan prefecture, receives an award during a prefectural policymaking contest from Kyoto Governor Keiji Yamada (R), head of the National Governors' Association, in Tokyo on Sept. 4, 2014. Osaka Prefecture received the best award.

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Rakuten begins forest preservation for golden eagles

TOKYO, Japan - A golden eagle, one of the endangered species in Japan, is seen in this undated file photo as Rakuten Inc. announces on Sept. 3, 2014, the launch of forest preservation activities in six northeastern Japan prefectures to protect the bird. A character based on a golden eagle called "Clutch" is the mascot of the firm's professional baseball team Rakuten Golden Eagles.

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Baseballs dumped instead of ice water in ALS awareness blitz

NAGOYA, Japan - Doala, a mascot character of the Japanese professional baseball club Chunichi Dragons, dumps a bucket of baseballs instead of ice water over his head at the Nagoya Dome ball park on Aug. 26, 2014, to promote awareness of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease and encourage donations to research.

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Japanese mascot figure helps sales at Taiwan's 7-Eleven

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima (L) is flanked by the southwestern Japanese prefecture's popular mascot character Kumamon holding an "OPEN-chan" doll, a mascot of 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan, in Taipei on Aug. 19, 2014. The prefecture and President Chain Store Corp., Taiwan's operator of 7-Eleven stores, agreed the same day to collaborate for the sale of 25 Kumamon-bearing items at the stores.

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Japanese character-bearing snacks shown at H.K. food fair

HONG KONG, China - A staffer from Shiraishi Co., a snack food wholesaler based in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, explains products that bear a picture of the prefecture's popular mascot character "Kumamon" during a food fair in Hong Kong on Aug. 14, 2014.

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'Kitakanto' mascot characters win Japan dance contest

TOKYO, Japan - A team of four mascot characters from the northern Kanto region in eastern Japan -- (from L) Kapal from Saitama Prefecture, Gunma-chan of Gunma Prefecture, Hustle Komon of Ibaraki Prefecture and Fukkachan from Saitama Prefecture -- are seen on stage at the six-team Japanese mascot character dancing competition held on Aug. 9, 2014, in Tokyo. They won the contest.

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Kumamon drawn in paddy field

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Photo taken from a platform at Shintamana Station on the Kyushu Shinkansen line shows an image of Kumamon, a popular bear mascot character of Kumamoto Prefecture, drawn with eight rice species having different colors.

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CORRECTED Japan's SMEs attempt to penetrate China market

BEIJING, China - CORRECTING NAME OF DAIICHI PRINTING PRESIDENT Daiichi Printing Co. President Kotaro Nishihara (extreme L) promotes products related to "Bary-san," a mascot character of Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, at a trade show organized by the Japan External Trade Organization in Beijing on July 30, 2014, to make a pitch for small and medium-sized Japanese companies seeking to enter China.

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Toranomon Hills mascot 'Toranomon'

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken July 28, 2014, in Tokyo's Minato Ward shows "Toranomon" (L), the official mascot of Toranomon Hills, Tokyo's second-tallest building complex that opened the previous month, and Doraemon, the robot character on which Toranomon is based.

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'Kumamon' character-bearing pasta in soup put on sale

OSAKA, Japan - Acecook Co. unveils vegetable soup with pasta bearing the face of Kumamon, the mascot character promoting Kumamoto Prefecture, on the exterior of the cup at a press conference in Osaka on June 25, 2014. The soup, made from tomatoes produced in the southwestern Japanese prefecture, among other things, went on sale on July 28.

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Feudal Japanese Christian woman to be portrayed in play

KUMAMOTO, Japan - Uto Mayor Shigeki Motomatsu (L), lead actress Ryoko Usui (2nd from L) and Uto's mascot character "Uton Yukinaga shan" (C) join a press conference announcing the musical "Julia Otaa" in Uto, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on July 24, 2014. The stage play, opening on Sept. 20, portrays the life of a woman of Korean descent adopted by a local Japanese warlord and Christianized in the late 16th century when Christianity was not fully permitted.