Mascot characters launch joint publicity blitz

Mascot characters launch joint publicity blitz

OSAKA, Japan - Mozuyan (L), the shrike mascot of Osaka Prefecture, and Kumamon (R), the black bear mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, pose with specialties from the two regions in Osaka, western Japan, on Jan. 8, 2015. The two prefectures agreed the same day to jointly promote each other's specialties and tourism.

Mascot characters launch joint publicity blitz

Mascot characters launch joint publicity blitz

OSAKA, Japan - Kumamon (L), the black bear mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and Mozuyan (R), the shrike mascot of Osaka Prefecture, strike a pose with Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui in the western Japan city of Osaka on Jan. 8, 2015. The two prefectures agreed the same day to jointly promote each other's specialties and tourism.

Osaka Pref.'s mascot character renamed 'Mozuyan'

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.

Mascot characters join anticrime campaign in Osaka

Mascot characters join anticrime campaign in Osaka

Kumamoto Prefecture's bear-like mascot character "Kumamon" (C, R) and its Osaka Prefecture counterpart "Mozuyan" (C, L) resembling a shrike appear at a crime prevention campaign meeting in Higashiosaka, western Japan, on Feb. 12, 2015. At the gathering of about 150 citizens and kindergarten students, they called for attention to handbag snatching and other crimes. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Mascot characters join crime awareness campaign in Osaka

Mascot characters join crime awareness campaign in Osaka

Kumamoto Prefecture's bear-like mascot character "Kumamon" (C) and its Osaka Prefecture counterpart "Mozuyan" (R) resembling a shrike appear at a crime awareness campaign meeting in Higashiosaka, western Japan, on Feb. 12, 2015. At the meeting, a policeman showed how to hold a handbag tight to prevent it from being snatched away. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Osaka Pref.'s mascot character renamed 'Mozuyan'

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. (Kyodo)