In 1853, a fleet of four steam-powered frigates under the command of U.S. Navy Commodore Matthew Perry paid an unannounced visit to Edo bay. Dubbed the kurofune (literally, "black ships") by the astounded citizens of Japan, a combination of Perry's savvy negotiating tactics plus the veiled threat of a bombardment eventually convinced the Tokugawa Shogunate to open the country to foreign trade after two centuries of near total isolation.
Heavy stuff. And this being Japan, that means there's absolutely no reason not to commission a super-kawaii mascot commemorating the event! Meet "Tanemaru," the world's most cuddly cheerleader for the concept of gunboat diplomacy. Unveiled as part of the City of Yokohama's 150th anniversary celebration of the official opening of the port, it's an ambulatory ship with a seedling sprouting from its bridge. Okay, so it's celebrating the RESULT, not what led up to the opening. But still.
After writing Hello, Please! it takes a lot to surprise me when it comes to mascots like Tanemaru. I suppose he isn't any conceptually stranger than Hikonyan, or the even more inexplicable Hello Kitty Black Ship. ("Open your frickin' harbor or we'll bombard you with hugs!") But there's something about the mash-up of nineteenth century imperialism and super-cute mascot culture that would undoubtedly have set the head of an old salt like Commodore Perry spinning. Ponder that the next time you take a ride in one of Yokohama's Tanemaru-festooned taxis.
Great stuff about Matthew Perry, a lot of people don't actually know about the whole Odaiba thing.
Posted by: Odaiba | May 06, 2009 at 03:09 PM
That has to be the first spam ever to contain the words "Matthew Perry."
Posted by: MattAlt | May 06, 2009 at 03:31 PM
Oh man, I have that Hello Kitty charm on my cell phone!
Posted by: NTG | July 19, 2009 at 12:23 AM