Japan has a long history of using cute mascot characters in situations that can surprise Westerners. In fact, quite often the more terrifying or distressing a situation, the cuter the visual description of it becomes on official posters here.
This may sound counterintuitive or even a little condescending at first, but when you start thinking about it, it makes perfect sense. Whereas, say, photos of damage or devastation would probably cause people to avert their eyes, this sort of presentation lures people into actually reading the sign -- particularly children, as tsunami education needs to start early.
Of course, there's no way to know how many lives public-service campaigns like this saved in the 3-11 earthquake and tsunami. But similar to the ancient stone tsunami-warning markers found dotting the countryside, these cute characters are another example that natural disasters are never far from the minds of people in Japan.
A 2007 poster for tsunami evacuation drills in the Sagami Bay area of Kanagawa prefecture (southwest of Tokyo).
A sign spotted in a Shizuoka suburb, explaining how trees can act as wind and wave breaks.
We found this one on a hiking trail in Iwate prefecture several years back. He marks the portions of the trail that pass by the ocean, reminding hikers to beware of tsunami in the event of an earthquake.
Tsunami-man is one of a series of regional mascots from Shikoku's Kochi prefecture used to teach children about the dangers of earthquakes and tsunami. You can see him in action in a comic strip here.
These are just the tip of the iceberg and I am sure there are many more out there. If you know of any, feel free to link to them in the comments.
Cute..
Posted by: Account Deleted | April 15, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Not a cute mascot, but have you ever read the children book Hachiro by Ryusuke Saito? It's about a giant who sacrifices himself to the tsunami to save the farmers in his village. One of my favorites. Makes me cry every time.
Posted by: Maki | April 15, 2011 at 11:11 AM
No! This one?
http://ehonmuseum.jp/4834001148.html
I'll have to check it out!
Posted by: MattAlt | April 15, 2011 at 11:23 AM
That's the one! There is also Sanko by the same author, my other favorite. Both stories are from Akita (Hachirogata and Oidara-yama). So many sad folk stories and songs from northern Japan.
Posted by: Maki | April 15, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Matt, I thought it was you who linked to genpatsu-kun on twitter? Memory is failing me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sakN2hSVxA
Posted by: Leonardo Boiko | April 15, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Oh, genpatsu-kun. Don't forget Pluto-kun, cute plutonium who explains how he isn't dangerous at all! (Sorry, can't find one with English subtitles)
http://youtu.be/bJlul0lTroY
Posted by: Maki | April 15, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Flatulent little Genpatsu-kun is one of the heroes of this crisis (or rather, his creator is.) That video, and the text story it was originally based on, really gave a lot of people a smile in a dark time.
Posted by: MattAlt | April 15, 2011 at 04:05 PM
Hello to all the brave people in Japan via this website.
It's a constant education finding out how people cope with earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear reactor problems.
Best wishes for life getting back to normal.
Posted by: Ern_malleyscrub | April 17, 2011 at 01:10 PM
Heres some that I've spotted near my apartment in Tokyo http://www.whatwhat.co.uk/whatblog/photography/mad-waves/ I don't think its specifically tsunami related but rather the dangers of swimming or playing in the water. Still some waves with angry faces though.
Posted by: Whatwhated | April 19, 2011 at 09:38 PM
Hello to all the brave people in Japan via this website.
It's a constant education finding out how people cope with earthquakes,
Posted by: sologon | June 01, 2011 at 10:21 AM