Skip to main content
Currently being edited in London

Daily inbox intelligence from Monocle

mascot

Latest

Soft Power

Follow the bear

Fluffy, furry mascots are everywhere in Japan but Kumamon has captured the nation’s imagination like no other. We explore his ‘very’ soft-power potential.

  • Issue #129
  • 10 min read
Kumamon, the black bear mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, stands in a fluorescent-lit office corridor lined with shelves.
Society

Expo 81: Face of a nation

Japan’s cuddly corporate mascots are a central part of the nation’s identity. We meet the celebrated yuru-kyara creations and the people who bring them to life, exploring their huge and growing popularity.

  • Issue #81
  • 8 min read
A black and white mascot character with a yellow hard hat poses for photographs with people around it in a studio setting.

Monocle Cart

You currently have no items in your cart.
  • Subtotal:
  • Discount:
  • Shipping:
  • Total:
Checkout

Shipping will be calculated at checkout.

Please note: Orders to the United States may experience delays beyond the estimated-delivery window due to customs processing. Please refer to our FAQs for information on import duties and regulations.

All orders placed outside of the EU that exceed €1,000 in value require customs documentation. Please allow up to two additional business days for these orders to be dispatched.

Not ready to checkout? Continue Shopping