Forum - View topicINTEREST: Doraemon Named Ambassador for Tokyo's Olympic Bid
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mewpudding101
Industry Insider
 Posts: 2210 Location: Tokyo, Japan |
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That's awesome, and I want the Olympics to come to Tokyo, but I feel like this choice of ambassador might ruin their chances... Although it's a very well-known icon here in Japan, not very much around the world, except the places that it actually aired.
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bhl88
Posts: 255 |
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... Should be Magikarp... At least everyone knows it can transform to Gyarados...
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HyugaHinata
 Posts: 3505 |
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Doraemon's a completely gullible doormat. He should be the patron saint of dole bludgers.
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Tenbyakugon
 Posts: 800 Location: Ohio, United States |
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...Naturally.
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machetecat
 Posts: 396 |
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I have never understood this whole Doraemon thing. I get that it's a popular kid's show in Japan, but I wouldn't even know that if I didn't see random news on this site about the Japanese using Doraemon as another ambassador for something.
I'd get it if I heard anyone else talk about this show and be like "OMG nostalgia!!", but I literally hear nothing else about this cat outside of the news. I can only assume the character's like Mickey Mouse for Japan, but even then if the U.S. wanted to use Mickey Mouse as a mascot, EVERYONE would know who Mickey Mouse is. ...should have gone with Hello Kitty or something....or maybe a human being. |
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Kutsu
Posts: 570 |
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Should have gone with Pikachu or Ash/Satoshi. They might not have the same cult status as Doraemon in Japan (yet) but surely their worldwide popularity is much more significant. Plus, they could just as well represent the values of friendship and the fact that you should never give up on your dreams etc.
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MiwaSatoshi
Old Regular
 Posts: 81 Location: Austin, Texas, USA |
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This feels like pretty much a reflection of the insularity of the Japanese business world. Their executives essentially don't know (and don't care) what is popular globally, preferring to extrapolate based on domestic data. Note: this post is pure conjecture. |
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Kikaioh
 Posts: 1205 Location: Antarctica |
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My understanding has been that Doraemon is a fairly significant icon throughout Asia, to the point that Time Magazine selected him as one of Asia's most significant heroes. As a reflection of mainstream Japanese culture I think Doraemon makes for a better fit than Hello Kitty, who's more of an icon for commercial cuteness.
I really like the Doraemon manga, as it's a fairly sincere/humorous portrayal of childhood antics. Amongst blue-and-red colored Olympic mascots, I think Japan could have fared worse. 
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Melicans
Posts: 627 Location: Canada |
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I think you forgot Sapporo (1972) and Nagano (1998), unless you were referring exclusively to the summer edition (which the sentence does not). |
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yotsubafanfan
 Posts: 653 |
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I hope to see the 2020 Olympics go to Japan, the only other years they got the Olympics were years when I was either not born yet or I was too small to understand the Olympics, not to menchion I could see Japan putting on an Incredible Opening ceremony!!! But maybe they should have picked a different Mascot, ( it's not that I don't like Doreamon in fact I think he's adorable, I just think they should have gone with Pikachu or Totoro, someone who's more well known in other parts of the world) but anyway, if any country in the world outside my home country gets the Olympics I hope its Japan, because that is just going to be sooo cool!!!
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TitanXL
 Posts: 4036 |
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How many people even know Hello Kitty is Japanese? A lot of girls I see just get it because they think its cute and don't know what it's origins are. It's more of an icon than a cultural thing.
Doraemon is pretty big outside of Japan in other Eastern countries, just not so much the Western world. And I don't see why Japan should care if those countries know what they choose to represent them is or not, it's what they want to identify as and if that's not good enough for other people, too bad.
Not exactly; Doraemon is actually still relevant to the current industry because he has a currently airing series that is one of the top rated anime in Japan in addition to new movies every year. Mickey relies far more "nostalgia" since he hasn't really done animation in forever. I think the last thing he was in was some throwaway preschool show. A better comparison would be Spongebob, I'd say, who is actually relevant to American animation. |
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TnAdct1
Posts: 120 |
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When it comes to the 2020 Olympics, I can think of two better Ambassadors for the bid:
KANEDA!!! TETSOU!!! |
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14889 |
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Don't worry guys, Tokyo's not gonna get the Olympics. They haven't been good at selling their bids to the corrupt IOC.
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kgw
 Posts: 1189 Location: Spain, EU |
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I agree. Doraemon movies are released regularly and its serie is quite popular over here. It's a pity, because Tokyo bids against my city (and Istambul), and I think using Doraemon is quite unfair... :p |
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RedSwirl
 Posts: 344 |
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It'd be nice... if for no other reason than to bury Akira underneath the stadium.
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