TsukuBlog
A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Daruma Dolls- the Evolution of Japan`s Longest Selling CHARACTER ( and January 3rd’s DARUMA MARKET at the Ganzan-Daishi Temple in Joso City)
2 January, 2021
By Avi Landau
Cartoon characters have become Japan’s most important cultural export, and I’ve heard that the total sales abroad of anime, manga and their related merchandise have grown to surpass even those of the automobile industry. Anpanman, Doraemon, Ultraman, Pikachu and their friends have become hugely popular, even household names, not only in Japan, but in many countries around the globe, as Japanese artists continue to prove that this Land of the Cult of the KAWAII (cute), is THE major comic-book and cartoon character powerhouse in the world. In addition, nearly every major event, sports team, train line etc., has its own mascot character.