When did Yuru-Kyara start?

2007
Yuru-kyara Hikonyan is believed to be the first giant mascot. It is a large white teddy bear wearing a Viking helmet. It was invented in 2007 for a castle campaign in Hikone. The mascot initially accosted passers-by and tourists to interact with them and take pictures.

Why are Yuru-Kyara popular in Japan?

Yuru-kyara (ゆるキャラ), literally ‘loose characters’, are cute, friendly and sometimes bizarre mascots created in Japan by government organizations, local governments, companies and individuals for the purpose of public relations. Public awareness campaigns also often use yuru-kyara to promote their message.

When did yuru kyara become popular in Japan?

The phrase yuru kyara was nominated as Japan’s top trendy word of the year for 2008. It was coined (and trademarked in 2004) by the illustrator and pop culture critic Miura Jun, whose efforts since 2003 brought them into the national consciousness. For Miura, a yuru kyara has three essential characteristics.

What are the characteristics of a yuru kyara?

For Miura, a yuru kyara has three essential characteristics. First, they are designed for PR of localities, events, and goods (especially when appearing live at events, animated by a human actor wearing a “furry mascot suit” ( kigurumi ).

Why are yuru chara so popular in Japan?

Yuru-chara (ゆるキャラ：yurukyara) is a Japanese term for a category of mascot characters: usually created to promote a place or region, event, organization or business. They are characterized by their kawaii (cute) and unsophisticated designs often incorporating motifs that represent local culture, history or produce.

What does yurukyara stand for in Japanese dictionary?

Yurui is shortened to yuru and character is shortened to kyara or chara. Yurui means slow, or loose, and it’s used with these characters to mean characters that are less specifically designed and sometimes seem almost incomplete. One of the most famous and successful yurukyaras of all time is Kumamon, who won the Grand Prix competition in 2011.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpfitKLT-g