The Japanese Self-Defense Force’s popular “orc mascot” appears on the cover of a magazine again, sparking controversy over its objectification by lawmakers

OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN, the former official mascots of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Omaezaki Base in Shizuoka Prefecture, appeared on the cover of the 216th issue of the Self-Defense Force magazine MAMOR. Nago City Councilor Takayama Yuzo criticized the mascots for “objectifying women”, causing netizens to express their opinions. Counter discussion. The artist PIKOKO also received online harassment and death threats due to this incident.

About OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN

OMANEKO (おまねこ) and HAMU CHUNCHUN (ハムちゅんちゅん) were originally one of the mascot projects of the 22nd Security Team of Omaezaki Base from February to early March 2022. The original voting result within the team was the turtle “KAMERON” who likes to surf. Unexpectedly, after the plan was announced, it became popular on SNS, and all 14 mascots including alternatives were officially adopted.

Among them, OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN, which have strong FURRY charm, have received particularly high attention. OMANEKO’s design concept is the tourist attraction “Nekozuka” in Omaezaki City.Gender is male; HAMU CHUNCHUN is inspired by another tourist attraction “Rat Mound”,Gender is also male。

OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN’s sexy looks and gender settings,Confused many netizens GGits popularity has skyrocketed. Not only has it appeared on the cover of Self-Defense Forces magazine MAMOR No. 202 as a two-dimensional mascot, and launched related peripherals, it has also been used by the government as material for recruitment advertisements, and there are also many second-hand works by netizens.

thank you for your hard work. #Omaezaki branch base is.
For the time being, we are recruiting part-time personnel (cooking duties) at our base.
If you are interested, please check the base website for details.#self-defense force　#AirSelf-Defense Forcehttps://t.co/QXq7iZ2o8H pic.twitter.com/tcuQJfnnTy

— Air Self-Defense Force Omaezaki Branch Base (22nd Guard Unit) (@JASDF_omaezaki) July 18, 2023

However, it may also be because the beast mascot is so popular that the Omaezaki Base later issued special regulations for the second creation of the “Omaezaki Base Mascot”, which requires that the second creation content must not be significantly different from the official setting, and must not offend the Self-Defense Forces or any specific person. or group.

Unfortunately, OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN are scheduled to leave Omaezaki Base on August 1, Reiwa 6 (2024), and there is no further disclosure that OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN will be transferred to other Self-Defense Forces systems in other forms.

thank you for your hard work.#Omaezaki branch base is.
He played an active role as a branch base character. #Omaneko #Ham Chun Chun will be transferred from Omaezaki Branch Base on August 1, 2020.
Thank you very much for your warm support!#emptysince70anniversary I look forward to the further evolution of these two…? !#To the sky and beyond pic.twitter.com/5lTdW96I8D

— Air Self-Defense Force Omaezaki Branch Base (22nd Guard Unit) (@JASDF_omaezaki) July 31, 2024

Criticism of mascot image for “objectifying women”

After OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN appeared on the cover of the 216th issue of the Self-Defense Forces magazine MAMOR, Nago City Councilor Takayama Yuzo reposted the official X post on December 21, criticizing:

Omaezaki City already has official mascots “NAMIMARU” and “FU CHAN”, so there is no need to design another cat-shaped character that has nothing to do with the region; if the character is set to be a male, it should be designed with an average male body shape, which is more reasonable and universal Cognition, there is no need to design a rounded body like a woman.

I feel really bad.

The character name “Omaneko” is reminiscent of female genitalia, and the design makes it look like a woman is exposing her lower body.
Both content seriously undermines the dignity of women and are extremely inappropriate for a public institution to send out.

The disdain against women has probably been at its root since the days of the Japanese military, when military comfort women were forcibly mobilized. https://t.co/imDg8cuiFf

— Takayama Yuzo (@yuzo_takayama) December 21, 2024

The artist PIKOKO stated on his personal X on the 23rd that he had received harassing messages and even death threats, saying, “It is really unbearable to have my designed works treated as sandbags.”

It’s really scary to think that I might be killed tomorrow.
I really don’t understand why I have to receive death threats….Maybe someone is trying to induce me to receive death threats…

— Pikoko (@tirpitz_bis) December 23, 2024

Although OMANEKO and HAMU CHUNCHUN are no longer the official mascots of the Omaezaki Base, they have now become the target of criticism from members of parliament. Fortunately, many netizens still left messages under the post of artist PIKOKO to express their support. Judging from this incident, Japan still has some way to go in promoting freedom of expression in two-dimensional creation.