There’s an interesting Associated Press story making the rounds about the use of a manga character, Prince Pickles, by Japanese military to “soften” their image, called strangely enough the “cute offensive.”
Here’s an interesting take from Rika Kayama, a psychiatrist and author, via the blog site, Japan Probe: “This could only happen in a country that is so open to immaturity. Authorities here feel it’s easier and less threatening to use characters to get the public to accept them, rather than explain the facts.”
