Comments on: NHK English Characters Worse than Nara Mascot?

By: Gaijin House Japan

Gaijin House Japan — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:16:26 +0000

OMG! What a swear the NHK people are on shrooms. When I first came to Japan my friend had a “Mr. Poo” giant stuffed animal. I was like what is this Giant Poo looking guy with big teeth that looks like it will eat children. “Oh, thats the NHK’s mascot, Domokun!” huh!

By: Nick Ramsay

Nick Ramsay — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:27:17 +0000

Vince, thanks for your comments. All, I can say is that Kashiwa must have had an off-day, because there's nothing about Keebo and Motch that look like the work of a famous graphic designer. I much prefer the Chocolantan characters. They actually look like they had some money spent on them! For anyone who isn't familiar with Spoo and friends, take a look for yourself.

By: vince

vince — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:09:39 +0000

Nick,

Keebo and Motch were actually designed/created by Kashiwa Sato who is a fairly famous graphic designer (did many of the early SMAP albums). The characters are a bit strange, but not really in the context of Japan. You should watch the crew on the Pokemon show on Saturdays … Actually, Goo-Chocolantan’s characters are scarier than Keebo and Motch I think.

While the english description of the characters on the NHK website leaves much to be desired, the show has been gradually growing over the last 4 years although I miss the girl that was on before Jenny . . . it’s interesting to see the content change as each bangumi gets more budget.

BTW – Eric has been largely relagated to a sing-a-long taishou (excercise) skit stuck in the middle or end of Eigo-de-asobo. Miss the silly songs . . .

We also lost “Hiroshi and Davie” and “Simon” … ah well.

By: Nick Ramsay

Nick Ramsay — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:24:49 +0000

Hi Reece, I had a look but I can’t find a single video clip from Eigo de Asobo, let alone from Jenny’s World Report. I guess it doesn’t attract the kind of viewer who records and uploads these things to the net!

Even the official NHK page for Eigo de Asobo is nothing more than a flier for the show. I thought it might be easier to find Jenny herself online. How hard can it be to find a foreign celebrity in Japan on the net? Very hard it seems. She’s like a ghost and I wonder if Jenny is even her real name!

Sorry I couldn’t help more. It might be easier to just contact NHK directly.

By: Reece

Reece — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:57:19 +0000

Well, shoot…it took out the photo.

They were riding the teacup ride at an amusement park, and my daughter is wearing a white hoodie with big, blue polka dots all over it.

Photo

By: Reece

Reece — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:55:42 +0000

I’ve been scouring the internet and this is the first lead I’ve found to what I’m looking for…

In March of this year, my daughter shot a “Jenny’s World Report” spot. One of the people we booked the job through told me that it would be put online in April and I’d be able to see it — but I can not find it for the life of me.

You seem like you’re more familiar than I am with navigating the “Japanese Kid Show” area of cyber-space. Could you possibly point me in the right direction? If nothing else, it might be an interesting diversion if you find yourself bored and at the keyboard. )

This is a photo I took, so you can see which clip I’m talking about.

By: Neil Duckett

Neil Duckett — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:52:40 +0000

Hahaha “a ball of dust and a piece of old rice cake” …. loved that Nick … and agree, Jenny’s a bit of alright too.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:35:43 +0000

Those two characters remind me of Rikuto before and after playing football with Dad and then being popped in the bath only to spill his dinner down his bib again. What a vicious circle. As an uncle I am very proud that my nephew has a good eye for the girls and as he gets older let’s hope he doesn’t fall for an older woman.

By: Mum

Mum — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:28:23 +0000

I know they start eyeing up the girls young theses days, but this is crazy, Rikuto. But I bet she’ll get you to learn more English than your dad can.

By: Steve in Nagoya

Steve in Nagoya — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:10:00 +0000

Well, what did we get for the Aichi Expo, Bush and Shrub. I don’t even want to know how much was spent to bring those mascots out. And they are still milking them even though the Expo has been over for what now three years. Oh Japan, the land of the undying mascots.