By Samantha Simmons
Whether you’re an otaku or the occasional anime fan, anyone can confidently say that anime plays a huge role in Japanese culture. Since the 2011 tsunami earthquake disaster and the resulting nuclear radiation, Japan has held energy as a high priority for recovery, specifically clean and renewable energy. To kick-start this campaign, Japan has unveiled two new characters to help them out: Kirara and Fuuka.
Kirara and Fuuka are two “moe,” or super-cute anime characters. LMD, an anime production company headed by the former GONZO producer Shouji Murahama and the social seeding site WESYM started the project. Kirara and Fuuka were designed by Yukiusagi.
Yukiusagi is best-known for illustrating the cover of the 2010 best-seller, “Moshi Kokou Yakyu no Joshi Manager ga Drucker no ‘Management’ o Yondara” (What If a Female Manager of a High School Baseball Team read Drucker’s “Management?”), or “Moshidora” for short.
Kirara, a tall, pink-haired girl wearing antennae represents solar power. Fuuka, a petite blue-haired girl wearing cat ears represents wind-powered energy. Both don fashionable, futuristic costumes.
Any local governments, companies, and organizations powered by solar or wind energy in Japan can use the characters for free. The project plans to release an audio drama CD by the characters soon.
So what do you think about this, Insiders? Do you think Kirara and Fuuka are cool mascots for renewable energy? Let us know in the comments!
