29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Cute mascots from around the world popular at Osaka Expo 2025
OSAKA -- Many visitors at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, love taking photos with cute and interesting mascot characters from different countries.
These mascots are becoming very popular with visitors. In Japan, mascots called "yuru-chara" are well-loved. People like them because they feel friendly and relaxed.
In front of Germany's pavilion, visitors met a mascot called Circular. Circular is round, soft and cute. The theme at this Pavilion is "circular economy," and the mascot is based on Japan's "kawaii" (cute) style. One woman from Osaka said, "I am happy they know about Japanese culture."
At Czechia's pavilion, there is a mascot called Rene, who has many eyes. Rene looks a little strange. Rene is a friend of Myaku-Myaku, the Expo 2025mascot. People were seen taking photos far away from Rene because he looks unusual.
Singapore has a mascot named Merli at their pavilion. Merli comes from the Merlion, a famous symbol of Singapore. Many people in Japan love Merlion. Merli meets visitors three times every day.
Canada's mascot is called Parka. But Parka appears only on special days. People say this makes Parka even more popular.
At Expo 2025, visitors usually must check carefully about what time mascots will appear. Many mascots only meet visitors at certain times.
(Japanese original by Takehiko Onishi, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
Vocabulary
mascot: a friendly character, often a cute animal, person or thing, used to cheer up or interest people.
pavilion: a special building at a large event where each country can show its culture or ideas.
culture: the ideas, ways of acting, and things special to a group or country.
friendly: nice and easy to talk to, makes you feel comfortable.
circular economy: a system where things are used again instead of thrown away.
