The designs of some of the mascots are based on the culture of Japan, the host country of the expo, which begins on April 13 and brings together 158 countries and regions. "This will be a fun ...

Pokemon is turning some of its Local Acts prefecture mascots into plushes. Iwate's Geodude mascot is included in the line ...

In Japan, policymakers and economists are paying close attention to the "oshikatsu" phenomenon as a growing driver of ...

cuddly mascots or any "oshi" - the Japanese term for the object of one's adulation. "If my salary goes up, I'd like to go to concerts out of town, even overseas, more frequently," said Matsui as ...