What or who is Domo-Kun?
Probably you’d already seen this character somewhere, but what is it? Is it a cookie? Or maybe a monster? None of this. In fact, Domo-Kun is the mascot of the Japanese TV network NHK, and it appears in many short films using the technique of stop-motion.
Domo-Kun is a small brown creature that looks like a strange monster; it has black button-shaped eyes and an open mouth that reveals its sharp teeth. It was born from an egg and lives in an underground cave with a bear called Ji Chan, and Usajii (the grandfather), a wise rabbit who loves watching TV and drinking tea (in Japanese, Usagi means rabbit and Oyaji means old man).
In that same cave he also shares space with two female bats: the mother, Shinobu, who has a drinking problem, and Morio, the daughter. Another important character in Domo-Kun’s live is Ta Chan, a teenage weasel who dreams of becoming a model.
Its most distinguishing feature is that if he is angry, he cannot avoid farting. His favorite hobby is spending all day watching TV or listening to a Japanese rock group called Guitar Wolf.
Why is Domo-Kun so famous and why is it a JDM article?
First of all, let’s see what JDM means. JDM can be identified as the Japanese Domestic Market (or Model), and it refers to any kind of vehicle and component made for Japanese cars and Japanese users. It is more about enthusiasm for modifying the vehicles with strange pieces or Japanese market collectibles and not so much for what we know as tuning.
Domo-Kun is well related to the JDM culture in the United States and Japan. In fact, the image that made it famous is America was the small stuffed Domo-Kun. Nowadays we can see it in many cars in New York, Los Angeles or Miami, as well as in Tokyo or Kyoto.
This odd creature started to be famous in its native country, Japan. The stuffed toys and merchandising arrived to America through eBay, and from there to the whole world. There are now many Domo-Kun fans all over the western countries.
In fact, it is possible to buy almost any kind of merchandise of Domo-Kun on-line as well as in some stores. Slippers, windbreaks, mobile cases, chocolates or notebooks: anything you can think of. The Domo-Kun fever is so high that even Nickelodeon is broadcasting the Domo-Kun short films dubbed in Spanish!
Does he really hate kittens?
All over the Internet we can see images of Domo-Kun hating and eating kittens. But this has been mainly done by Internet users. In fact, Domo means “Good Morning” in Japanese and Kun refers to young men in Japan. Nothing to do with cats at all.
And even that you probably identify it as the kitten hater, in its country of origin around the 90% of kids and young population recognizes Domo-Kun and knows who he is, with whom he lives and what is his story. Even he is not the sweetest creature on Earth…
