The city of Shima opted to design a moe pearl diver mascot character, in keeping with other cities and prefectures across Japan. The design firm Mouth Beach unveiled the character design last November and selected her name, Megu Aoshima, from about 2,000 suggestions. Shima is using Aoshima in public relations campaigns to promote regional tourism.
Yet pearl divers themselves are generally unhappy with the character, citing her bare legs and pronounced breasts and complaining that the design "denigrates women." One claimed that Aoshima "makes a fool out of pearl divers." Pearl diver Fumiko Yamamoto and her daughter, Isako Utsubo, say they were shocked when they first saw the character. "We're unnerved that a poster can only appeal [to an audience] with young women's bodies." Mindful that the upcoming G7 diplomatic summit will bring foreign dignitaries to Shima, they are circulating a petition to withdraw official recognition of Aoshima and stop the campaign ("We don't want foreigners to only think of pearl divers in this way"). Their petition has so far gathered 170 signatures, and will be presented to Shima's mayor and municipal assembly on August 13.
Kinda sounds like they just don't want to attract dem dirty otaku really.
Or let people get the wrong idea. Which isn't exactly a bad thing. Last thing a town need is a bunch of rule 34s based on their mascot.
They should just change their mascot to the usual cute chibi anomorphic clam or whatever. I always find it weird when people decide to use generic anime cute girls when it come to important things like town mascots.
It represents your whole town and everyone in it so using something like this is kind of.....bold.
In reality, the average pearl diver is 70 years old and look quite different from Aoshima. Black wetsuits are the norm. A pearl diver's husband also points out that she wouldn't be able to dive with her long hair either. "This character's appeal is based on women's sexuality more than pearl diving," he concludes. Isako Utsubo, whose mother is a pearl diver, is outraged by the character and is circulating a petition for the city to withdraw its approval of her. "[She's got] huge boobs with discernable nipples, a hemline that reveals the direction of her vagina, a shameful expression that looks like she'll welcome all kinds of nasty stuff." She considers it a human rights violation, a violation of child pornography laws and disrespectful of pearl divers.
They should just change their mascot to the usual cute chibi anomorphic clam or whatever. I always find it weird when people decide to use generic anime cute girls when it come to important things like town mascots.
It represents your whole town and everyone in it so using something like this is kind of.....bold.
Thing is, they already have a mascot named Shimako who looks more like a traditional pearl diver. I can see their complaints, but the loud ones are kid of overreacting a bit.
