Even elections are not immune to moe marketing – the image above shows a recently spotted poster exhorting inhabitants of Fukushima Prefecture to vote in the upcoming elections for prefectural governor.
The mascot, identified as “Mirai Fukushima” (translation note: Mirai means future), says “Let’s decide the future of Fukushima together!” The poster appears to be published by the local election authorities.
The text to her left reads “LET’S GO TO THE BALLOTS,” whilst the smaller text contains a rather weak if honest attempt to dissuade the prefecture’s more apathetic voters from staying home and letting the local bands of geriatric kleptocrats fight it out amongst themselves:
“It’s a hassle. You’re not interested. You can’t change anything just by yourself. Don’t think like this – think about the future of Fukushima.”
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i think this quite common in japan, many of their text book is illustrated with 2d character, for example i found an psychology book with tensai bakabon illustration. and i find this really fun for something that basically boring
Yes, actually. I was thinking that too. I lived there back in 1998 and they used posters and other such media for these types of things everywhere. Not as moe, but still effective, as people tend to look at the cute girl on a poster. ^^
Given the fact that Fukushima just had a huge anime event (Machiasobi), I think it's a very good move.
Yes! for Fukushima's future!
Make an anime or manga of her and fan works too.
Election? I don't mind people electing her as the future governor.
Anime is now commonly used in japan in many things.
question: is voting in japan obligatory or its like in US?
lol @ usa. Way to make democracy suck.
The last sentence in the article forces me to believe it's not obligatory.
I don't think voting is obligatory in any half-way democratic country. What would you do if none of the eligible parties/candidates suit your political ideals?
not at all. There are many, many democratic countries which voting is obligatory..actually, many studies shows that if you leave the voting option to the ppl, many wouldn't vote which in many ways could incentive corruption like buying votes, for example...
anyway...lets not turn this into another discussion like US x the world k?
You're right. I didn't believe it until I actually looked it up ("Many many" is over-exaggerating it a bit though. But I was rather shocked to see a few modern, supposedly liberal democracies on the list. Unsurprisingly, only about half of them actually enforce it). It doesn't make sense though. For starters, it violates the very principle of free and secret elections, but the arguments against it only start there.
The studies you mentioned, no matter who many there are and how correct they are, are meaningless. Making voting mandatory because of that would be utilitarianism, and no just and free state can be built on utilitarian principles.
Austrilia is mandatory. Its either a fine or jail time if you dont vote.
If I remember correctly
lol @ election day on Halloween
And here in the US we just get donkeys and elephants.
It is no longer "Japan can make anything moe," it's "Japan must make everything moe."
Fear the moe army, they'll take over the world, and we will thank them!
Moe for Prime Minister :D
USA needs to do this on the next election.
Spineless politicians sponsored by moe 2d girls.
Sadly the increasing otaku population is one of the roots of the gloomy baby-less "future" of japan, beautiful irony.
Than there is really much comedic and sad irony about this topic as a whole when you look at this from different perspectives.
Yosh! Let the probing BEGIN!
if there are more people otakus, wouldnt less people insult otakus and more otaku couples be formed? dont forget that there are otakus of both genders
Otaku only marry on mmorpgs, and with the gender switched lol
ok ok, I watched too much LS XD
Look at my tits
It works everytime.
Election moe leads to erection. ^_^
Mirai Fukushima...Mirai Fukushima...Mirai Fukushima...
RULE 34...RULE 34...RULE 34...RULE 34...
Mirai Fukushima...Mirai Fukushima...Mirai Fukushima...
RULE 34...RULE 34...ARMPITS...RULE 34...
*keeps chanting*
I cast my ballot for any party who won't cave into feminazi bullshit and let our lolis run free, while providing loli-licious refreshments at the voting sites.
It's a sick irony that our beautiful 2D women are being used as tools for political elections as if they are prostitutes. How DARE these politicians bring moe girls to their level. I will have NONE OF IT I SAY!
They...aren't. They are apparently being used as tools by government employees in an attempt to increase voter turnout. Politicians aren't garnering votes. Nice joke, though.
you forgot to add 2D girls are being used by old men .
I just remembered that "L" = "R" in Japan.
That means election = erection. Sneaky. ^_^
It's sad that you felt the need to explain your joke.
(Judging from the rating it was necessary, though)
the it become ERECTION PARTY
There's no irony here. You forget that these 2D girls have been used as tools before. Specifically, when they were created.
Their entire purpose is for you to find them adorable or attractive enough to hear what the people who made her are trying to say. Buy plastic crap merchandise. Buy DVDs. Buy video games. This is just another step in their evolution of use, another propaganda tool they were destined to become.
It's also a direct effect of the moe boom; moe girls have reached such a height in popularity that governments are confident enough to use them as mascots. And it'll probably work.
the furry speaks the truth
furrys are never right.
"geriatric kleptocrats"
It's the same everywhere. lulz
That's a pretty neat idea.
To get those NEET votes? Indeed......
Effective? Will see.....
Moe for president !!
Moe, you have my vote :)
Moe for president?
"I like Ike", has now become, "I like Aika"?
Poster stolen in 3, 2, 1..
Damn that ponytail.. <3
I wonder if it would sell for 900 bucks...
She also needs glasses and a beauty mark and a little bit of lipstick.
I would vote for her future. Wait....does that work?
You mean "I would vote for her future... in my pants!"
If election candidates really looked like that, then they'd be rulers forever.
If they looked like Goth Loli and were our Imouto then they would be our Kami forever.