Mozilla Japan's Foxkeh Mascot Launches English WebsiteMonday May 7th, 2007Mozilla Foundation international affiliate Mozilla Japan has launched an English language website for Foxkeh, its cartoon mascot for promoting Mozilla Firefox. The site has English translations of some of the content already available on Foxkeh's Japanese website, including introductory Firefox videos, monthly calendar desktop wallpapers and an amazingly detailed flowchart illustrating the history of Firefox. Foxkeh, a cute anthropomorphic male cartoon fox with a fiery tail, was launched in Japan in September last year, with 7,000 Mozilla community members suggesting possible names. While the use of such a mascot may be met with bemusement by many in the West, it's not out of place in Japan, where cute imagery permeates the culture to such an extent that even the military is represented by a cartoon character. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police force's cartoon mouse mascot, "Pipo Kun", which can be seen here http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/sikumi/pipo/pipo.htm Wow! I loved the assortment of wallpapers there and was thankful they offered them without the calendar as well. I sort of like this Japanese fashion of associating "cute critters" with projects and organisations. Has a good selling point that's lacking in the West. We're always too serious. We need things like this to lighten up a bit I feel. Well, that's my two pieces of wampum anyway. ;) Amicalement, Eyes-Only/"L'Peau-Rouge" |