February 22, 2007

Personally, I Blame Monocle For The Sudden Rash Of Prince Pickles Coverage

prince_pickle_iraq.jpg

So the week after Wallpaper*-founder Tyler Brule's new magazine, Monocle runs a 17-page cover story about the Japan Self-Defense Force, the International Herald Tribune has a story about the JSDF's deployment of Prince Pickle, their anime character mascot, to Iraq?

Never mind that the JDF non-combat troops went to Iraq in 2004 and pulled out of Iraq last year. Never mind that Prince Pickle and his female subordinate Parsley-chan, have been around for years. Anyway, I'm just saying.

prince_pickle_straps.jpg

The real question, of course, is where are the Prince Pickle goods? Plush toys, vinyl, lunchboxes, etc.? So far, I'm afraid the only thing I can come up with is cell phone charms, which are not only a choke hazard, they fall into the "Don't Try This At Home" category of things you just cannot pull off outside of Japan. Like a saucily knotted silk scarf on a dude in France, or dark socks, sneakers and shorts in Germany.

Cuddly Characters Front Japan's Military Aspirations [ap/iht]
Japan Probe has some photo composites of Prince Pickle at work [japanprobe.com]
The MOD has old Pickles manga available for download, and also a library of Prince Pickles and Parsley-chan images [mod.go.jp]
Previously: Looks like Yawaraka Sensha is still the cuddliest war cartoon character around.
Speaking of which, there's a new episode

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