Japanese Mascot Ossan to Appear as Guest of Honor at Anime Expo

All Japan

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Comical character will present Japanese culture and comedy routines

Japanese mascot Ossan will make his American debut at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, July 2-5, 2015. The popular “Go Torch” (also known as “yuru-kyara”) character will participate in multiple events at the convention, including an Instagram and Twitter promotion in which attendees can snap photos with Ossan and tag their photos with “#FoundOssan” to receive a small gift.

Ossan (sometimes called “Chicchai Ossan”) is one of Japan’s top local mascots along with Kumamon and Funassyi. There are more than 3000 mascots in Japan, each of them representing a specific prefecture or city.

Ossan’s real name is Shinichi Sakata. He is a middle-aged Japanese guy with a strong Kansai dialect from Hyogo prefecture with a wife, four children, and a dog named “Yagi” (goat). Ossan is frequently seen on Japanese television commercials, programs, and game shows. He showed up as a “stamp” on LINE last year and ranked in the Top 3.

In Japan, Ossan has become one of pop culture’s favorite characters with his sharp tongue and warm fatherly advice. People in Japan think he is very funny — ask him to play the national anthem and see what he does! There is also a rumor that you can gain good luck if you get a chance to rub his shiny bald head… but you always have to ask him nicely.

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Ossan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicchai.ossan.en
Ossan Homepage: http://co3.tv
Ossan Twitter: https://twitter.com/chicchai_ossan

ANIME EXPO Information and Registration:
http://www.anime-expo.org

ANIME EXPO’s Ossan Page:
http://www.anime-expo.org/foundossan-win-prizes-by-tweeting-a-picture-with-mascot-character-chicchai-ossan-at-ax-2015

ABOUT ANIME EXPO
Anime Expo is an annual celebration of Japanese pop culture and currently held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Traditionally, Anime Expo (AX) is held on July 4th weekend as a 4-day event. Anime Expo is growing in scale dramatically, and is currently the largest anime and manga convention in North America.

Popular events include; the Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, Concerts, and the Fashion Show. Anime Expo also offers late-night programming such as dance, video screenings, tabletop and electronic gaming, and open-mic karaoke. Many of the attendees cosplay while attending the convention, and join in the many gatherings for fans of different anime, manga, gaming and other genres. Renowned for its ability to bring famous guests to America for panels and concerts, Anime Expo has been the site of many U.S. premiers of shows, movies, and bands including; AKB48, Hatsune Miku, Morning Musume, Porno Graffitti, Yoko Kanno, SKIN and many more.