Marimokkori - an awkward/funny Marimo Character?

​In Hokkaidō, Japan, the popularity of Marimo Moss Ball led to the birth of a bizarre but funny and cute mascot character known as Marimokkori (まりもっこり). The name is a portmanteau of Marimo and Mokkori i.e. "bulge" in Japanese.

Image from SoraNews24 (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/27/green-men-pitching-trouser-tents-and-hat-wearing-horses-the-mascots-of-japan/)

Marimokkori looks awkward but it is the mascot for Hokkaido. Its merchandises are sold all over Hokkaido and are actually very popular with the younger generation for some reasons. Initially, the character was considered weird and vulgar and did not do well as many hotels/souvenir shops refused to sell its merchandises. Its popularity skyrocketed only after celebrities mentioned the character on TV programmes. Nowadays, you could bring back Marimokkori as key chains, phone straps, T-shirts, and soft toys. Do have a look on which merchandises you might like in the video below:

​You could also visit Marimokkori's official online shop on www.marimokkori.jp.

​Pictures of Marimokkori merchandises on sale, sourced from SoraNews24 and Tofugu.

https://www.tofugu.com/japan/marimo/

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/27/green-men-pitching-trouser-tents-and-hat-wearing-horses-the-mascots-of-japan/

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Marimokkori might not fit your image of what a mascot based on Marimo should look like. There are other mascots based on Marimo that look more decent. For example, the mascot of Akan Ryokan Association, which is known as Mizumori Amane (水森天音), is clearly more an eye candy. All Amane's photos from https://twitter.com/mizumori_amane/media
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If you wish to explore more about Marimokkori, feel free to visit his blog on ameblo.jp or follow his twitter on twitter.com/marimokkori2005. Mizumori Amane's blog could be found on twitter.com/mizumori_amane.