Designed by artist Naruse Masahiro, "Kyûto-chan" is the symbol of the Article 9 Campaign to Abolish War, which envisions Japan's peace constitution as a model for the world. The icon's name is a pun on "cute" and "kyû", the Japanese word for nine. More than 30,000 participated in pro-Article 9 events in Japan in May.

Photo: Japan Focus

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