Highlights
- Chiitan is Japan’s crazy mascot gaining popularity through funny ads and engaging with fans on Twitter.
- Chiitan supports BLM and LGBT community, sparking controversy but also creative memes and fan art.
- With a goal to reach 10 million followers, Chiitan aims to “take over” internet advertising in a positive way.
Recently, there’s been a decline in spambots and adult-rated ads, specifically on Twitter. While most didn’t immediately recognize the change, a steady presence is making its way in as an alternative. Enter, Chiitan (ちぃたん☆): Japan’s Crazy Mascot! Being designed in 2017, the “baby otter with a turtle on its head” was demonstrated as a fun mascot that frequently appeared in TV programs beside Shinjo-kun, the official mascot for Susaki in Koichi, who’s also an otter. In 2016, the city of Susaki named a real otter, “Chiitan”, which is where the name came from. As of 2024, Chiitan has 1.9 million followers on Twitter.
Related
Animate Cafe’s NieR Automata Ver1.1a Collab: How Was It?
Running from early March to early April, Animate Cafe collaborated with DECOTTO to bring us chocolatey character-themed donuts. Here’s how it went.
God of Advertising
Though Chiitan has been around for quite some time, it wasn’t until the end of 2023 did they start gaining more publicity through ads. Each ad has a short video of Chiitan doing a funny stunt with a caption.
“I’m Chiitan, Japan’s crazy mascot. I’m the god of advertising who was born to drive out advertising in the world. I don’t have any products or information to recommend, so please watch the video and laugh. I hope you have a good day today.”
Chiitan’s posts usually consist of a clip of the mascot doing specific things, such as crossing rivers, reenacting moments from TV shows, holding a cat, working out at the gym, and more.
What’s more, Chiitan’s account also responds to tweets made by fans, whether it’s a simple retweet, like, or even an occasional comment. Because of Chiitan’s versatile nature, users have opted to make tweets asking about specific topics. Within minutes, a response from Chiitan along with a corresponding short shows up. This has led fans to joke that Chiitan is a time traveler and has prepared a video clip for every tweet that comes its way in advance.
Related
Animate Cafe’s NieR Automata Ver1.1a Collab: How Was It?
Running from early March to early April, Animate Cafe collaborated with DECOTTO to bring us chocolatey character-themed donuts. Here’s how it went.
A Positive Role Model
In 2020, Chiitan posted a tweet supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and has repeatedly backed the LGBT community, even including a trans flag on their Twitter handle. This has led to a favorable response from most, but has gained controversy from others, arguing that political stances do not have a place in entertainment.
Recently, Twitter users have begun taking their own creative liberties and creating memes based off Chiitan itself. A piece by Artsu_kai depicts Chiitan as a muscular man, inspired by the popular “Chad” aesthetic.
Meet Chiitan Japan’s crazy SHREDDED mascot!
Another user, texcritter, recreated a visual from a dream they had, where someone insulted Chiitan, and they replied with an image of them holding a metal bat and outside the former’s house.
had a dream last night that someone posted “f*** chiitan i hate chiitan” & chiitan replied with a photo of it outside their house with a metal bat. artist’s rendition:
In June, sillypupjiggy created and posted an edited image of “The Rumbling” from Attack on Titan, and drew Chiitan over Eren. Which earned a response from Chiitan.
It’s chiitan! Japan’s Crazy Titanic!
Chiitan’s goal is to reach 10 million followers and “take over” the internet as the primary advertisement. With all the adult-oriented ads and false advertisements for products, this is a welcome change!
Follow Chiitan’s official website here.
MORE
Taking A Deep Dive Into Japan’s Cosplay Scene
Cosplayers worldwide dream of cosplaying in Tokyo. But there are a lot more rules to this hobby in Japan than one might anticipate.
