Some of you may have heard of the popularity in Japan of costumed "mascots", or Yuru-chara. The represent a municipality or corporation, similar (but also different) to sports mascots here in the US and perhaps elsewhere. There are many thousands of Yuru-chara in Japan, see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuru-chara.
Having been made aware of this phenomenon, I figured that somewhere in Japan there is a Yuru-chara based on the native Japanese Erythronium, E. japonicum. And there is! The mascot is Katakuri-chan (katakuri being the Japanese word for Erythronium). Katakuri-chan is, in fact, the mascot of a prison, Asahikawa Prision on the northern island of Hokkaido, and apparently a fairly notorious prison at that:
http://inventorspot.com/articles/japanese_prison_introduces_their_new_cute_cuddly_mascot. Erythronium japonicum grows wild on a mountainside near the prison, so apparently officials figured that the prison would be well represented, and perhaps inmates would be motivated to behave properly, by being reminded of the wildflowers they might be able to see when they are eventually released from confinement.
There are actually two versions, a female Katakuri-chan which is smiling, and a male version dressed in a warden's uniform, with a stern unhappy turn to his mouth. Perhaps it is a good cop/bad cop type of situation.
The only question I have now is where can I get some of the swag? Apparently there are posters, bookmarks, and coasters of Katakuri-chan to be had.
Ed
