Source: ireadculture.com
Japan is all about characters, creativity and mascots, and for many of its most famous brands and franchises, the country is home to some of the world’s most recognizable characters and personalities. Asamiko, is Japan’s newest character mascot, and she’s helping bring back hemp farmers!
It all started when the country’s first lady, Akie Abie, brought national attention to Japan’s history in hemp farming. She originally noted late last year that she would consider becoming a hemp farmer herself to help bring back the growing of hemp, along with recognizing Japan’s rich history in cultivating the plant. Japan is well-known for having some of the strictest cannabis laws in the world, so her announcement and positivity toward hemp was a surprise to many.
Asamiko, whose name translates to “hemp shrine maiden,” is being promoted in the Tottori Prefecture, which is located in a coastal region in Japan. Because all famous characters have a good backstory, Asamiko “lives” in Chizu, her birthday is May 2, 2013, and her goal is to 1.) remind everyone that Japan has a lot of history in cultivating hemp and 2.) educate and inform locals about the benefits of the cannabis plant.
The arrival of this new character stems from the work of Hachijuhachiya (which stands for 88th night) which is the owner of the country’s largest hemp cultivation farm. The project that this business has embarked on aims to use Asamiko to spread knowledge about hemp and it’s many uses, which include everything from making hemp-based products to providing the opportunity for more local jobs. The farm currently employees 33 farmers, and produces an estimated 500 kilograms of hemp annually.
Asamiko’s birthday coincides with the same day that her Chizu farm began cultivating hemp, following a 60-year hiatus due to a post-war ruling that banned hemp production in that area. As far as mascots go, using Asmamiko to advocate hemp cultivation is a great to reach out to citizens of all ages. She currently has a Twitter account, which she uses to educate followers about ancient Shinto culture, which is reportedly connected to Japan’s history with hemp in the making of rope, textiles and even kimonos.
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