Remember back in the day when Nara’s new mascot was supposed to be the creepy baby deer man (sounds similar to manbearpig, yeah?) shown crossed out above? Well, it seems as though the public outcry was strong enough, and Nara will be getting a much more attractive mascot called “Manto-Kun.” Definitely an improvement, though, you could put poop on a stick and it would still be better.

Apparently there was a contest that decided this (our contest was first, though!), and although the creepy baby mascot will still be the “official” mascot, the one chosen on this site will be used by everyone anyways. Here’s all the ex-potentials. Obviously the one above was the one that was chosen.

#3: Really reminding me of Kirby. You know how he does that pose on Super Smash? Isn’t that the same pose??
#5: Looks like the dog is about to pee on that temple
#6: Everyone loves plaid
#7: Pretty diggin’. Looks kind of like our tofugu, actually.
#10: I didn’t even know there was a Red Robin restaurant in Japan…
#16: What’s up with the green rock?
#17: Creepy backwards head turtle?
#22: Super Mario Deer?
#27: “I’m gonna beat you up, kid”
#20 & 21: Look awfully similar…

So there you have it, number 8, as you know, was chosen as the new “unofficial” Nara 1300th anniversary mascot. I like that one a lot, though I suppose #7 was pretty sweet as well. Really, all of these are a vast improvement over creepy baby dude.

Thanks to the rockin’ folks at Rocking in Hakata for bringing it to my attention. Check it out!