Popular characters old and new included

Anime News Network's merchandise coverage sponsored by Tokyo Otaku Mode

While the mascot character for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics remains a work in progress, the Japanese Olympic Committee and Japanese Paralympic Committee have unveiled the anime characters that will appear on licensed Olympic merchandise as ambassadors of Japanese culture.

From left to right, they are Astro Boy , Sailor Moon , Shin-chan , Luffy ( One Piece ), Naruto , Jibanyan ( Yōkai Watch ), Goku ( Dragon Ball Super ), Cure Miracle and Cure Magical ( Maho Girls Precure! ).

The JOC and JPC's official stores already have several articles of merchandise featuring these characters. Among them are T-shirts of various sizes (prices vary by size)...



Cap (3,780 yen/$33.50)



Keychain (810 yen/$7.18)



Face towel (1,998 yen/$17.70)



Lunch bag (3,780 yen)



Pouch (2,484 yen/$22)



Fans (594 yen/$5.26)



Clay mug (1,782 yen/$15.79)



Water bottle (1,836 yen/$16.26)



Two-level Lunch BOX (2,592 yen/$22.96)



Melamin cup (1,080 yen/$9.60)

If you'd like to buy these and other items, visit the Tokyo 2020 Official Online Shop.

The selection of characters has led to some grumbling among Japanese and Chinese fans, who note the absence of globally popular characters like Pikachu, Doraemon and Mario (especially considering the prominent role the last two played in the 2016 Rio Olympics' closing ceremonies). Some Chinese fans have also questioned Goku's inclusion, since he is based on a Chinese character (Sun Wukong of the 16th-century novel Journey to the West).

Sources: Tokyo 2020 Official Online Shop, Hachima Kikō and Record China: Yamanaka