A puppy drone as town's mascot? That's Japan for you
What's the story
We all love dogs; they are cute, adorable, and are the perfect companions. But, the Japanese have a knack for appreciating their love for dogs in their own unique way. Case in point: the town of Oji in Japan's Nara, the place which has an incredibly cute 'puppy drone' as its official mascot. Here's everything about the bot and its value.
Details
Yukimaru Skywalker: The 'flying' puppy
Since 2017, Yukimaru Skywalker, a cute four-legged puppy robot, has been serving as the official mascot of Oji town. It debuted as an attraction for tourists and flew around popular places in town, including the Yamato River, Mount Myolin, Mount Akishi, the Eternal Bell, and the Daruma Temple. The robot puppy employed four rotors to fly and moved its tiny paws while doing so.
Twitter Post
Just look at it
Yukimaru the drone dog flies over Oji town in Nara, Japan, where he’s the mascot. pic.twitter.com/9I9IE5AneG
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) April 19, 2019
History
Yukimaru also ties to Japanese history
In addition to serving as a mascot and flying around, attracting tourists, Yukimaru also acts as a memorial. According to a report from ZDNet, the puppy dog has been given this name in the memory of an actual white dog, one that belonged to imperial Prince Shotoku. Prince Shotoku ruled from 574-622 CE and is known for creating Japan's first Constitution for political affairs.
Rarity
Seeing a puppy drone as mascot is very rare
Yukimaru continues to serve as a mascot and appear in public events of the town, which is extremely rare for any place in the world. Yes, animals - from dolphins to cats - have been chosen as mascots for towns but a drone is unheard of. And, when that drone is shaped like an adorable puppy, there's nothing more you could ask for!