Rilakkuma

I read something today that said Rilakkuma was created to promote a less stressful environment for the Japanese. As his name suggests, a combination of a Japanified version of "relax" and the Japanese word for "bear," it supposedly encourages the workforce in Japan to relax from over working.

I'm not completely sure I buy that as intentional. San-X pretty much is all for profit.

But I do believe that the sheer amount of cute characters here in Japan keeps people happy to a certain extent and thereby makes life more easy-going. Compensating for what is expected of you in school and at work. They make you happy. They really do.

Japanese people work hard, fact.