|
Japanese can't get enough of Doraemon
Comic strip character a hit at the post office
May 2, 1997
Web posted at: 11:15 p.m. EDT (0315 GMT)TOKYO (CNN) -- The United States may have its postal stamps bearing the likenesses of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, and Britain has its kings and queens, but only Japan has ... Doraemon.
Doraemon, a character from an immensely popular comic book and a TV series of the same name, is the centerpiece of a new series of stamps released Friday in Japan to the kind of clamor usually reserved for pop singers and sumo wrestlers.
Japanese citizens young and old, male and female, stood patiently in lines that would have taxed the patience of a saint waiting to buy the stamps in pastel oranges, greens, roses and blues.
Doraemon looks like an earless blue cat, but is, in fact, a robot from the 22nd century sent to assist a likeable fourth-grade knucklehead named Nobi Nobita.
Doraemon, himself, is something of a bumbler, but has a front pocket from which he manifests all kinds of wondrous gadgets from the future.
Among them are a Wherever Door (which allows Nobita -- his first name -- to walk through it to wherever he wants to go), an air gun (a tube attached to the finger which produces a blast of air that knocks people over) and the Gulliver Tunnel (which allows Nobita to shrink).
Doraemon first appeared around 1970, and it is clear from his reception Friday that the Japanese think he's still worth standing in line for.
Related site:
Note: Page will open in a new browser window
- Doraemon website - Description of show with pictures and links
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Sound off on our message boards
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.