The importance of dogs should never be understated. One town in Japan is taking this to heart — its appointed its area’s official mascot as Yukimaru Skywalker, a mechanical drone puppy who flies above the town of Oji.
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
This isn’t new — it was announced back in 2017 as a tourist attraction, but this is (unforgivably) the first time I’ve come across it. My (late) introduction was all thanks to the Twitter account @MondoMascots, which chronicles “the weird and wonderful world of Japanese mascots,” and tweeted about this one in particular today. It’s wonderful, and an account you should definitely follow.
Hantama-kun the half-a-boiled-egg is the mascot of Hunter Mountain Shiobara Ski Resort. pic.twitter.com/vyQw6qd2Bx
— Mondo Mascots (@mondomascots) April 18, 2019
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But, back to this drone dog. According to ZDNet, it was named after an actual historic dog named Yukimaru, the companion of imperial Prince Shotoku, who ruled from 574-622 and created Japan’s first political constitution.
Prince Shotoku’s beloved white dog now has a memorial in Oji, which you can see the doggo drone flying past in the video below.
Yukimaru frequently attends public events in the form of a person in a large, creepy suit…
…but this drone is way better, right? It’s a quadcopter that paddles its little paws while floating through the air. Look at its little PAWS.
Looks like CGI, right? It’s NOT.
More drone dogs, please.
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