Doraemonarchy?

Japan is indeed a country full of aesthetics,even the word Geisha means artisan. Despite this though, Japanese art and entertainment mostly flashes images of Anime and Manga in my brain. One image that sticks out in particular is a blue robotic cat with no ears. I think that most people reading this post know who I am talking about: Doraemon. If you don't know this character, you will soon be very well acquainted, overqualified, and inundated with Doraemoknowledge. (how many bad puns can one name spawn?) All ridiculousness aside (mine and Doraemon's), this "fugly" blue figure has recently become the official "Anime Ambassador of Japan". How could a cartoon character possible accomplish such a difficult job though? The answer is quite simple actually: Doraemon's face can be found in every single city, prefecture, and town in Japan. Therefore he can be everywhere at once, something a physical representative could never achieve. He doesn't even need to use his "Dokodemo" door ((the "where ever door" (it is shown on the Doraemon homepage)), a tool he uses to bring people and children alike to their most desired places.
As I have learned (twice now) in the Genki II book, chapter 16: "Doraemon is a robot cat from the future. He came to help the weakling Nobita-kun with all the various tools from the future that he keeps in his fourth dimensional pocket. Doraemon is on the kids side, kind, fair, and always willing to help." As I have read on this site, Doraemon can be easily compared to "Mickey Mouse in the U.S. (but a lot less annoying)." Started in 1969 by " Fujiko F. Fujio (the pen name of Hiroshi Fujimoto)," Doraemon is a very nostalgic, positive figure to the current "Adult" (people between the ages of 20 and 40) population of Japan. Ergo, a perfect candidate to elect as the anime equivilent of "Big Brother". Now Doraemon can (legally) watch you while we watch him! Quite a disturbing notion, at least everyone knows that he isn't real (or is he>?).
Recently Japan has been pulling its art and entertainment (primarily: manga and anime) out of the dark and exposing it to the world. It is a true phenomenon, enough to spark such a publicity stunt as appointing a cartoon character some made up government job. That's really all it is (a publicity stunt), and it was done to draw in tourism as well as revive interest in the market of Doraemon paraphernalia. Once something is "official" or "commemorated" by the Government, some people can't help but abuse their wallets in the name of said object. Just like any other greeting card holiday, "it's all about the Sōseki's"(doesn't quite have the ring of Benjamin's, nor equivocate in monetary value). Don't you just feel the need to be waken up by THIS---> Doraemon alarm clock? No?
Actually, one of my first lost and found memories of Japanese culture happens to involve a Doraemon alarm clock. I was maybe eleven, and one of my friend's father bought him a singing, dancing, doll like Doraemon clock. I thought it was very funny, as well as Japan. The udder unavoidability of this cartoon persona is remarkable. Doraemon really was one of my first impressions of Japan, so I guess there is some validity to his appointment of "Ambassador" status. (However weird he may be)
For a while in March, one could see his face plastered on a Bilboard from any Demachiyanagi bound Keihan train. I regrettably have no documentation of said bilboard, but I have had many other encounters with ROBO-cat.
In particularly my favorite encounter was at a Doujinshi festival that I attended on a field trip for professor Hester's Culture and Everyday Life class. As one can see from the image, this manga is not your typical Doraemon story. In fact it has several fan-stories inside, all very comical, all very awesome.
The style that the books cover image is imitating is that of Fist of the North Star, another anime/manga of Japan. The sheer parody of this manga was well alone worth the shiny golden 500 yen coin that I gave to the ecstatic dealer (she was kind enough to give me another book with my purchase too). Sometimes I show it to my Japanese friends and it never fails to get a laugh. It would be like seeing and image of Mickey Mouse drawn in the likeness of RAMBO. Sheer comedic genius. On you tube as well, I have seen some videos that feature this art style. I think it is Quite the Phenomenon. No matter how art styles may change though, Doraemon will always have no ears.