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'Schoolgirl' among cute ambassadors
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-13 09:02


Ambassadors of Cute, Shizuka Fujioka (L), Yu Kimura and Misako Aoki (R), attend a news conference at Japan's Foreign Ministry in Tokyo March 12, 2009. [Agencies]
But these ambassadors, whose role will be to speak at cultural events such as a Japan Expo to be held in Paris in July, may have narrower appeal than Hollywood movie stars.

The envoys, chosen for the clothes they choose to wear in their everyday lives, said they believed their styles would last.

"Every female from small girls to grandmothers loves pretty clothes," said nurse and part-time model Misako Aoki, now ambassador for the doll-like "Gothic Lolita" style.

"I think I can continue to dress like this all my life. Age has nothing to do with it."

Actress Shizuka Fujioka, 19, wears a school uniform even though she's graduated because she felt she missed out by going to a school with an ugly uniform.

The appointment of the three envoys comes a year after Doraemon, a rotund blue cartoon cat with no ears, was named a special ambassador.

While serving as foreign minister, manga fan Prime Minister Taro Aso also launched an international prize for the genre.

"Whether this is a strategy on which the world's second largest economy can base its diplomacy, I have yet to be convinced," said Temple University's Deans.

Agencies