Anthropomorphism

In any Japanese city, you'll see countless signs and posters featuring anthropomorphic characters. This preference seems closely entwined with culture and the national character. This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is anthropomorphism. Our expert guest, Professor Sadashige Aoki of Hosei University, has analyzed the social impact of anthropomorphism and writes on "character culture." In Plus One, do Japanese and foreigners view characters differently?