Internet, meet Kan-chan.
She’s the new adorably joyous mascot of a Japanese pharmaceutical company.
はじめまして！「かんちゃん」です。
— イチジク製薬株式会社 (@ichijikuseiyaku) August 2, 2017
これから、いろいろな場所に行く予定だよ。
みんな よろしくね。 pic.twitter.com/AACOP6H9nC
Who is she? Or, more accurately, what is she? At first, people were hesitant to ask.
I'm afraid to ask what this is supposed to be. https://t.co/JC0T3xERK5
— 立ち合い (@tachiai_blog) August 2, 2017
The answer is pretty clear, TBH. Ichijiku Pharmaceutical Co. specializes in a pretty specific niche of the medical supply industry, so…
it's an enema, you guys. they made an enema mascot https://t.co/TrG3NI2DWk pic.twitter.com/jo1T6p5LOU
— Spoon & Tamago (@Johnny_suputama) August 3, 2017
Even though the company insists Kan-chan is just a cute penguin with a “hair accessory,” anyone who’s ever seen an enema before knows better. Plus, the name Kan-chan definitely comes from the word “kancho,” which is Japanese for enema.
It’s actually pretty cool that there’s a bright smiling face to help sell a product that helps relieve constipation and other digestive issues. The world needed this enema mascot.
you mean enemascot
— Harri Granholm (@hgranholm) August 3, 2017
It’s also not the first time Ichijiku Pharmaceutical has used a cute sea creature to promote their products. They have a whale for their kids’ enema line.
いまめっちゃイチジク浣腸の広告の目の前にいっから、もうなんかそういう妄想しちゃってるわ！！！！ええい！！祭りだ！！！ pic.twitter.com/GHIRFy7Y11
— ちひろ (@mofmofmoca) February 18, 2017
Luckily, Kan-chan is in good company. Japan has plenty of oddball mascots and anthropomorphized snacks/household products/giant animals. Some are more misunderstood than others.
【報告】謎チョウチンアンコウ進化。#提灯鮟鱇対策本部 #提鮟対 #chibalotte pic.twitter.com/6O1tPVpdv3
— パ・リーグ.com / パーソル パ・リーグTV【公式】 (@PacificleagueTV) June 11, 2017
Shoutout to the weird mascots I get to see in Japanese super markets pic.twitter.com/njVZh1PAgC
— Lauren (@renbice) June 14, 2015
Japanese mascots are so weird, but I'm starting to like this one. XDD His name is Kumamon~ pic.twitter.com/8gkfggci1H
— 【カトリーナ】 (@WingsOfBlades) March 31, 2014
Also, this.
おはワン！
— そふとくり犬(いぬ ) / 忠犬うん公 (@un_kou_) May 3, 2017
祝日ワーンワーン！
いつもと違うことをする人はリツイート
いつも通りの日常のひとはいいね
ゴールデンウィーク返上でお仕事する人に恋愛うん2アップあげるワン pic.twitter.com/7vn9kUTDnA
In her introductory tweet, Kan-chan the penguin enema let the world know she’s “going places.” We’re picking up what she’s laying down.
Make way for Ichijiku Pharmaceutical's new enema mascot who has "plans to go many different places." (I can only imagine one.) https://t.co/N4swHpFzTJ
— johnny cassidy (@OldYoungCassidy) August 2, 2017
Safe travels, Kan-chan.
H/T Distractify