Melonkuma (The Melon Bear)

Yubari, a small place an hour or so from Sapporo, is famous for melons. Every little place in Japan also has to have a mascot. The mascot for Yubari is Melonkuma (literally "melon bear"). Most mascots in Japan are cute, but Melonkuma is not cute.

There was a life sized Melonkuma at the Sapporo Autumn Fest and people were taking pictures. Lots of small kids started crying when the bear "bit" them.