US military bases in Japan tap into country’s mascot culture

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The U.S. military is enlisting some unlikely recruits in Japan: adorable mascots.

From a smiling cartoon cargo plane at Yokota Air Base to a soon-to-be-named tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dog, for U.S. Army Garrison Japan, American installations are increasingly embracing Japan’s beloved yuru-kyara — or “easygoing characters” — tradition to connect with local communities.

Japan is famous for mascots that promote cities, government agencies, companies and public campaigns. Their popularity has made them a fixture of daily life, with some becoming celebrities in their own right.

U.S. Army Garrison Japan recently asked its community members to choose among three mascot candidates: an eagle, a crow and a tanuki.

“The tanuki received the most combined votes among polls we conducted internally and on Facebook,” garrison spokesman Dustin Perry said by email Tuesday.

An image of Herky tops a bouquet of flowers at the Japanese-American Friendship Festival on Yokota Air Base, Japan, on May 16, 2026. (Julian Batista/U.S. Air Force)

The raccoon dog won by a wide margin, receiving 165 votes, he said in a follow-up phone call. The design is still being refined, and the mascot has yet to receive a name or backstory.

“We plan to include those details when we officially announce it,” Perry said.

At Yokota — home of U.S. Forces Japan, 5th Air Force and the 374th Airlift Wing in western Tokyo — the new mascot is Herky, a cheerful cartoon inspired by the base’s C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.

“The concept was naturally inspired by Yokota’s identity as the primary airlift hub in the Western Pacific and our long-standing connection to the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft,” wing spokeswoman 1st Lt. Macaiah Honable said by email Tuesday.

Herky was developed by public affairs airmen and wing leadership and debuted in May at Yokota’s Japanese-American Friendship Festival, where visitors from the base and surrounding communities chose the mascot’s name.

“Herky is depicted as a strong, reliable, and highly adaptable character who is always ready to help others, reflecting the spirit of Yokota,” Honable said. “Herky is incredibly friendly, approachable, and team-oriented.”

Kappy, the 18th Wing’s mascot, performs with members of the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific during America Fest at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, on April 12, 2026. (Jonathan Sifuentes/U.S. Air Force)

For now, Herky exists only as a digital illustration used in graphics, social media and community outreach materials.

Other U.S. military installations have also embraced Japan’s mascot culture.

Yokopon, an anthropomorphic tanuki wearing a sailor suit, has represented Yokosuka Naval Base south of Tokyo since 2020’s Shimoda Black Ship Festival.

Kadena Air Base on Okinawa has Kappy, a rooster that regularly appears at community events, including the Kadena Special Olympics.

“Kappy is one of our best outreach tools,” Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton, a community engagement airman for the 18th Wing, said in an Aug. 5 news release. “Mascots are very popular in Japanese culture; every town and village has one, so having our own is a great way to connect with our Japanese hosts.”