Fukuppy ( ja, フクッピー, ) was the short-lived English name of a

mascot A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fi ...

of the Japanese company Fukushima Industries. The mascot has the form of a genderless anthropomorphic egg with red feet, little blue wings, and a happy smiling face. Fukushima Industries (now known as Fukushima Galilei) is based in

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...

, and manufactures industrial cooling systems, particularly for the food industry. It has offices throughout Japan and in many parts of Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. It launched its new mascot in April 2013, to little attention. The name "Fukuppy" was a neologism

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsFukushima may refer to: Japan * Fukushima Prefecture, Japanese prefecture ** Fukushima, Fukushima, capital city of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan ***Fukushima University, national university in Japan *** Fukushima Station (Fukushima) in Fukushima, Fukushim ...

", the surname of the founder of the company, and the English word "happy". According to Fukushima Industries, Fukuppy says, "I fly around on my awesome wings, patrolling supermarket showcases and kitchen refrigerators. I can talk to vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish and can check on their health! I was born in a Fukushima refrigerator! I love eating and I’m full of curiosity. I think of myself as kind, with a strong sense of justice, but my friends say I'm a bit of a klutz. But I’m always working hard to make myself shine! I’m still an egg, so I don’t know which exI am! But I refer to myself as ''boku''." In mid-October 2013, Fukuppy was noticed by English-speakers who spotted the inadvertent similarity to the English word "

fuckup Fucked Up is a Canadian hardcore punk band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 2001. The band consists of Damian Abraham (vocals), Mike Haliechuk (guitar, vocals), Josh Zucker (guitar), Sandy Miranda (bass), and Jonah Falco (drums, vocals). From 2 ...

". Fukuppy rapidly attracted publicity not only in English (including in Japan), but also in

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...

Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...

, Dutch, French, German and Swedish. Some early reports wrongly associated Fukuppy with

Fukushima Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture (; ja, 福島県, Fukushima-ken, ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. Fukushima Prefecture has a population of 1,810,286 () and has a geographic area of . Fukushima Prefecture borders Miya ...

, or with the cleanup efforts after the 2011

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster The was a nuclear accident in 2011 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Ōkuma, Fukushima, Japan. The proximate cause of the disaster was the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which occurred on the afternoon of 11 March 2011 and ...

. Fukushima Industries speedily published an apology and announced that it would be withdrawing the English name of its mascot. Fukuppy has been cited as an example of the risks associated with

wasei-eigo are Japanese-language expressions based on English words, or parts of word combinations, that do not exist in standard English or whose meanings differ from the words from which they were derived. Linguistics classifies them as pseudo-loanwords ...

(和製英語, meaning "Japanese-made English" or "English words coined in Japan"), the Japanese-language expressions based on English words that do not exist in standard English.

Explanatory notes

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite news , url=https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/217766640/japanese-firm-reconsidering-mascot-name-fukuppy-following-online-ridicule , title=Japanese firm reconsidering mascot's name 'Fukuppy' following online ridicule , author=Asian News International , author-link=Asian News International , website=

Big News Network Big News Network is an international news agency founded in 1998. The agency is currently headquartered in Dubai Media City in Dubai, UAE with administrative offices in Sydney. Big News Network operates multiple news portals distinct to the regio ...

, date=16 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://www.businessinsider.com/on-fukushima-and-mascot-fukuppy-2013-10?r=US&IR=T , title=A Japanese Refrigerator Company Can Now Claim The Title For Branding Blunder Of The Year , author=Agence France Presse , author-link=Agence France Presse , website=

Business Insider ''Insider'', previously named ''Business Insider'' (''BI''), is an American financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Insider''s parent company Insider Inc. has been owned by the German publ ...

, date=15 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20131016_00794105 , title= Maak kennis met Fukuppy, het ei met de ongelukkige naam , newspaper=

De Standaard ''De Standaard'' (meaning ''The Standard'' in English) is a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Mediahuis (formerly Corelio and VUM). It was traditionally a Christian-Democratic paper, associated with the Christian-Democratic and F ...

, language=Dutch , date=16 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020; {{cite news , url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/nieuwe-mascotte-verkloot-het-voor-fukushima-industries~b9cc0c80/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F , title=Nieuwe mascotte 'verkloot' het voor Fukushima Industries , newspaper=

De Volkskrant ''de Volkskrant'' (; ''The People's Paper'') is a Dutch daily morning newspaper. Founded in 1919, it has a nationwide circulation of about 250,000. Formerly a leading centre-left Catholic broadsheet, ''de Volkskrant'' today is a medium-sized c ...

, url-access=subscription , language=Dutch , date=17 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020; {{cite news , url=https://www.ad.nl/bizar/fukuppy-niet-de-ideale-naam-voor-mascotte-japans-bedrijf~a93a86a7/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F , title='Fukuppy' niet de ideale naam voor mascotte Japans bedrijf , newspaper=

Algemeen Dagblad The ''Algemeen Dagblad'' () or ''AD'' () (English: "General Daily Paper") is a Dutch daily newspaper based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. History and profile ''Algemeen Dagblad'' was founded in 1946. The paper is published in tabloid format and is ...

, language=Dutch , date=17 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020 {{cite news , url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/opinion/blogs/9311240/Eggsactly-the-right-name , title=Eggsactly the right name , website=

Stuff Stuff, stuffed, and stuffing may refer to: *Physical matter *General, unspecific things, or entities Arts, media, and entertainment Books *''Stuff'' (1997), a novel by Joseph Connolly (author), Joseph Connolly *''Stuff'' (2005), a book by Jere ...

, location=New Zealand , date=22 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020; {{cite news , url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/asia/010416/japan-s-kinki-university-ditches-saucy-name.html , title=Japan's Kinki University ditches saucy name , author=Agence France Presse , author-link=Agence France Presse , newspaper=

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, date=1 April 2016 , access-date=21 November 2020; {{cite magazine , url=https://fleishmanhillard.com/2013/10/true/fukushima-learned-a-lesson-in-fukuppy/ , title=Fukushima's Fukuppy Lesson , website=

FleishmanHillard FleishmanHillard Inc. (formerly, Fleishman–Hillard) is a public relations and marketing agency founded and based in St. Louis, Missouri. It was acquired by Omnicom Group in 1997, becoming part of the Diversified Agency Services (DAS) division. T ...

, issue=12 , date=August 2016 , access-date=20 November 2020; {{cite news , url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/18/hello-work-or-job-centre-language-experts-japan-english , title='Hello work' or job centre? language experts spell trouble for Japan's mangled English , first=Justin , last=McCurry , newspaper=

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

, date=18 November 2020 , access-date=22 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://lepetitjournal.com/tokyo/insolite-fukuppy-une-mascotte-de-firme-japonaise-provoque-la-risee-pour-son-nom-mal-choisi-140817 , title=Fukuppy, une mascotte de firme japonaise provoque la risée pour son nom mal choisi , newspaper= Le Petit Journal , language=French , date=15 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020; {{cite news , url=https://www.lepoint.fr/insolite/fukuppy-une-mascotte-de-firme-japonaise-provoque-la-risee-15-10-2013-1744149_48.php , title=Fukuppy, une mascotte de firme japonaise provoque la risée , newspaper=

Le Point ''Le Point'' () is a French weekly political and news magazine published in Paris. History and profile ''Le Point'' was founded in September 1972 by a group of journalists who had, one year earlier, left the editorial team of '' L'Express'', w ...

, language=French , date=15 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020; {{cite news , url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2013/10/japon-fukuppy-la-mascotte-victime-malheureuse-de-laccident-de-fukushima-345171 , title=Fukuppy, la mascotte victime malheureuse de l'accident de Fukushima , first=Claude , last=Fouquet , newspaper= Les Echos , language=French , date=15 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020 By {{ill, Claude Fouquet, fr. {{cite news , url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/15/fukuppy-fukushima-mascot-japan-fridge-egg-name , title=Meet Fukuppy, the inadvertent Fukushima mascot , first=Justin , last=McCurry , newspaper=

, date=15 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/fukuppy-fukushima-industries-new-mascot-branding-disaster-8881883.html , title=Fukuppy, Fukushima Industries new mascot, is branding disaster , first=Felicity , last=Morse , newspaper=

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

, date=16 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020; {{cite web , url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1331431/fukushima-attempt-rebrand-fukuppy-gets-lost-translation , title=Fukushima attempt at rebrand – Fukuppy – gets lost in translation , first=Julian , last=Ryall , newspaper=

South China Morning Post The ''South China Morning Post'' (''SCMP''), with its Sunday edition, the ''Sunday Morning Post'', is a Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper owned by Alibaba Group. Founded in 1903 by Tse Tsan-tai and Alfred Cunningham, it has remained ...

, date=14 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/15/national/firms-mascots-name-earns-ridicule/ , title=Japanese firm's mascot name earns ridicule , first=Tomoko , last=Otake , newspaper=

The Japan Times ''The Japan Times'' is Japan's largest and oldest English-language daily newspaper. It is published by , a subsidiary of News2u Holdings, Inc.. It is headquartered in the in Kioicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo. History ''The Japan Times'' was launched by ...

, date=16 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://japantoday.com/category/features/fukushima-industries-unveils-new-mascot-with-an-unfortunate-name , title=Fukushima Industries unveils new mascot with an unfortunate name , first=Preston , last=Phro , website=

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, date=15 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020 {{cite web , url=https://www.galilei.co.jp/company/character/ , title=コーポレートキャラクター紹介 orporate Character Introduction, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119144707/https://www.galilei.co.jp/company/character/, archive-date=19 November 2020, website=Fukushima Galilei , language=Japanese , access-date=21 November 2020 {{cite web , url=http://neimik.com/ca/fukuppy-naming-i-malentesos/ , title=Fukuppy: naming i malentesos , website=neimik.com , first=Jose , last=Garcia Soler , language=Catalan , date=26 November 2013 , access-date=19 October 2020 {{cite news , url=https://www.netwerk24.com/huisgenoot/Nuus/dis-nou-n-regte-flater-20170528 , title=Dis nou 'n regte...flater , newspaper={{ill, Netwerk24, af , language=Afrikaans , date=17 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020 {{cite web , url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2013-10-15/shut-fukuppy-fukushima-industries-new-mascot-has-unfortunate-name , title=Shut the Fukuppy: Fukushima Industries' new mascot has an unfortunate name , first=Alexander , last=Besant , publisher=

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, date=15 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://qz.com/135179/fukushima-industries-just-made-a-very-unfortunate-branding-choice/ , title=Fukushima Industries just made a very unfortunate branding choice , first=Gwynn , last=Guilford , website=

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, date=14 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020 {{cite web , url=https://soranews24.com/2013/10/12/fukushima-corportation-unveils-new-mascot-with-an-unfortunate-but-hilarious-name/ , title=Fukushima Corporation unveils new mascot with an unfortunate (but hilarious) name , first=Preston , last=Phro , website=Rocket News , date=12 October 2013 , access-date=21 November 2020 {{cite news , url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/japanskt-foretag-fukuppy , title=Fukushimamaskoten – dagens skämt på nätet , website=

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, language=Swedish , date=16 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020; {{cite news , url=https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2013-10-15/maskoten-fukuppy-ett-misstag , title=Maskoten "Fukuppy" ett misstag , newspaper=

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, language=Swedish , date=15 October 2013 , url-access=registration , access-date=19 November 2020 {{cite web , url=https://www.tabibito.de/japan/blog/2013/10/22/ein-totales-fukuppy/ , title=Ein totales Fukuppy , website=tabibito.de , language=German , date=22 October 2013 , access-date=19 November 2020 {{cite magazine , url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/14/look-its-fukuppy-to-the-rescue/ , title=Look! It's Fukuppy to the Rescue , first=David , last=Stout , authorlink=David Stout , magazine=

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, date=14 October 2013 , access-date=20 November 2020 Cartoon mascots Corporate mascots Japanese mascots Male characters in advertising Mascots introduced in 2013 Fictional characters from Kansai Wasei-eigo