By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department Compilation Report
A good city mascot not only enhances a city's visibility but can also leave a better impression through its adorable and eye-catching design. The newly launched mascot of the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau, “Kaohsiung Bear,” takes inspiration from the Formosan black bear and features patterns resembling Hakka floral fabric, making it quite endearing. Many fans have called it cute, but its appearance has also been considered strikingly similar to Japan’s popular mascot, Kumamon, raising suspicions of plagiarism. In response, the Kaohsiung City Government clarified that the selection contest originally focused on the Formosan black bear—the animal that best represents Taiwan—and that similarities during the process of making it cuter could easily lead to such misunderstandings.
Japan’s Kumamon enjoys considerable popularity in both Japan and Taiwan. (Image source / Kumamon 熊本熊 くまモン Taiwan Fan Page)
In fact, in Taiwan, besides Kaohsiung Bear, many official organizations and companies enjoy using the Formosan black bear as inspiration. Below is a list of “bear” mascots in Taiwan other than Kaohsiung Bear—let’s take a look and get to know a few of them.
● Wei Bear
Wei Bear is the brand mascot of Taiwan’s low-cost airline V Air. It is conceptualized around the endemic protected species, the Formosan black bear, and features a “V” on its chest to represent the airline brand, giving it a fresh and lively image.
The adorable Wei Bear brings a fresh and lively image to V Air. (Photo / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Liao Qiyu)
● Taiwan Oh Bear
Taiwan Oh Bear is a tourism ambassador launched by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. Designed based on the Formosan black bear, in addition to the signature white V-neck, it also features a “T” on its chest representing Taiwan, making it very cute.
Oh Bear is the best ambassador for Taiwanese tourism. (Image source / Oh Bear OhBear)
● Kaohsiung Bear
Inspired by the Formosan black bear and incorporating floral fabrics representing Meinong Hakka culture, it has become Kaohsiung’s newest bear ambassador.
The Kaohsiung mascot, Kaohsiung Bear. (Image source / Kaohsiung Bear)
● TRA Bento Travel Bear
The TRA Bento and railway merchandise line features the bear mascots Travel Bear siblings—“Tie Lu,” who wears a TRA hat, and “Hannah-chan,” adorned with tung flowers. Based mainly on the Formosan black bear, their noses are designed to resemble the I-beam shape of railway tracks, and their chests bear the TRA logo.
TRA Bento Travel Bears. (Image source / TRA Travel Bear Naming Campaign)
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