This little catchy merchandising stand got all my attention, because I simply grew up with Die Maus - like everybody else in my generation in Germany. Die Maus (the mouse) is great! This children’s TV series character (one of the very very few characters that exist in Germany in the first place) explaines all kind of questions in life, for example how electricity works, why rivers flood whole areas and how the red and blue stripes get in the toothpaste - simply everything.
In the old days, when there was no internet, you could write letters to the Maus (ok, the TV station, but it felt like writing to the Maus) and it would answer. If plenty of people asked about the same matter, the question would even be answered with next television program: somebody of the Maus - team going to a factory to film how something was made, talking to scientists, making little experiments or drawing images in front of the camera to explain what was asked in detail. Now they have it all online of course, questions of the month…. all that.
I actually still like watching it and still learn, even though the new things are slightly different (Here is a little archive where they explain things online, but it is not as cute as the actual TV program. This one is quite nice, where they explain how data is transmitted through the internet).
Now here in Japan, you got the whole kit, of course: Maus stickers, Maus mugs, Maus towels, pens, calendars, Maus character dolls…… almost a bit too much for me to see it all on one spot, but brings back the memories.
Of course, the Maus is the representative character of the German Year in Japan, too. I’m happy they picked this one instead of creating a new one! The Maus in Japan is actually “On Tour” with events and promotion etc. If you want to meet it here, check out the Maus Blog!
P.S. Oh, I forgot to metion, but now you can watch “Die Maus” show in Japan! You can meet Maus every day at National television, NHK. Please check it out!

big Maus poster

nice Japanese shop assistants

Maus postcards, books...

Maus dolls.....

...and of course Maus' friends who also appeared on the show

Japanese all know this character already

Krtek and his friends book

and mainly women falling for the cute stuff again....
7 Comments
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“…And of course Maus’ friends who also appeared on the show” is a real Cheburashka - hero of the Russian cartoon, created by Edward Uspenski, Russian animator late in 70’s.
See Wiki and here. Now some rights owned by Japan company.
Posted by: tobto on December 12th, 2005 at 12:34 am
Greetings from Germany to all Maus-Fans
Posted by: MiNiMaG on December 23rd, 2005 at 6:44 am
IDK
IDK
IDK
IDK
IDK WTH IS THAT???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: HOTTIE__NOTU on May 30th, 2007 at 6:23 am
There are so many more, but we seriously can’t mention them all. However, if you want to find more
Posted by: perdeci on December 25th, 2010 at 7:16 am
maurers
Posted by: maurers on February 21st, 2011 at 8:49 pm
herkes burada sen nerdesın ;9
Posted by: goruntulu sohbet on July 23rd, 2011 at 10:39 pm
This is good Internet marketing and public relations.
Posted by: christian louboutin on November 10th, 2011 at 1:34 pm