Japan's Soft Power Leader in China is a Fat Blue Cartoon Cat

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On July 28, costumed in vibrant colors, throngs of fans flocked toward the early morning light of Victoria Harbor, queueing outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center for the last day of the 17th Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong. The five-day festival of animation and games attracted over 700,000 visitors, and for many, the main attraction was an exhibit featuring the Japanese manga character Doraemon, whose popularity has exploded since the television series first aired in Hong Kong in 1981 and was released in mainland China ten years later.