Monju-kun: Children’s Culture as Protest

Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident on March 11, 2011, one citizen realized that mothers and children needed better information than what they were getting from officials. This author created Monju-kun, a character that represented the Monju Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR), a key node of Japan's nuclear cycle, as a helpless and sickly boy. The physical weakness personified by Monju-kun is one component of the cuteness aesthetic that dominates popular culture. Propaganda, public service announcements, and advertisements have often drawn on tropes from children’s culture, which had played a large role in naturalizing nuclear power since the 1960s. Even commercial anime and manga such as Astro Boy and Doraemon contained references to nuclear power, which helped to naturalize it. Through the character of Monju-kun, his creator could explain radiation, the collusion between industry and government, and alternative energy solutions using childlike language and a sense of humor. His storyline and characterization held elements in common with Nobita of Doraemon and Astro Boy, making the Monju-kun character seem familiar. Monju-kun appealed at an affective level to a population long enamored with such characters, enabling his creator to communicate complex, taboo issues. [The published article can be accessed for free here: https://www.luminosoa.org/site/chapters/10.1525/luminos.40.n/ ]