ドラえもん/Doraemon
Counting down to St. Louis Anime Fest (Sep 28), we’ll spotlight one anime or related cultural pick each day—short, friendly intros you can enjoy at a glance.
Day1 is all Japanese know Doraemon! Doraemon is actually Yello robot CAT blue but after a robot mouse ate his ears, he cried for three days and three nights, which faded his yellow paint and turned him blue.
Photo: Littel Day Out
Series Intro: A time-traveling robotic cat Draemon from the 22nd century helps Nobita navigate everyday life with whimsical gadgets; a national icon with multiple long-running TV adaptations. Doraemon (ドラえもん) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio [ja]. First serialized in 1969, the manga's chapters were collected in 45 tankōbon volumes published by Shogakukan from 1974 to 1996. The story revolves around an earless robotic cat named Doraemon, who travels back in time from the 22nd century to assist a boy named Nobita Nobi in his day-to-day life. (Wikipedia) Photo is from Netflix.
どら焼き / Dorayaki Sweet
I made Dorayaki! 
Dorayaki is a Japanese confection made of two castella-like pancakes wrapped around sweet azuki bean paste—famously Doraemon’s favorite treat. (Source: Wikipedia) (Wikipedia)
Doraemon also collaborates with Tokyobanana!
Please check them out at the airport. It is delicious.
Whimsical gadgets
Even this anime started 1969, some inventions already got realized!
Translation Konnyaku
In the Anime: Enables seamless communication with foreigners and even aliens—crucial for cultural exchange episodes if you eat magical Konnyaku potato!
In Reality: AI-powered translators, smartphone apps, and live interpreter services. Almost fully realized.
News-Bird & Text Reader
In the Anime: “News-Bird” predicts fresh information, while the “Text Reader” instantly interprets written words—helpful in studies and adventures.
In Reality: Social media and the internet make information instantly accessible; OCR and translation apps read and interpret text.
DNA Identifier (Anke-ta)
In the Anime: Reveals personal data from hair or nails, often solving mysteries.
In Reality: DNA testing identifies individuals based on genetic sequences.
Cordless Tin Can Phone
In the Anime: Perfect for secret chats with Shizuka and friends.
In Reality: Mobile phones—and especially smartphones—far surpass the original idea, offering instant global communication and internet access.
Gadgets Close to Becoming Reality
Everywhere-TV & Satellite Spy Camera
In the Anime: Broadcasts real-time happenings anywhere—ideal for detective-style adventures.
In Reality: Drones and surveillance cameras provide similar views, though ethical issues remain.
Travel Vision
In the Anime: Projects any location on Earth for sightseeing.
In Reality: Google Maps and Street View recreate the experience with still images, though real-time updates are limited.
Lost-and-Found Spray & Retrieval Machine
In the Anime: Ensures lost belongings magically return.
In Reality: Apple AirTags track items via smartphones, but automatic retrieval is still impossible.
House Robot & Caring Robot
In the Anime: A home that functions like a giant robot, or a robot that comforts when you’re down.
In Reality: Smart IoT devices and AI robots like Pepper or Alexa bring us closer to this vision.
Statue Kit & 3D Projection Machine
In the Anime: Turns photos or sketches into real 3D figures instantly.
In Reality: 3D printers and scanners replicate objects, though more slowly.
✨Looking at it this way, Doraemon’s world doesn’t feel like a mere fantasy—it feels like a vision of the future that modern science is steadily approaching.
Chiren
President, Japanese Institute of St. Louis
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https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000009.000128441.html
https://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/doraemon/tool/ma.html
https://dora-world.com/
https://www.google.com/search?q=wiki+doraemon&oq=wiki+doraemon&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i4i512j0i4i30j0i30l2j0i4i5i10i30j0i4i5i30j69i60.4240j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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