Tarepanda

Tarepanda (or Tare Panda) is a lazy panda character created and released by San-X around the year 1995. His name also means 'lazy panda' or 'droopy panda'.

More on Tare Panda
In February 1998, San-X launched Tarepanda erasers and letter pads, which proved enormous hits. San-X believed these products were successful because they were released shortly after the Asian financial crisis of autumn 1997, a time when many people in Japan were facing layoffs and, consequently, were sympathetic toward a "worn-out" panda character. By 1999,sales of Tarepanda goods had reached 30 billion yen. Character Databank, a Japanese character popularity monitoring firm, has claimed Tarepanda was a huge hit in Japan.It was rated one of the most popular characters in Japan for being so "Kawaii" or "Cute".

Picture Books
Tarepanda has been the main character in 4 japanese picture books, all made by Hikaru Suemasa.
 * Tarepanda: Kyou mo Yoku Tareteimasu. (June 1999, ISBN 4-09-681211-0)
 * Taregoyomi: Nengara Nenju Tareteimasu. (September 1999, ISBN 4-09-681212-9)
 * Taredzukushi: Tarepanda Fuanbukku (March 2000, ISBN 4-09-681213-7)
 * Tareyukumamani: Kigatsuku to Sobani iru (April 2001, ISBN 4-09-681214-5)

Sticker Books
Videos
 * Tarepanda Shiiru (Hikaru Suemasa, March 2000, ISBN 4-09-734351-3)
 * Tarepanda (Bandai Visual, VHS, 2000/7/25)
 * Tarepanda (Bandai Visual, DVD, 2000/8/25)

Games

 * Tarepanda no Gunpei (Bandai, WonderSwan, December 9, 1999)
 * Taregoro: Tarepanda no Iru Nichijou (Bandai, PlayStation, August 31, 2000)

Computer

 * Tarepanda (Interchannel, 2001/6/29, typing-tutor software)
 * Tare Tsuzuri (Interchannel, 2001/11/22, card-creation software)
 * Tarepanda Toissho (Fortyfive, 1999/4/16, desktop accessories)
 * Tarepanda Toissho 2 (Fortyfive, 1999/8/10, desktop accessories)
 * Tarepanda Toissho 3 (Fortyfive, 2000/4/28, desktop accessories)
 * Tarepanda Toissho Tsume Awa Se (Fortyfive, 2002/2/8, desktop accessories)

Fun Facts

 * Tarepanda is a character that moves by rolling over, with a record speed of 2.75 m/h
 * His favourite food is mochi, especially suama.