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McDonald’s Japan has unveiled its newest anime-style mascot, Imadakedabuchitabemi, to promote limited-time menu items. While her bright, nostalgic design has been well-received, her unusually long name has left fans perplexed, leading to mixed reactions across social media.
McDonald’s Japan’s New Anime Mascot, Imadakedabuchitabemi, Has a Name Inspired by Menu Nicknames
McDonald’s Japan has introduced a new anime-style mascot. Her cheerful smile and red-and-gold attire exude youthful energy and fun. However, her name has sparked curiosity and confusion: Imadakedabuchitabemi.
If that seems like a mouthful, you’re not alone in thinking so. Even by Japanese standards, which often have high-syllable names, Imadakedabuchitabemi is quite challenging to pronounce. So, let’s break down the meaning behind it.
In Japan, foreign loanwords are common, and McDonald’s double cheeseburger, for instance, is called "Double Cheeseburger" on the menu. However, due to the nuances of Japanese pronunciation, it is pronounced as “Daburu Chiizubaagaa.” Among fans, this is often shortened to “Dabuchi.”
McDonald’s Japan’s New Mascot Name Combines ‘Dabuchi’ Burger Nickname and a Playful Invitation to Eat
McDonald’s Japan recently launched two limited-time burgers using the “Dabuchi” nickname: the Garlic Onion Dabuchi and the Spicy Dabuchi. Since these are only available for a limited time, or "now only," the Japanese translation would be "ima dake," giving us "Ima dake Dabuchi" as the foundation for the character's name.
Now, for the “tabemi” part: "Tabe" comes from "taberu," which means "to eat," and the “mi” is written with the kanji 美, meaning “beautiful,” a common suffix in Japanese women’s names. Together, "tabemi" also sounds like "tabetemite," meaning “try it” when referring to food, creating an invitation to indulge.
There’s an additional layer of mystery surrounding whether Imadakedabuchitabemi is her complete given name or if it’s split, with “Imadake” possibly being her family name. The complexity of her name has led to much head-scratching online, with comments ranging from:
“That name breaks my brain, but the character design is cute.”
“The naming is beyond lazy.”
“I like how she’s got a late ‘90s/early 2000s anime art vibe going with those oversized accessories.”
“It’s taking all of my mental capacity to try to parse that name.”
“If you think of her last name as ‘Imadakeda’ and her given name as ‘Buchitabemi,’ she sounds really tough.”
While her visual design is praised for its nostalgic anime aesthetic, her name still bewilders many. In her debut tweet, McDonald’s Japan mentioned that Imadakedabuchitabemi would only be around briefly (her badge even reads 今, meaning “now”). Still, the mystery of her name will likely linger long after her departure.
