Tokyo animated over first ambassador

Japan has created an unusual government post to promote animation, and named a perfect figure yesterday to the position: Doraemon.

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura appointed the popular cartoon robot cat as "anime ambassador", handing a human-sized Doraemon doll an official certificate at an inauguration ceremony, along with dozens of "dorayaki" red bean pancakes - his favorite dessert - piled on a huge plate.

Komura told the doll, with a voice actress inside, that he hoped he would widely promote Japanese animated cartoons, or "anime".