Cartoon culture captures Chinese imaginations

Middle-class consumers willing to pay more for licensed merchandise

Editor's note: In a world facing increasing challenges on a number of fronts, such as isolationism and protectionism, different nations and cultures now have a stronger need and desire to get to know one another. In this series, China and the World: Learning and Understanding, we look at efforts being made globally to broaden mutual communication and understanding. This is the sixth in the series.

After hearing that a magnitude 7 earthquake had hit the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on April 16, 2016, Tang Qiulin, a college student from Chongqing, immediately logged into her Twitter account and posted this question, "Are you safe, Kumamon?"