The city of Shima in Mie Prefecture has scrapped its endorsement of a controversial mascot slammed by some locals as overly sexual and demeaning to local ama divers.
The move, announced Thursday, came after the city, slated to host next year's Group of Seven summit, received about 300 signatures from ama divers and other local residents in August calling for the mascot to be withdrawn.
Sporting a tight top, miniskirt and large breasts, her grin arguably coquettish, the teen mascot — dubbed Aoshima Megu — is a fictional 17-year-old schoolgirl who aspires to become a professional ama.
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