TOKYO — Japanese trading house Itochu is aiming to build a 40 billion yen ($270 million) market in China and elsewhere based on the Opanchu Usagi character created by a popular social media user in Japan.
Itochu announced on Monday that it has acquired the licensing rights to Opanchu Usagi for Asian markets other than Japan and South Korea. The character, whose name translates to “Panty Rabbit”, was created by an artist working for Kawaisouni. X became a hit in Japan with manga content released on the social media platform.