Japan loves its mascots, that's a well-known fact. Especially when those mascots are anime girls like the Onsen Musume Project - a government-endorsed tourism intitiative that personifies famous hot springs as idol waifus. Onsen towns can decide whether or not to promote themselves using the girl inspired by their hot spring and most do to great effect, although the project has been criticized by feminists in the past due to its sometimes lewd portrayal of women and use of loli characters. Recently, one town has stirred up some controversy due to its link to the project.

Yubara,Okayama is one such town famous for its onsen. It's not uncommon to see their cute masot, Yubara Sawa, on signage, merchandise and posters to promote tourism to the local hot spring. 

Unfortunately , Yubara Sawa's official Twitter account posted that stores and individuals around Yubara that participated in the Onsen Musume Project have recently been the subject of prank calls, slander and verbal abuse, and that legal action will be taken if this continues. Otakus and fans of the hot spring waifus felt the need to come to their defense online, beginning a flame war between them and the feminists they blamed for supposedly wanting to censor the collaboration.

Yubara Sawa had to chime in and stress that they don't want fans taking matters into their own hands and that the situation will be dealt with through the proper channels. Family-run onsens around the country have been struggling ever since Covid-19 began and arguing online certainly isn't helping anyone. Yubara Onsen will still be using Yubara Sawa-chan as a mascot for the time being at least.

What do you guys think of this? Are people too overzealous when it comes to arguing about their waifus? Let us know in the comments!