Professor Asobin

Professor Asobin, or Asobin Kyouju (アソビン教授) is a smartly dressed anthropomorphic rabbit and an "unofficial" mascot of Sega.

Professor Asobin bares more than a passing resemblance to the "White Rabbit" character in Lewis Carroll's classic children's story "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", with a particular similarity to the popular characterisation depicted in Disney's 1951 animated version of the book "Alice in Wonderland". No information is known as to the origins of Asobin or why, or if, Sega chose to mimic these characteristics.

History

Although he never starred in a game of his own, Asobin gained attention by appearing in nearly every Japanese SG-1000 game manual following the console's retail launch on July 15, 1983. He was replaced briefly by a very similar, but less leporine Dr. Games in 1984, but reappeared for the new range of MyCard software in 1985 and also appeared in a number of early Sega Mark III games as well. Usually printed towards the end of the manual, Asobin offered advice to players that was usually helpful and specifically tailored for each game.

His last appearance giving advice was seen in the manual for Makai Retsuden (aka Kung Fu Kid) released on 17th May 1987, however he continued to appear in manuals on the page describing the correct care and maintenance of cartridges and cards during the rest of the Mark III releases.

Asobin in Segagaga.

With the release of the Sega Mega Drive in late 1988 and Sonic the Hedgehog in June 1991, Professor Asobin was retired by Sega, and has only appeared sporadically since. In 1994 the character appeared in the manual for Phantasy Star Fukkokuban promoting support hotlines. He has cameoed in the likes of Segagaga and Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls, and often appears in Sega-related throwbacks, such digital manuals for Sega Networks games.

Professor Asobin is rarely printed in any non-Japanese manuals or promotional material, though is occasionaly spotted, such as on the box of Sega 3D Classics Collection for the Nintendo 3DS.

Manual appearances

SG-1000 games

• Bank Panic (1985) Page29
• The Black Onyx (1987)
• Bomb Jack (1985)
• The Castle (1986) Page18
• Chack'n Pop (1985)
• Champion Billiards (1986) Page16
• Champion Golf (1983)
• Champion Ice Hockey (1985) Page19
• Champion Kendou (No results?)
• Championship Lode Runner (1985)
• Choplifter (1985) Page16
• C_So! (No results?)
• Doki Doki Penguin Land (1985)
• Dragon Wang (1985) Page17
• Drol (1985) Page23
• Elevator Action (1985)
• Gulkave (1986)
• H.E.R.O. (1985) Page23
• Hang On II (No results?) Page14
• Monaco GP (1983)
• Ninja Princess (1986)
• Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns (1985) Page16
• Rock n' Bolt (1985)
• Soukoban (1985) Page37
• Star Force (1985)
• Super Tank (1986)
• Wonder Boy (1986)
• Zoom 909 (1985) Page17
• Champion Boxing (1984)
• Zippy Race (1984)

Master System games

Card

• Comical Machine Gun Joe (1986)
• F-16 Fighter (1986) Page34
• Ghost House (1986)
• Great Baseball (1987) Page17
• Great Soccer (1985) Page19
• Hang-On (1985) Page13
• My Hero (1986)
• Pit Pot (1985) Page24
• Satellite 7 (1985)
• Spy vs Spy (1986)
• Super Tennis (1985)
• Teddy Boy Blues (1985) Page14
• TransBot (1985)
• Woody Pop (1987)

Cartridge

• Action Fighter (1986)
• Alex Kidd in Miracle World (1986) Page26
• Astro Warrior (1986) Page9
• Black Belt (1986) Page13
• Enduro Racer (No results?)
• Fantasy Zone (1986)
• Great Golf (1987)
• Great Volleyball (1987) Page14
• High School! Kimengumi (1986) Page15
• Kung Fu Kid (1987) Page11
• The Ninja (No results?)
• Pro Wrestling (1986)
• Quartet (1987)
• Rocky (1987) Page14
• Secret Command (1986)
• Space Harrier (1986)
• Sukeban Deka II: Shoujo Tekkamen Densetsu (1987) Page11
• Wonder Boy (1987) Page14
• World Grand Prix (1986)

Other games

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  Phantasy Star Fukkokuban