A Tottori mascot that was ditched by the city three days after its July debut due to its depressing appearance has made a surprising — if somewhat controversial — comeback.

The city of Tottori unveiled a female character called Katsue-san as a tool to promote itself. The character appeared on the city's official website on July 7 but was canceled by the board of education on July 10 following a public outcry.

However, Katsue-san has been revived in recent issues of "Big Comic," the semimonthly manga magazine published by Shogakukan Inc.