Billiken Hauntings

I’ve spent most of my academic life surrounded by Billikens, at University and high school. It’s easy to consider the fellow a Saint Louis phenomenon, but then he pops up in underground Seattle.

Researching a new digital camera, I was quite surprised to find him (even labeled) the centerpiece of a demonstration picture in Japan. Wikipedia is kind enough to explain: naturally Billiken is enshrined throughout Japan. Of course, the best summary of Billiken’s life is found at a toy museum in Arkansas.

Sometimes the whole planet seems too small.