Cute animal characters from the Japanese manga “Chiikawa” have recently captivated China, thanks to their “soothing” effect, resulting in exceptional merchandise sales amid a stressful environment for many young people in the country. Chiikawa characters embrace small moments of happiness despite facing everyday challenges, such as living in a modest home or failing to pass an exam. This positive attitude has “struck a chord” with a great number of young Chinese people navigating intense competition, according to local media. People’s Daily, the flagship newspaper of China’s ruling Communist P…