Yuru-chara: Japan's Kawai Mascots

Article by Kaori

• What is Yuru-chara?
• Yuru-Chara Item Selection
• Yuru-Chara By Prefecture

1. あさっぴー(Asappi): Hokkaido Prefecture
2. おけばんばくん(Okebanba-kun): Hokkaido Prefecture
3. ぐんまちゃん(Gunma-chan): Gunma Prefecture
4. おけわんこ(Okewanko): Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
5. いが☆グリオ(Iga☆Grio): Iga City, Mie Prefecture
6. いせわんこ (Isewanko): Mie Prefecture
7. みっけちゃん (Mikke-chan): Osaka Prefecture
8. ひこにゃん(Hikonyan): Shiga Prefecture
9. おおたににゃんぶ(Otani Nyanbu): Shiga Prefecture
10. まゆまろ(Mayumaro): Kyoto Prefecture
11. せんとくん(Sento-kun): Nara Prefecture
12. かきたん(Kakitan): Wakayama Prefecture
13. しまねっこ(Shimaneko): Shimane Prefecture
14. いまばりバリィさん(Ibari Barry): Ehime Prefecture
15. くまモン(Kumamon): Kumamoto Prefecture
16. なんかんトッパ丸(Nankan Toppamaru): Nankan Town, Kumamoto Prefecture

About the Author

What is Yuru-chara?

Yuru-chara are Japanese mascots that are mostly designed by amateur artists to promote a region, city, event, or organization.
These mascots show love towards their hometown or local region, and their behavior is unique and lovable. They show up at events and organizations to promote their cities or regions. There are even quite a few yuru-chara known globally. We don't know how many yuru-chara there are in Japan, but we guess there could be more than 1,500.
There is even a grand-prix held for yuru-chara annually. People vote to decide on the most popular yuru-chara.

Yuru-Chara By Prefecture

As I said before, many mascots help promote Japan's local beauty. Since we can't name them all here, I would like to introduce you to a few I chose. Maybe you will visit Japan and meet with them at their local events.

あさっぴー(Asappi): Hokkaido Prefecture

Asappi promotes Asahikawa City, Hokkaido. It shows similarities with polar bears and seals. Asappi wears a unique shirt and a belt that represents the natural beauty of Daisetsuzan and Asahibashi, and there are Asahikawa ramen fridges on its arms.

おけばんばくん(Okebanba-kun): Hokkaido Prefecture

Okebanba-kun is the Oketo Town PR Ambassador and lives in Oketo Forest. He loves nature. He is calm and easy-going. He also loves Park Golf and Onsen Yuyu.

ぐんまちゃん(Gunma-chan): Gunma Prefecture

Gunma-chan has two versions and was born for a sports event. He is a cute pony walking on his two legs.
Gunma is known for its onsen(hot springs). You can enjoy water sports in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in winter.

おけわんこ(Okewanko): Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

This yuru-chara is a dog who lives in Okehazama and admires the story of the Battle of Okehazama. He cosplays Nobunaga Oda and Yoshimoto Imagawa, who fought in this battle. He learned local history, visited historic sites, and became a guard dog that can protect Okehazama.
He is also interested in other military commanders and makes cosplay of them, too.

いが☆グリオ(Iga☆Grio): Iga City, Mie Prefecture

Iga☆Grio is the Iga City Tourism Ambassador. He looks like a ninja boy in the third grade of elementary school. He has a plump stomach filled with Iga beef, Iga rice, and Katayaki. His dream is to spread the history and traditional culture of Iga.
Iga City is the hometown of Iga Ninja and Basho Matsuo. You can taste unique dishes such as Iga beef and Iga rice. There are festivals you may check out in the city, like Iga-Ueno NINJA Festa and the Ueno Tenjin Festival.

いせわんこ (Isewanko): Mie Prefecture

Isewanko loves sweets and Its hometown Mie. It was born as the official character of the Mie 27th National Confectionery Exposition. It promotes Mie Prefecture's sweets all over the country.

みっけちゃん (Mikke-chan): Osaka Prefecture

Mikke-chan is a Hirakata City PR Ambassador and a shrine maiden. She helps in the shrine to repay for being picked up at Katano Shrine. This shrine is believed to be built in 787 in Kuzuha, Hirakata City.
She learns classical ballet and wears pointe shoes.
She also volunteers in disaster areas.

ひこにゃん(Hikonyan): Shiga Prefecture

Hikonyan first appeared at the National Treasure Hikone Castle's 400th Anniversary Festival. This character is based on the cat in the legend of Ii Naotaka. A white cat saved the Hikone feudal lord Ii Naotaka from a lightning strike by finding a shelter. The red helmet Hikonyan wears is the symbol of the Ii's corps.

おおたににゃんぶ(Otani Nyanbu): Shiga Prefecture

He is a calm and cool cat who never shows his emotions. He loves Matcha, tea parties, and hot springs.

まゆまろ(Mayumaro): Kyoto Prefecture

Mayumaro is the director of public relations in the Kyoto Prefectural Government. He promotes Kyoto. He is a silkworm cocoon. Mayumaro doesn't have a mouth, so he can't speak.

せんとくん(Sento-kun): Nara Prefecture

Nara city office created Sento-kun to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of Heijō-kyō, the ancient capital of Japan, in 2010. Heijō-kyō was in the location where Nara City is today. Sento-kun resembles a young boy, but he has the antlers of a deer. He is very active, curious, and playful.

かきたん(Kakitan): Wakayama Prefecture

There isn't much to say about this cute character. All I can say is it likes persimmons.

しまねっこ(Shimaneko): Shimane Prefecture

This cat-like character promotes Shimane City. Its hobbies include making soba noodles, and it has the skill of making shimenawa. You can visit Shimane for hot springs and gourmet foods.

いまばりバリィさん(Ibari Barry): Ehime Prefecture

Ibari Barry is the Imabari Regional Tourism Ambassador.
He wears a cotton towel called haramaki. He has a Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge-shaped crown on his head. He has a custom-made ship-shaped wallet. That represents the shipbuilding industry of the area. His hobbies are eating while walking and collecting haramaki.

くまモン(Kumamon): Kumamoto Prefecture

The government of Kumamoto Prefecture created Kumamon in 2010 for tourists after the Kyushu Shinkansen line opened. It earned popularity globally.

なんかんトッパ丸(Nankan Toppamaru): Nankan Town, Kumamoto Prefecture

Toppamaru is a samurai. He gives happiness and courage to people who do their best to overcome difficulties in Nankan Town.
He carries Nankan Somen noodles on his shoulder and hangs a Nankan Age with a kabuki gate. His favorite food is Nankan fried sushi rolls.
This city is known for its famous handmade somen.

About the Author

Yuru-chara Item Selection

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