For Week 7 of Friday Favorites, we share with you our favorite Yuru-Kyara (ゆるキャラ) mascots in celebration of Japan’s Local Character Day.
Established in 2014 by the Japan Local Character Association, May 11 marks Local Character Day because 5, 10, and 1, or go, tou, and chi, combine to form the word gotouchi (ご当地; ごとうち), meaning “local governance.”
Cute character mascots in Japan are used to promote a place, region, event, organization or business, and they make good money. Osaka alone has over 40 mascots representing the prefecture!
There is even a Yuru-Kyara Grand Prix held yearly to recognize Japan’s Yuru-Kyara “All Stars.” The public can vote for the character they find the cutest, funniest or even creepiest.
While Kumamoto Prefecture’s beloved Kumamon may be the first Yuru-Kyara that comes to mind, here are others that we love:
Chihana-chan (ちはなちゃん) - Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture
Choruru (ちょるる) - Yamaguchi Prefecture
Greboo (ぐりぶー) - Kagoshima Prefecture
Hikonyan (ひこにゃん) - Hikone Castle, Shiga Prefecture
Konyudo-kun (こにゅどくん) - Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture
Kun-kun (クンくん) - Kanagawa Prefecture
Read staff comments below for our top choices for Japanese mascots.
Enjoy.
IKUYO
Image from greboo.com
Greboo (ぐりぶー)
Greboo is my favorite mascot from Japan. He represents Kagoshima Prefecture.
He was introduced to showcase the beautiful nature in and around Kagoshima as well as the delicious food.
KEIKO
Image from choruru.jp
Choruru (ちょるる)
My favorite mascot is from Yamaguchi Prefecture. His name is Choruru.
Choruru was created for the 66th annual National Sports Festival of Japan and 11th annual National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities which were held in Yamaguchi prefecture in 2011.
LAUREN
Image from Mondo Mascots
Konyudo-kun (こにゅどくん)
My favorite Japanese mascot comes from Yokkaichi City in the Mie Prefecture, which is where I used to teach English. His name is Konyudo-kun.
According to the city’s website, Konyudo-kun was derived from Onyudo, a traditional giant monster puppet that appears in the city’s annual festival. The mascot was created in 1997 to commemorate Yokkaichi’s 100th anniversary.
MEGUMI
Image from city.hikone.lg.jp
Hikonyan (ひこにゃん)
My favorite mascot from Japan is called Hikonyan. Hikonyan is the mascot of Hikone Castle, located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture.
Hikonyan is supposed to be a fantasy cat wearing samurai helmet, and his name is the combination of hiko from Hikone Castle and nyan, which is “meow” in Japanese.
MIDORI
Image from yurugp.jp/
Kun-kun (クンくん)
My favorite mascot from Japan is Kun-kun.
Kun-kun the sniffing detective dog is the mascot Kanagawa Prefecture’s animal quarantine services.
PATSY
Image from city.chiba.jp
Chihana-chan (ちはなちゃん)
While it is difficult to choose only one favorite, recognition is certainly owed to the mascot of Chiba City, Houston’s Sister City in Japan.
Chihana-chan, the Oga Lotus fairy, represents Chiba’s famous flower.
The Oga Lotus was first bred from 2000-year-old seeds discovered by botanist, Dr. Ichiro Oga, at archaeological ruins in Chiba City.
Now, the Oga Lotus blooms in Chiba City Park from June to July.
Houston’s Japanese Garden is also home to a Oga Lotus, gifted by Chiba City to Houston to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Japanese Garden.
A special shout out is owed to another Chiba mascot — Nazo no Sakana (Mysterious Fish) of the Chiba Lotte Marines Nippon Professional Baseball Team!