It must be a challenge to move in that costume! Apparently he’s done something heinous because he’s been fingered by the cops.Ĭoroton the spherical pig of Maebashi City, Gunma. “Light”, one of Dainam Group’s gang of “Moories” characters, is a light sprite. Konyudoukun hails from Yokkaichi City, Mie. This year’s “Mascot of the Year” winner, Shinjou-kun, looks grumpy (his noodle-bowl hat and hair had briefly fallen off). The trendy Inarinko, of Toyokawa, Aichi, flirts with a guy while she’s away from her male counterpart, Inarin. A very benign descendant of the murderous kappas of lore. He looked comfortable on his home turf, frolicking in the park. Kappa no Kotarou is the mascot of Sumida-ku, where this event took place. He canoodles with his fans with such frequency it makes me wonder whether the actor inside is very committed to character or just an opportunistic letch! Monkeykuu, a stylish mascot from Hida, Takayama, has an eye for the ladies. The Higashin news mascot takes the stage. Around ninety regional mascots were congregated at the event. Here are some photos I took in May of last year at the annual Gotochi Character Festival, held near Oshiage station, under the shadow of the Sky Tree. He’s called Miike and was designed by a pesky local sixth grader. I don’t hold any hope of Oshirin becoming an official mascot, not least because soon after drawing him, I discovered to my dismay that Ikejiri does have a mascot after all, albeit a very obscure one. That’s right, a bottom in business attire (the clothes representing the many local business offices). Predictably, I come up with this abomination: The second kanji symbol (尻) actually can mean buttocks or rear end. Ikejiri (池尻) means “pond bottom” (but I find “Swamp-Ass” a more fitting translation during the humid summer months). Since none of these things are to be found in Ikejiri Ohashi, I have to rely on the other popular source of inspiration for these characters- puns on the name of the town. Gotouchi-chara are usually based on local wildlife, cuisine, or farm produce. I decide to draw a character each for the Ikejiri and Ohashi districts, and I start doodling some ideas. Since no landmarks, wild animals, or local delicacies of any significance can be found in Ikejiri Ohashi, it would be easy to argue that the place does not even deserve a mascot, but you won’t catch me saying so-I must “convey a strong message of love for one’s hometown or local region.” Colourful signs of the ferocious feline, Sumanyan, can be seen on the local shopping street, but Sumanyan is actually the offical mascot of the Meguro shopping district association. Although Meguro already has a mascot (the adorable Meguron) and so does Setagaya (the black bunny, Gayan), a little research tells me that Ikejiri Ohashi does not. Ikejiri Ohashi station serves the districts of Ikejiri (in Setagaya ward) and Ohashi (in Meguro ward). If I am to follow the first guideline and be loyal to my neighbourhood, I need to design a character for the Ikejiri-Ohashi area in Tokyo, where I currently reside. Now, I’m confident that anything I produce is likely to be awkward and unsophisticated, so rules 2 and 3 should be easy to adhere to.
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