The annual “World Character Summit” took place last weekend, in Hanyu City, Saitama. It’s Japan’s biggest gathering of mascots, attracting 360 assorted yuruchara from all over the country. Kumamon was absent this year, as was the newly-crowned Yuruchara Grand Prix champion, Unari-kun, but most of the other well-known characters were there, posing for pictures with fans and performing on stage. It was a nice sunny day and I had a ton of fun. Here are a few of the mascots I encountered:
Tag: Hanyu
Here is a final selection of pictures of obscure mascots from the recent World Character Summit in Hanyu, Saitama.
Muzumuzu-kun
Muzumuzu-kun, king of Imizu City. Bring back monastic rule and put this guy in charge!
Hinojagakun and Sainobuntakun
Sasadangon of Niigata (based on the local treat, sasadango) strikes a sexy pose. Phwoar!
Wataru
The Honshu-Shikoku Bridge mascot is called Wataru. Wataru is a normal Japanese guy’s name, a peculiar choice for a being that looks like a mattress.
Ma-Kun and Ayumin
Sayama city’s cherubic Oripy.
Tomo
Tomo is the mascot for Tomoe Milk in Koga City, Ibaragi. I got a free sample of the milk and it was very yummy.
Happy Hanyu Hanyu
“Happy Hanyu Hanyu” is the mascot of Hanyu General Hospital. Who knows what diabolical genetics experiments are going on there, if Happy is any indication?
Black Bancho
Black Bancho is a super-cool squid from Itoigawa city.
Oke-Chan
Oke-Chan is a safflower in a kimono, and hails from Okegawa city in Saitama.(There is no shortage of mascots in Saitama.)
Mochi Usagi
Niigata’s Mochi Usagi is bunny with a rice cake for a head. Is it bad that I am suddenly hungry?
Skinny
This eerie and enigmatic figure is named Skinny, and that’s about all I know about him. The yuru-chara equivalent of Slenderman.
Papa Tako
Papa Tako, the octopus mascot of Akashi city in Hyogo. He would make a good partner in crime for Black Bancho.
Ninjaemon
Koka City in Shiga is famous for all things ninja. Hence the mascot, Ninjaemon. It’s hard to imagine this character stealthily creeping into your house at midnight, though.