The Bary of Imabari

Moving a mascot on the shelf…

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Arisa: Where did you get this?

Bary san

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Siri: Ehime. City of Imabari on Shikoku.

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Arisa: Never heard of it.

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Siri: Came from nowhere really. Five small towns amalgamated in 2010.

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Arisa: So the mascot has a history?

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Siri: Not much to speak of. The new city needed an identity. A designer, Asato Miyata, drew up a mascot design, and it won second place in 2011, behind Kumamoto’s Kumamon. And first place in 2012.

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Arisa: Intriguing design. A chicken with a ship stuck in its belt and crown on its head.

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Siri: Symbols. The area is known for shipbuilding and the crown is the shape of the bridge linking Shikoku with Honshu.

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Voice-over

Another yuru-kyara among the thousands in Japan. This one is famous and drives an industry. Includes toys, food, clothing, accessories. All licensed so profits flow back to the city.

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