Moving a mascot on the shelf…
.
Arisa: Where
did you get this?
 |
| Bary san |
.
Siri: Ehime.
City of Imabari on Shikoku.
.
Arisa: Never
heard of it.
.
Siri: Came from
nowhere really. Five small towns amalgamated in 2010.
.
Arisa: So the
mascot has a history?
.
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.
.
Arisa: Intriguing
design. A chicken with a ship stuck in its belt and crown on its head.
.
Siri: Symbols.
The area is known for shipbuilding and the crown is the shape of the bridge
linking Shikoku with Honshu.
___________
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.
...
