目次
Japanese Mascots (Yuru-chara)
This article is to introduce Japanese Mascots called “Yuru-chara”. In Japan, over 4000 “Yuru-chara” promote a place or region. They’re usually cute or funny. Some of them are successful like a movie star. Please see below for more information.
Funassyi
Funassyi has the motif of a pear and is an unofficial mascot created by a citizen of Funabashi city in Chiba Prefecture.
![ふなっしー](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CharSpoFna2-236x300.jpg)
Funassyi has a younger brother called “Funagoro”.
![ふなごろー](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/5-300x210.jpg)
The mascot on the right is called “Funyassyi” (Funassyi’s pet cat).
![ふなっしー](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2019Sumida2Funa3-300x189.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![ふなっしー](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2017SumidaFunassy-320x180.jpg)
Kumamon was created by the government of Kumamoto prefecture. He has a motif of a bear, but actually there are no bears in Kumamoto. It’s just a pun. “Kuma” means “bear” in Japanese. He won the Yuru-chara Grand Prix in 2011.
![くまモン](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2018Sumida1Kumamon-204x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![くまモン](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/kumamonEye-320x180.jpg)
Sanomaru was created by the government of Sano city in Tochigi Prefecture. He has a motif of a samurai dog with a ramen hat. He also carries “imofurai” (deep-fried fried potato skewer), a typical dish from Sano city. He won the Yuru-chara Grand Prix in 2013.
![Sanomaru](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2016SumidaSanomaru-205x300.jpg)
See here for details. There are many photos in this article.
![さのまる](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sanomaru-320x180.jpg)
Gunmachan
Gunmachan was created by the government of Gunma Prefecture. He has a motif of a pony. He won the Yuru-chara Grand Prix in 2014.
![ぐんまちゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/yuki-300x248.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![ぐんまちゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/gunFriend-320x180.jpg)
Fukkachan was created by the government of Fukaya city in Saitama prefecture. This mascot has a motif of green leeks. This vegetable from Fukaya is a well-known product in Japan.
![Fukkachan](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2018KanaCharFukka2-285x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![ふっかちゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2018PatioFukka2-scaled-e1716621946828-320x180.jpg)
Nebaarukun
Nebaarukun has the motif of “natto” (Japanese food made from fermented soybeans) and was created by a citizen of Ibaraki Prefecture.
![Nebaaruku](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mito_neba1-236x300.jpg)
He can stretch up like Natto.
![Nebaaruku](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Oideyo_neba-127x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![ねばーる君](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Nebarukun-320x180.jpg)
Takata no Yumechan
Takata no Yumechan was created by the government of Rikuzentakata city in Iwate Prefecture. She was inspired by a pine tree that survived the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
![Takatanoyumechan](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2017NaritaUmechan-201x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![たかたのゆめちゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Yumechan-320x180.jpg)
Shinjokun was created by the government of Susaki city in Kochi Prefecture. He has a motif of a Japanese river otter with a Nabeyaki (hot pot) ramen hat. He won the Yuru-chara Grand Prix in 2016.
![しんじょうくん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2016SumidaShinjo-294x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![よコジロー](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/yokoEyecatch-320x180.jpg)
Hikonyan
Hikonyan was created by the government of Hikone city in Shiga Prefecture. He has a motif of cat and is inspired by a Japanese Samurai called “Ii Naotaka”. He won the Yuru-chara Grand Prix in 2010.
![Hikonyan](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Hikonyan-189x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![ひこにゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/hikoneEyecatch-320x180.jpg)
Japanese Mascots (Yuru-chara) part1
Shimanekko
Shimanekko was created by the government of Shimane Prefecture. This mascot has a motif of a yellow cat. It wears a Taisha-zukuri hat, inspired by the oldest Japanese shrine architecture.
![Shimanekko](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2018Sumida2Shimaneko-162x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![しまねっこ](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Eyechatch-320x180.jpg)
Mikkechan
Mikkechan is a mascot of a shopping street in Hirakata city in Osaka Prefecture. She also has a motif of a cat. She is good at ballet.
![みっけちゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019HanyuMikke-300x298.jpg)
To see more photos of cat characters, please check the article below.
![みっけちゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2019-2-3-320x180.jpg)
Barii-san
Barii-san was created by the government of Imabari city in Ehime prefecture. He has a motif of a chicken. (Imabari is famous for its “Yakitori” (Japanese grilled chicken)). He won the Yuru-chara Grand Prix in 2012.
![いまばりバリィさん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2019Sumida2Bari-300x293.jpg)
To see more photos of Barii-san, please check the article below.
![いまばり バリィさん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/maEyecatch-320x180.jpg)
Mican
Mican was created by the government of Ehime prefecture. He has a motif of “Mikan” (a type of Japanese orange) and a puppy. This fruit from Ehime is famous in Japan.
![Mican](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Mikyan2-200x300.jpg)
To see more photos of Mican, please check the article below.
![みきゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Mikyan3-320x180.jpg)
Jingisukan no Jin-kun
Jingisukan no Jin-kun is a mascot of a workshop called “Artista” in Hokkaido Prefecture. He has a motif of Genghis Khan (Japanese mutton).
To see more photos of Jingisukan no Jin-kun, please check the article below.
![ジンギスカンのジンくん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/eyecatch-320x180.jpg)
Akkuma・Koakkuma
Akkuma (on the right side) is a mascot in Hokkaido prefecture. He has a motif of a bear. He can play guitar with its fluffy fingers. The mascot on the left side is called “Koakkuma”. She is Akkuma’s twin sister.
![アックマ コアックマ](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2019Sumida1AkkumaKoakuma-300x213.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![アックマ](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2019Sumida2AkkumaKoa-320x180.jpg)
Melonkuma
Melonkuma is a mascot of Yubari city, also in Hokkaido Prefecture. He has a motif of a bear and a melon. This mascot is a little bit unusual. It is said that there was a terrible bear in Yubari city, who ate many melons from a farmer’s field and ended up becoming like this.
![Melonkuma](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/meronkuma-238x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![メロン熊](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/melon0-320x180.jpg)
Kaparu is a mascot of Shiki city in Saitama Prefecture. This mascot has a motif of a “kappa”, a fantastic Japanese creature with a turtle shell and a dish filled with water on its head. He won the Yuru-chara Grand Prix in 2018.
![カパル](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2019Sumida2Kapal-218x300.jpg)
Kaparu can also play bass guitar with its fluffy fingers. It’s amazing.
![ふなっしー](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019HanyuCaramel-300x119.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![カパル](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/eyecatch-2-320x180.jpg)
Koronon
Koronon is a Japanese anti-coronavirus mascot and she hands out free masks in Tokyo. She has a motif of a striped cat.
![Koronon](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Koronnon-165x300.jpg)
See below for details. There are many photos in this article.
![コロノン](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Koronon5-320x180.jpg)
For More Information
For more information, please take a look at the following articles. Although they’re written in Japanese, you can view many photos. Please enjoy kawaii mascots’ pictures!
![くろにょん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Kuro1-320x180.jpg)
![](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EyecatchKamu-320x180.jpg)
![みとちゃん](https://yurucaharamascot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Eyecathch-320x180.jpg)
This is my favorite video.That’s so funny!