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Mascot Extravaganza
Full of vitality and charmingly goofy, we represent our cities. In a modern era of development, cities are focusing not only on establishing their hard power but also on cultivating soft power. As such, many cities have introduced their own mascots, most of which are anthropomorphic characters with captivating appearances and interesting designs and expressions, to attract the attention of the public.
Curator / Linda Ni
Updated at 2024-04-01
Preface
You may know that the mascots of Taoyuan City are A-Tao and Yuan-Go, but do you know the mascots of Taoyuan's allied cities? With their adorable appearances, mascots are powerful ambassadors for city marketing and promotion. Let's get to know them!
Kutan was introduced on the first anniversary of Narita Airport privatization in April 2005. The roll-out included a special public polling event to give the mascot a name. Kutan stood out from over 10,000 submissions. He is a young boy interning at the airport, enthusiastic, hardworking, and always wearing a big smile. Kutan's goal is to make everyone at the airport happy.
A legendary creature was said to once ravaged the city of Brno in the Middle Ages. With the help of a courageous traveler, the monster was ultimately defeated, and Brno's residents hung the body of the creature at the entrance of the city hall to symbolize their triumph. Despite its mysterious past, the creature was later revealed to be a simple crocodile.
Chiba-kun, a highly popular mascot in Japan, is shaped like the map of Chiba Prefecture when viewed from the side. With its vibrant red appearance, Chiba-kun has become a beloved figure promoting tourism in Japan. Chiba-kun even has a dedicated office and Facebook fan page, sharing tourism information about Chiba Prefecture.
Unari-kun represents Narita International Airport and the eel speciality of the region. It is an extremely popular mascot in Japan, previously winning the 2017 Yuru Chara Grand Prix. These achievements are attributed to the efforts of the Department of Election Measures spearheaded by the Mayor of Narita
Kamoyann and Spacrow are two mascots representing Katayamazu Onsen and Yamashiro Onsen in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and promoting the wild ducks and hot springs well-known in the area. The city's Kamoike Pond is the wintering grounds for migrating ducks. Visitors are attracted to the city for onsens and duck-watching alike.
Haengboki (red) and Saeromi (green) are mascots for the 102nd National Sports Festival held in Gumi, North Gyeongsang. Despite a one-year delay due to the pandemic, the event remained teeming with public anticipation. The mascots carried the torch during the opening ceremony, wishing for the success of the event.
<Read More "102th Korean National Sports Festival Plush Mascot">
Each of the mascots in the picture represents a feature of Miyazaki Prefecture. Hi kun wears the Hyuganatsu, a citrus grown in the region, Mu chan wears a palm tree, and Ka kun dresses as a local chicken. Together, they promote both local tourism and cuisine. They gained national and international popularity for winning the Yuru-chara Dancing Championship held in Japan, highlighting the strength and charisma of the mascots.
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