Mascot Character Festival in Hikone 2009 ゆるキャラまつりin彦根
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The 2nd Yuru-kyara festival was held in Oct. 23-25, 2009. The festival was expanded by a day by including an indoor stage show featuring enka singer Hashi Yukio singing "Yuru-kyara Ondo."On Oct. 23, 2009 (Fri.), the Yuru-kyara Daishugo event was held at the Hikone Bunka Plaza's Grand Hall. ひこね市文化プラザ グランドホール
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Hikone Bunka Plaza's Grand Hall. Still photography was permitted, but no videos and tripods. The event was a stage show of all the mascot characters appearing on stage. They held three shows on this day. ひこね市文化プラザ グランドホ
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I attended the 3 pm show which was the only show when famous singer Hashi Yukio would appear and sing with the mascot characters. Admission was 1,000 yen. ゆるキャラ大集合
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First they introduced Shiga's mascot characters including Hiko-nyan.
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Shiga's mascot characters
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Then they introduced Miura Jun (right), the man who coined the word "yuru-kyara."
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Then the curtain was lifted to show all the mascot characters as the audience began snapping pictures in a frenzy.
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Yuru-kyara mascot characters on stage in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.
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Singer Hashi Yukio then appeared on stage.
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Some talking between Hashi and Miura. (The woman is the MC.)
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Hashi Yukio sings the "Yuru-kyara Ondo" in front of Yuru-Kyara characters in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.
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Hashi Yukio sings the "Yuru-kyara Ondo" in front of Yuru-Kyara characters in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture.
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Hashi Yukio even danced with a few mascot characters.
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Hashi Yukio
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Hashi Yukio sings in front of Yuru-Kyara characters in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. He sang a few numbers.
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And there they are on stage in Hikone. Notably absent was Sento-kun from Nara. (Boy priest with antlers.)
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Hiko-nyan and mouse.
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Tabimaru from Kusatsu, Shiga.
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Hashi Yukio's "Yuru-Kyara Ondo" CD was also on sale in the hall lobby as well as Yuru-kyara books autographed by Miura Jun.
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Meanwhile, outside the Hikone Bunka Plaza Hall were hordes of people crowding around the mascot characters.
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Two catfishes: Magnee (Shiga Lakestars mascot) and Caffy (sports mascot).
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Food mascots
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Pig
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Mori from Moriyama, Shiga
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Ninjaemon ninja mascot from Koka, Shiga
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Mailman
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Mito Komon
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Inflatable mascot
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One of many cats.
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Musubi-maru to promote tourism in Sendai, Miyagi Pref. Rice ball modeled after Lord Date Masamune. むすび丸 (宮城 仙台市）
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Turbo-kun based on pop singer Takanori Nishikawa of T.M. Revolution who hails from Shiga Prefecture. He is an official tourism ambassador for Shiga.
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During the weekend of Oct. 24-25, 2009 on Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road near Hikone Castle, the mascot character festival was held amid product PR booths. ゆるキャラ ふれあい物産展
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Hardly anyone patronized the booths. Everyone was busy chasing after and photographing numerous mascot characters. Over 70,000 people attended the festival during the three days. 夢京橋キャッスルロード
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They had a lot more mascot characters than the previous year.
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Kabuki-like
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I still prefer real, human mascots of the feminine kind...
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Otsu Hikaru-kun from Otsu, Shiga to promote the 1000th anniversary in 2008 of the novel Genji Monogatari written in Ishiyama-dera temple in Otsu. おおつ光ルくん (滋賀 大津市）
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Daughter Sagawa from Moriyama.
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Sagawa family of mascots from Sagawa Art Museum in Moriyama, Shiga.
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Baby godzilla
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Official mascots of Maibara, Shiga Prefecture. A pair of fireflies.
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Mama firefly from Maibara
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A water drop and water faucet pose together.
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Hiko-nyan arrives on a cart pulled by bicycle. He didn't stop and kept going.
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Hiko-nyan is the most popular character, but he was least seen and not available to the public. No one could get close.
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Hatsu Azai
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Inflatable sumo wrestler
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Adjacent to the Castle Road is Yonbancho Square shopping mall which was also crawling with mascot characters. 四番町スクエア
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Takumi Ponzan, a tanuki potter mascot from Shigaraki, Koka, Shiga
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Dotaku-kun from Yasu, Shiga. Modeled after Japan's largest ancient bronze bell discovered in Yasu. ドウタクくん (滋賀 野洲市）
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The Azai sisters. On the left is Chacha-hime, based on the eldest daughter Chacha (later Lady Yodo-dono) of Lord Azai Nagamasa and Oichi (sister of Oda Nobunaga) who lived in Odani Castle in Kohoku-cho. Middle is Hatsu, and Go on the right. 茶々姫
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Mimi-chan from Minami-ku, Sakai, Osaka Pref. A female flower promoting Minami-ku. Notice the bee on her forehead. みみちゃん (大阪 堺市南区)
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Vivace-kun is a beaver promoting Viva City shopping mall in Hikone, Shiga. ビバッチェくん (滋賀 彦根市）
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Ogoton from Ogoto Onsen, Otsu
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Saba-tora Nana-chan is a cat with stripes from mackerel (saba). See the fish in her pouch. Promote Obama in Fukui Pref. さばトラななちゃん (福井 小浜市）
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Tabi-maru. a traveler character from Kusatsu, Shiga. Kusatsu was a crossroads on the old Tokaido and Nakasendo Roads where many travelers lodged. "Tabi" means "travel." たび丸 (滋賀 草津市)
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