In recent years, the global popularity of Japanese comics, anime and etc. has been on the rise. Not only are there works currently being published in magazines or broadcast on the web or TV, but some of those previously published or broadcast also often gain popularity. The appeal of Japanese comics and anime lies not only in their stories, but also in their character designs, which seem to be a major factor in their popularity, right? Generally preferred or easily familiarized broad “art styles” or “illustration styles” vary depending on national characteristics and cultural backgrounds. People overseas says, those of Japanese comics and anime are still very “Japanese-like”. The technique of symbolizing expressions or deforming some forms is said to be unique. It seems that Japanese people have long been exceptionally skilled at “deforming” when it comes to character design. Well now, do you all know the Japanese term “Yuru chara”? This term refers to the overall group of characters that widely embody the uniquely Japanese culture of “deforming” designs. A neologism coined by Jun Miura, known as a manga artist and essayist, it is now a widely recognized word in general usage. To explain in a bit more detail…”Yuru chara” is an abbreviation for “Yurui mascot character”. “Yurui”is a Japanese adjective, it means very casual, simple, not strict, or relaxed.

※ By the way, the original definition of a “Yuru chara” apparently requires meeting the following three conditions.
① Possessing a strong message overflowing with love for one’s hometown.
② The character’s appearance and demeanor are unstable and unique.
③ Possessing a kind of endearing, “yuru” charm.

Originally, “Yuru chara” referred to mascot characters created for purposes such as promoting regions and their specialty / famous products for regional revitalization, or advertising organizations, products, and activities by companies and groups. Despite being characters created for specific purposes or themes, many of them were characterized by relatively simple designs—some might even say they were rather crude and unsophisticated. Nowadays, that interpretation has broadened considerably, encompassing characters appearing in comics and anime that were deliberately designed to embody that kind of “yuru” charm. However, we would like to note that the “yuru” mascots appearing in comics, anime, and similar media are a separate matter. These mascot characters, known as “yuru-chara”, were created through various means: some were formally designed by professional designers, others were created by regular employees at government offices or similar institutions, and still others were made by ordinary citizens and became established as local mascots after a chance opportunity. Around the early 2000s, a nationwide “yuru chara” boom took hold. Following that boom, a new category of characters emerged that could be called “yuru-chara”. And now, they’re surprisingly abundant… Since “yuru chara” have been created for each region and for each of that region’s specialty products and famous items, the number has become quite large. And for the most popular mascot characters among them, merchandise items are also produced. These items are quite varied and many are quite appealing, so we would definitely recommend them as souvenirs. The naming sense for the character names is kinda quirky and interesting. Checking out the local mascots in the areas you visit will surely add to the fun of your trip.