Sanomaru
| Sanomaru さのまる | |
|---|---|
| Location | Japan Sano, Tochigi Pref. |
| Category | Municipal mascot |
| Motif | Dog/Samurai |
| Design | あた。 |
| Year introduced | 2011 |
| Born | February 25, 2011 |
| Gender | Male |
| Official Site | Official website |
Sanomaru (Japanese: さのまる) is the municipal mascot of Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The character, introduced in 2011, was the champion of the 2013 Yuru-chara Grand Prix (ゆるキャラグランプリ [jp])
Overview
To promote the city of Sano, he appears as a samurai wearing Sano's specialty products and lives in Sano's castle town. The hat is made of a Sano ramen bowl, and instead of the traditional pattern, the design features "SANO" spelled in roman characters. His bangs are made of Sano ramen's medium-thick curly noodles, parted down the middle. His sword is Sano City's specialty fried potato.
He has a mischievous and greedy personality and hobbies include enjoying Sano's local cuisine.
History
In 2011 the design and name of Sano City's mascot, an initiative started by the city government, was put to public consultation. In August, the character was unveiled at the Sano Shugo Festival[1]. Sanomaru would rank 20th at the 2011 Yuru-chara Grand Prix, collecting 43,081 votes[2].
Yuru-chara Grand Prix Rankings
| Year | Votes | Rank | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 43,081 | 20 | |
| 2012 | 163,258 | 4 | |
| 2013 | Example | 1 |
Note: Winners no longer compete