More crab "yuru-chara" (continued from February 19). First, five photos at bottom. My personal favorite, by arbitrary taste, is Chokimaru of Maizuru, Kyoto—a character born in 2008 to promote "Maizuru crab," modeled on a crab in a sailor suit befitting a navy town. I like the crisp look!
Next from Kyoto, Koppe-chan, with eyes popping upward—mascot of Kyōtango, famous for taiza crab. A girl wrapped in bright red kimono like Kyōtango chirimen; the name comes from the local name for female snow crab, "koppe-gani."
Others share a similar vibe (naturally, as crabs). Echizen Kani Tarō is Fukui's mascot based on Echizen crab, forming the "Echizen Three Brothers" with Ika-mi-chan (squid) and Ebi-no-suke (shrimp)—not the same as Sakaiminato's Kani Tarō introduced last time. From Kami, Hyōgo, Matsuba-kun & Kasumi-chan charm with hat and ribbon, promoting tourism since old Kasumi Town before the April 1, 2005 merger. Similar are Joe-kun and Saki-chan of Kinosaki, Toyooka, Hyōgo, with the song "Joe and Saki's Kinosaki Love Story" (record jacket viewable on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n32P5JUwrng).
All above are snow-crab mascots; there are more. From bottom-left in the lower photos, Kanimaru-kun of Kani, Aichi, is named for the town. Manbe-kun, official mascot of Oshamambe, Hokkaido, is made of crab hands and scallop ears—delicious Hokkaido ingredients, though the eyes are a bit scary. Ganetta of Tara, Saga, models the local "Takesaki crab" (a swimming crab), born July 2011 with fellow mascot Tsukimin; named because Takesaki crab is called "gazami."
Barry-kun (Imabari, Ehime) won Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2012 last November, but only two crabs among 880 entries—Ganetta ranked 372nd and Chokimaru 514th.
Each prefecture opens antenna shops in the capital; this time the focus is Fukui's "Fukui Minami Aoyama 291" (Minami Aoyama 5-4-41, Minato; http://fukui.291ma.jp/). A find: Sabae City Hotel's "Echizen crab and Echizen Ruby pasta sauce"＝one pack (140 g) 945 yen tax included, top photo. "Echizen Ruby" is Fukui's brand tomato. From Takebashi, Chiyoda, Ginza, and Hanzōmon lines to Omotesandō; five minutes from exit B3.