Mayumaro

Mayumaro (まゆまろ) is a yuru-chara mascot in Japan. He is the public relations officer for Kyoto. His work is to promote Kyoto. His motif is a silkworm cocoon.

Description

Mayumaro is a mascot character of the 26th National Cultural Festival in Kyoto. His work is to encourage everyone to like Kyoto.^[1] Mayumaro lacks a mouth, so he cannot speak.

He has a sister, Mayuko. Her motif is a girl who wants to be ”maiko-san" and loves Kyoto. Unlike her brother, Mayumaro, she has a mouth.^[2]

Mayumaro is associated with a song written by Kumiko Takeshita, a singer and songwriter born in Kyoto. She wrote this song for children.^[3]

History

Mayumaro was created in 2011 for the National Cultural Festival. His motif is a cocoon because silkworm cocoons are used to make silk, which is then used to make cloth, for example tangotime, nishijin ori, or kyouyuu zenn. The design was chosen by the public from over 2,000 candidates from Japan and other countries.^[4]

Activities

On November 1, 2010, Mayumaro entered the year’s kanji ceremony with Tawawachan.^[5]

References

1. Kyoto Prefecture. (n.d.). Kyoto fu kouhoukan Mayumaro. (Kyoto prefecture public relations officer Mayumaro.) July 21, 2014
2. Hajimemashite imouto no mayuko desu, 2014)「J.Hatano. Hajimemashite imouto no mayukodesu (Nice to meet you. I’m Mayumaro’s sister, Mayuko.). gotouchikyara nyusu. July 21, 2014
3. Kyoto Prefecture. (n.d) Mayumaro cheering song.
4. The 26th National Cultural Festival in Kyoto 2011
5. Kotoshi no kanji」boshuseremoni kyoto tawa ni 「Tawawachan」「Mayumaro」mo toujou(Tawawachan and mayumaro entered the this year kanji ceremony November 1, 2010, Karasuma Keizai Newspaper July 22, 2014