#kikunon

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Is this safe?

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Public voting for the Yuru-Chara Grand Prix 2016 began yesterday (22nd July) - although it would have been easy to miss as it was also the launch day of Pokémon Go in Japan.

The procedure for voting is the same as last year, although it seems you will have to create a new account. You can vote once per day per account, until 24th October.

Pictured: Tochisuke (とち介, Tochigi, Tochigi) is leading after the first day, although Hanipon (はにぽん, Honjō, Saitama) isn’t too far away in second. Unari-kun (うなりくん, Narita, Chiba) is in 8th and Kikunon (きくのん, Kikugawa, Shizuoka) is currently 9th.

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, “菊川市マスコットキャラクターきくのん” on Line

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Kikunon (きくのん) at the 2015 Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR stage (via @azflashjp).

One of his “charm points” is his pants that are a bit too small, revealing some of his intergluteal cleft (to be polite). The attendant swaps out his teacup and pot for a small Mount Fuji and strawberry. Chalaryman also makes an appearance.

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Profile: Kikunon (きくのん)

Mascot character of Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture

Kikunon apparently came from the “land of fairies” to help the citizens of Kikugawa. The city is primarily agricultural, and its produce is well-represented by Kikunon: Fukamushi-cha (深蒸し茶, deep-steamed green tea), cantelope, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries and tomatoes. Kikunon’s main gimmick is interchangeable accessories, the default being a teacup and on its head and a teapot (the type used for fukamushi-cha) in its front pouch thing.

Kikunon was created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Kikugawa city, which was formed in 2005 after the merger of the towns of Kikugawa and Ogasa. Like with Sanomaru, municipal mergers in Japan are a common motive for the creation of gotōchi chara. 

Kikunon was chosen by the Kikugawa public from a selection of four characters (all tea-related) created by city hall staff with local manga artist Yū Koyama. One of the runners up was Chalaryman (茶ラリーマン) - cha (tea) + salaryman - who has become an unofficial mascot of the city, often appearing with Kikunon (pictured above).

Kikunon placed 36th in the 2015 Yuru-chara Grand Prix - up from 75th the previous year.

Gender: Unknown

Birthday: 17th January (same as the anniversary of the formation of Kikugawa city)

Introduced: 2014 (not sure exactly when, but received a special resident card on the 11th April) 

Personality: Easy-going

Costume production: Kigurumi.biz

Official site - Kikunon doesn’t seem to do Twitter or Facebook but does have a Line account (see the QR code and ID on that page) Line stickers

Image sources: 1, 2, 3