Meet Our Lovely Shimane Mascot!

What is yuru-kyara?

Each Japanese prefecture has mascots called “yuru-kyara (ゆるキャラ).”

Yuru means loose or relaxing and kyara means character.

Basically, yuru-kyara are cute, friendly, and adorable mascots that are created to represent and promote the regional areas of Japan. Since 2010 "The Yuru-kyara Grand Prix" has been held to pick the most popular yuru-kyara of the year. This is the biggest annual mascot competition in Japan. Thousands of Japanese mascots gather from all over the country.

Here, let me introduce Shimane's adorable yuru-kyara: Shimanekko!

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Shimanekko (しまねっこ)

Shimanekko is a compound word of Shimane, the name of Japanese prefecture, and Neko, a cat in Japanese. Therefore, Shimanekko means "the cat from Shimane."

"Izumo Taisha" is a Shinto shrine located in Izumo, which is one of the best sightseeing spots in Japan. As a Shimane's official mascot, Shiamenkko represents Izumo Taisha. Look at its head! It's wearing the roof of Izumo Taisha. Moreover, Shimanekko's necklace is shaped like a shimenawa, a rope hung at the gate of a Japanese Shinto shrine that designates it as a sacred zone.

⬅ The Shimanekko's hat is designed based on the roof of Izumo Taisha. The shimenawa, the rope hung under the roof is used as the motif of its necklace!!

Although I am living in Shimane, I haven't met Shimanekko in person yet 😥

If you meet Shimanekko while traveling in Japan, you are very lucky.

Go and ask to take a picture together. It will be definitely become an unforgettable memory!!