Random: Mascot Character Taiko Battle

Not very often you see people in huge mascot costumes play Taiko, let alone two at the same time! Each city and town in Japan have their own mascot characters showcasing the special characteristics of that area, and many of them regularly have public appearances and show themselves in mascot gatherings all over Japan.

Both the characters here are mascots of Utsunomiya, the capital city of Tochigi prefecture. On the left is the samurai cat Utsuno-mya Kunitsuna, and on the right is a more cute, flowery mascot called Miyari. It's considered a sort of sport to catch regional mascots in action and take pictures with them and stuff!

Personaly, my favorite mascot is Miya-chan, the mascot of Kokonoe town in Oita prefecture, designed by Atsuko Nishida, one of the main artists for Pokemon! I'd like to see her play Taiko some day.