Barii-san is the mascot of Imabari city, Ehime prefecture, on the Shikoku island, and was created to be a cute guide of the city. Barii-san is a chicken because the main food specialty of the city is a type of yakitori…

He wears a haramaki abdomen wrap made of cotton towel, which is the main product of the city, Imabari having the largest towel production in Japan, and his diadem is actually an invitation to visit the spectacular Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge. Also, Barii-san holds in his hand a boat-shaped wallet, a hint to the local Imabari Shipbuilding, the largest ship builder in Japan.

Barii-san, Imabari, Ehime

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese traditional architecture, Kanban signboard