Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 PR event 2 (Ropeway street and Dogo Onsen)

[Introduction]

I traveled to Matsuyama, the capital of Ehime Prefecture, for 4 days and 3 nights. The main purpose of this trip was to watch Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 on the last 2 days. My favorite Milan, which is the mascot character of Ehime Prefecture, did not participate in the contest, but entertained other local mascot characters and the audience as a host of the event with Barysan, Imabari city’s mascot character. I also participated in a PR event for the Grand Prix and did some sightseeing. In this article, I will write about Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 PR event (Ropeway street and Dogo Onsen) as part of Day 1.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1 (1) Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR event 1 (Okaido and Gintengai)
* Day 1 (2) Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR event 2 (Ropeway street and Dogo Onsen) [This article]
* Day 1 (3) Dogo Onsen (Light up)
* Day 2 (1) Mican Center at Ehime prefectural government office
* Day 2 (2) Ninomaru Historical Garden and Matsuyama Castle
* Day 2 (3) Matsuyama Castle (Light up)
* Day 3 (1) Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 1st day part 1
* Day 3 (2) Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 1st day part 2
* Day 3 (3) Okaido (Bansuiso Villa and Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum etc.)
* Day 4 (1) Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 2nd day part 1
* Day 4 (2) Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 2nd day part 2
* Day 4 (3) Matsuyama City Station (Tram, Matsuchika Town etc.)

[Travel Date]
2016.11.03-06

[Main Part]

Following the previous post, I will go around the Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR event.

Shiroyama-monzen-matsuri festival

I returned to Okaido from Gintengai and moved to Ropeway street.

Ropeway street is a shopping street between Okaido tram station and a cable car station to Matuyama castle. When I visited Ropeway street, “Shiroyama-monzen-matsuri” festival was held.

To begin with, I found a booth to sell tickets for Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016, so I bought it.

There were lots of outdoor stalls on the street.

A “Jakoten” stall – Jakoten is a popular local food in Ehime.

A variety kind of shows were performed in “Shiroyama-monzen-matsuri” festival.

For exmaple, “Tsugaru Shamisen”.

Street performers.

Handbell.

Brass band.

Hula dance.

Jazz dance.

Costume Play (Cosplay).

Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR event at Ropeway street

The third session of Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR event was held at Ropeway street as part of “Shiroyama-monzen-matsuri” festival.

About 10 minutes ago of the event, local characters started to show up. While Barysan traied to enttertain audience,

Mican took a rest.

Then, Mican started to entertain audience with Barysan.

As the venue was near Matsuyama castle, it’s mascot character “Yoshiaki-kun” also joined the event.

Now the PR event started.

As I mentioned in the previous article, four local characters in Ehime who enrolled in the contest were introduced first.

“Happy Kaba-kun”, the mascot character of fire department of Matsuyama city.

“Chappun-Jiyan”, the mascot character of Saijo city.

“Mican-maru”, the mascot character of Iyo city.

Mican took a rest again at that time.

“Yoshiaki-kun”, the mascot character of Matsuyama castle, though he didn’t enroll in the contest.

“Date Nannyo”, the mascot charcter of Uwajima city.

Mican returned from the rest.

Then, Mican and Barysan were introduced as hosts of Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016.

Finally, all local characters gathered to take photos.

Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR event at Dogo Onsen

The final session of Yuru-chara Grand Prix PR event was held at Dogo Onsen. I just saw local characters stroll around the shopping arcade before the PR event.

Then, they arrived at the event site.

Now the PR event began.

Mican.

Barysan.

All characters gathered.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016 PR event (Ropeway street and Dogo Onsen) as part of Day 1. While Mican and Barysan were already well known nationwide, I was not familiar with other local characters in Ehime. I hope they will also become famous through Yuru-chara Grand Prix 🙂

In the next article, I will write about light up at Dogo Onsen.

[Map]