At a press conference held on April 14, 2016, voice actress Inori Minase was appointed as a special "cheering supporter" representing the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2016, a large industry trade show staged in Kyoto.
As part of her duties Minase was asked to design a mascot representing the spirit of Kyoto. Although she is a voice actress by trade rather than an illustrator, Minase gave the task her best shot.
Minase created a character named Yatsuhashi Maiko-san, a "laidback character" combining two things that the Kyoto area is known for: apprentice geisha known as "maiko", and yatsuhashi, a local confection made of rice flour, sugar, and cinnamon that is often sold as a souvenir to visiting tourists.
By way of comparison, above is Tomoe-chan, the official mascot character of the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair, designed by Kōsuke Fujishima, the creator of Oh My Goddess!.
The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2016 will be held on September 17 and 18, 2016, at multiple venues in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, including the Miyako Messe convention center, Rohm Theatre Kyoto, the Kyoto International Manga Museum, and others.
The Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair 2016 marks the trade show's 5th year anniversary. In 2015, the Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair attracted some 37,000 visitors, ranging from fans to industry professionals such as editors, publishers, and aspiring artists.
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