Meijiron is Oita Prefecture's yurukyara (prefectural mascot), much as Kumamon is Kumamoto's. Meijiron is based on an actual bird native to Oita Prefecture called the meijiro or Japanese white-eye.
Even though our mascot is mejiron, it is not unusual to see lots of Kumamon in Oita -- Kumamon and his intense stare is immensely popular throughout Japan as well as the world. |