Article by: Ayesha

The official character of the 2025 Osaka / Kansai Expo has been decided.

The official character of the 2025 Osaka / Kansai Expo has been decided. There are pros and cons to the appearance of supporting the head, which is shaped like a strange logo mark, with the hands that drop from the arms, and it is said to be "star" or "scary".

The design group "mountain mountain" was created by designer and picture book writer Kohei Yamashita (51) = Tokyo =. Behind the production was Mr. Yamashita, who was looking for light in the new coronavirus and had a feeling for Kobe, where he grew up. (Shuhei Omori)

The official character announcement press conference was held in Tokyo on March 22nd. Mr. Yamashita took a flash as a representative of "Mountain Mountain".

The group has continued its activities while changing members according to the request received. The origin of the name is that there was a "mountain" in the surname of the other person who started with two people in 2000.

The production members this time are-.

"My wife and I"

■ Motivation

In November of last year, open recruitment of official characters began. The biggest motivation for applying was "I want to do something bright".

Prolonged corona bruise. The impact was also great for Mr. Yamashita, a freelancer. He drew pictures for the long-term serialization of the Asahi Elementary School Newspaper, "Mr. Fabre's Insect Class," and worked hard to make his own picture books. However, the serialization ended in March 2008, and the picture book making that I was interviewing was delayed as the corona spread, and the number of jobs decreased sharply.

I wanted to use the open call for participants as an opportunity to look forward. I created an image with his wife, a stuffed animal designer and a member of the group. The concept of the character changing its appearance was born by inflating the idea of ​​"the city of water" that her wife came up with.

The logo decided in August 2008 was "strong". There is a cell nucleus like an eye, and it is a character. It continued to transform freely into things like robots, birds, and insects in my head. The last thing I made was the main humanoid. From multiple designs, it became "the one with the most impact and the most drops".

Returned to Kobe after sewing between the corona wreckage. I showed her mother, who enjoys painting as a hobby, a sketch of the design and got her opinion. She also wanted to reassure her that she was working.

Collaborative work while being confined to home and not being able to return home. "I didn't expect to be chosen honestly." However, "I was thrilled with my family." After being selected as the final three candidates from the 1898 entries, her mother began to visit a shrine in her neighborhood.

■ Commitment

I have been painting since I was little.

Mr. Yamashita was born in Kumamoto and moved around the country such as Tokyo and Kagoshima due to his father's work. He moved to Suma Ward, Kobe City in the sixth grade of elementary school. The boy who admired the animation of director Isao Takahata who is particular about the details and was impressed by the animation "Space Runaway Ideon" (1980) directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino and the movie "Dark Crystal" (1982) by the full-length puppet show is Hyogo. I advanced to the art department of Akashi Prefectural High School.

He bought art supplies for his part-time job and exhibited them at the sales event "Comic Book Market" such as his own manga. When he was 19 years old, he applied for a work in the Shojo Manga Magazine "Separate volume Margureite" and won a prize.

After studying oil painting at Osaka University of Arts, he worked at a design office and was involved in the design of signboards and interiors for second-hand clothing stores in Motomachi, Kobe. Meanwhile, on January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred.

He was in San Francisco, USA for work that day, but he returned in a hurry. The city of Kobe witnessed his companion being hurt. He cleans up the debris and goes to the store he has a relationship with. The bath at his parents' house, which was safe, was provided to the victims.

From the spring of 1995, he opened a second-hand clothing store "Phoebe Permanent wave" and grew it into a popular store. However, in his late twenties, he went to Tokyo to compete in design.

For the last 10 years, it has been the picture books that he has focused on. Since he draws insects, he has earned a track record by seriously dealing with paintings and children, such as raising hundreds of Figulus stag beetles himself.

It's been over 20 years since he came to Tokyo. However, I still cherish Kobe and the people who spent the same time in Kobe. He liked the "Tower of the Sun" standing in the Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Osaka, so he applied for many visits to the inside and went all the way. There is also a connection that his uncle was involved in the 1970 Osaka Expo held under that symbol. "I wouldn't have applied for an Expo in another area," he says.

Now that the character I worked on has been selected, I would like to give back to Kansai and Kobe, where I grew up and have many connections.

There are people who want to express their gratitude. He is an adviser to the art club who recommended that a boy who loved painting, who was in the third year of junior high school in Shirakawadai, Kobe, to a high school art department. He looked at the drawings repeatedly, even during non-club activities. "I can't say thank you at that time. I want to say, “I’m still drawing.”

■ Even if you leave your hand

I honestly think that I am very honored to be selected. Even in the days when I couldn't go out as much as I wanted, "I designed it while having fun, and I was able to spend a little bright time with my family."

However, he feels a little confused. "I'm glad that someone who noticed me by showing me a picture in the corner of the classroom saying," It's like this "is saying" Wow ". That's how I relate to the world. This time it happened to be evaluated. Just for a moment. "

I'm not good at appearing in public. Therefore, I was tired more than necessary even at the press release. He is also confused by the fact that his name came out all at once.

On the other hand, his own work "makes use of the logo to change the shape to infinity". As our image changed one after another, I feel the possibility that many people will be involved, saying, "Even if we leave our hands, anyone can do anything." In fact, derivative works have been born on the Internet and continue to change in various ways.

In the joy and confusion, Mr. Yamashita intends not to lose sight of the idea of ​​leaving "what he wants to express, what is close to his feelings".

A few days after the press release. Mr. Yamashita headed for Murotsu Port in Tatsuno City, Hyogo Prefecture with his wife and his mother. A place of memories with his father who died a few years ago. It was a casual time to go home.

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[Yamashita Kohei] Born in Kumamoto Prefecture in 1971. He has been painting since childhood, such as making a manga magazine with his friends. He moved to Matsuo Elementary School in Suma Ward, Kobe in 6 years. He graduated from Osaka University of Arts, Department of Fine Arts, after working at Akashi High School, Hyogo Prefecture. Since 2000, he has been engaged in activities such as character design at "mountain mountain". Under the name of "Yamashita Kohei," he produced many picture books and children's books about living things. He includes "Prince of Manga Stars" (Shogakukan) and "Chibi Kuwa-kun" series (Holp Shuppan). He lives in Tokyo.