Sento-kun

Sento-kun (せんとくん) is a yuru-chara mascot created by Nara City Office to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijō-kyō, the ancient capital of Japan, in 2010.

The new mascot was chosen by the city office to inherit their mission, and as a "personification of the energy" of the ancient capital dotted with temples, gardens and shrines.

[1] Sento-kun is meant to resemble an amiable young boy who has the antlers of a deer, an animal which has long been regarded as a heavenly protector of the city.

[1] The character was designed by Satoshi Yabuuchi, a sculptor and professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, who was one of twelve guest designers invited by the Association for Commemorative Events of the 1300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijyokyo Capital.

The name Sento-kun was selected out of over 14,000 public applicants by the association of the event on April 15, 2008.