Sento-kun
Encyclopedia
is a mascot
created by Nara
City Office to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijō-kyō
, the ancient capital of Japan
, in 2010.
The city of Nara has a long tradition of adopting guardian deities such as Nio
(a pair of temple guardians), Asura
, Jūni Shinshō (Twelve Heavenly Generals
) and Shitenno (Four Guardian Kings). 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.
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.
, 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. Ever since the announcement of the official mascot character in February 2008, many media and religious groups have expressed negative opinions about the new mascot.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
created by Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
City Office to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijō-kyō
Heijo-kyo
Heijō-kyō , was the capital city of Japan during most of the Nara period, from 710–40 and again from 745–84. The Palace site is a listed UNESCO World Heritage together with other places in the city of Nara Heijō-kyō (平城京, also Heizei-kyō, sometimes Nara no miyako), was the capital city of Japan...
, the ancient capital of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, in 2010.
The city of Nara has a long tradition of adopting guardian deities such as Nio
Nio
Kongōrikishi or Niō are two wrath-filled and muscular guardians of the Buddha, standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in China, Japan and Korea in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues. They are manifestations of the Bodhisattva ' protector deity and are part of the...
(a pair of temple guardians), Asura
Asura
-In Hinduism:In Hinduism, the Asuras constitute a group of power-seeking deities, sometimes considered sinful and materialistic. The Daityas and Danavas were combinedly known as Asuras. The Asura were opposed to the Devas. Both groups are children of Kasyapa...
, Jūni Shinshō (Twelve Heavenly Generals
Twelve Heavenly Generals
In some Buddhist denominations, the Twelve Heavenly Generals or Twelve Divine Generals are the protective deities, or yaksha, of Bhaisajyaguru, the buddha of healing...
) and Shitenno (Four Guardian Kings). 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.
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.
Character design
The character was designed by Satoshi Yabuuchi, a sculptor and professor at University of TokyoUniversity of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
, 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. Ever since the announcement of the official mascot character in February 2008, many media and religious groups have expressed negative opinions about the new mascot.
Official character profile
- Name: Sento-kun
- Birthday: February 12, 2008
- Personality: Sento-kun is very active, always full of vigor, and good at acquiring wisdom for tomorrow from old knowledge. Also, he is curious about all things and quite playful.
- Special Skills: taking 12 trademark poses
- Favorite Food: foods of Nara
- Favorite Place: any places historical and benevolent in Nara