Otata-chan

Official image character of the Matsumae Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Otata-chan. In Matsumae Town, women who put seafood and other goods in wooden tubs called gorobitsu, carried them on their heads, and walked around selling them to homes and elsewhere were apparently called otata-san. Although they disappeared with the passage of time, they apparently remain a symbol of the town. Otata-chan was created with these women as her inspiration. She wears traditional Iyo kasuri and appears at various events to promote the attractions of historic Matsumae Town nationwide.