Launch of 'Wakaoshi' Promotion Project! Redesigning AI-Generated Characters as Official Mascots
Wakayama City has launched the 'Wakaoshi' project, rebranding its AI-generated 'Wakayama Ichiko' characters. Redesigned by professional illustrators, these six characters will serve as official PR ambassadors to boost the city's national recognition through social media and secondary creations.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 19:54
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 13:03 (1h 31m after Collected)
To improve the recognition of Wakayama City, the 'Wakayama Ichiko' series—character advertisements personifying various regions of the city—was created using commercially available generative AI based on city staff's planning and intent in FY2025. These ads were displayed on digital signage at Shin-Osaka Station and attracted significant attention from various quarters.
Following numerous requests for future developments, the city decided to inherit the original intent while making each character's personality shine even more. Therefore, professional illustrators redesigned the characters' full-body images from scratch and set a new story (world-view).
We are pleased to announce the reboot of these characters from 'advertisements' to 'Official PR Characters.' This remains a new initiative to create further value by re-editing AI-generated outputs with human expertise and skills.
Project Name: 'Wakaoshi'
*'Wakaoshi' = A combination of 'Wakayama City' + 'Oshi' (Favorite/Support), a project to promote the charms of Wakayama City.
Story Overview:
To increase city awareness, the City Promotion Division of Wakayama City Hall deployed the 'Wakayama Ichiko' series, a 6-character advertisement personifying different areas. Then, through a mysterious power, city officials and residents unexpectedly transformed into these characters! Carrying promotion items, their unprecedented journey has begun to deliver Wakayama's charm to the future and make it a city loved by many.
Future Developments:
We will share information and create content through PR characters on SNS (X). Simultaneously, the characters will be used in city PR media and events to build familiarity among citizens. Subsequent phases aim to gain fans outside the prefecture through high-quality content and event exhibitions. Furthermore, we will explore secondary use by local businesses and secondary creations by the public, as well as collaborations with educational institutions and related organizations to enhance the characters' value.
Following numerous requests for future developments, the city decided to inherit the original intent while making each character's personality shine even more. Therefore, professional illustrators redesigned the characters' full-body images from scratch and set a new story (world-view).
We are pleased to announce the reboot of these characters from 'advertisements' to 'Official PR Characters.' This remains a new initiative to create further value by re-editing AI-generated outputs with human expertise and skills.
Project Name: 'Wakaoshi'
*'Wakaoshi' = A combination of 'Wakayama City' + 'Oshi' (Favorite/Support), a project to promote the charms of Wakayama City.
Story Overview:
To increase city awareness, the City Promotion Division of Wakayama City Hall deployed the 'Wakayama Ichiko' series, a 6-character advertisement personifying different areas. Then, through a mysterious power, city officials and residents unexpectedly transformed into these characters! Carrying promotion items, their unprecedented journey has begun to deliver Wakayama's charm to the future and make it a city loved by many.
Future Developments:
We will share information and create content through PR characters on SNS (X). Simultaneously, the characters will be used in city PR media and events to build familiarity among citizens. Subsequent phases aim to gain fans outside the prefecture through high-quality content and event exhibitions. Furthermore, we will explore secondary use by local businesses and secondary creations by the public, as well as collaborations with educational institutions and related organizations to enhance the characters' value.