Trial Support Vote Surpasses 1 Million PVs! World Local Character Grand Prix Official Voting Begins July 7 (Tue) at 8:00!

June 15, 2026

World Local Character Grand Prix Executive Committee

We are pleased to announce the launch of the 'World Local Character Grand Prix,' a next-generation evaluation event designed to visualize characters' daily grassroots activities and transform them into driving forces for regional revitalization. The event will run from Tuesday, July 7, 2026, to Sunday, December 13, 2026. The 'Trial Support Vote Event,' launched on June 7 as a pre-event, has already surpassed 1 million page views (PV) within just 9 days. As the official launch approaches, public interest in the event continues to grow rapidly!

Official website here

This Grand Prix is being organized for the first time by an executive committee comprising the General Incorporated Association Japan Local Character Association (Representative Director: Fukashi Arakawa) and Punctual Inc. (Headquarters: Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture; CEO: Ken Moritoki), a company engaged in regional revitalization projects. Moving beyond traditional short-term 'popularity polls,' the event introduces a 'Support Evaluation System' that combines approximately six months of web voting with on-site voting at multiple real-world events to be held in cities such as Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, Chiba City, and Gunma Prefecture. As of June 15, around 220 characters—including local and corporate characters from Japan, as well as international characters from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and other regions—have declared their participation.

Domestic Characters (examples) International Characters (examples)

The web voting system is linked to 'LINE ID' to ensure fairness and prevent fraudulent voting via mass email creation. To help users become familiar with the system, we launched the 'Trial Support Vote' on June 7. On the following day, June 8, traffic far exceeded expectations, causing temporary server overload and making the website temporarily inaccessible—a clear sign of overwhelming public response. As of noon on June 15, the total page views reached 1,002,000, with cumulative votes totaling 61,000.

In the trial support vote, international characters currently dominate the top rankings. Will they maintain this momentum in the official competition, or will Japanese characters make a comeback through the higher-weighted on-site voting?

※ Points from the trial support vote will be reset after the event and will not affect the official competition.

In addition to overall rankings (1st to 3rd place), various awards will be presented, including the 'Top Local Character' (invited to an event in Thailand in 2027), 'Top Corporate Character' (invited to a domestic event in 2027), and 'Top Character by Prefecture' (for eligible prefectures). The more corporate and individual sponsors we receive, the more awards we can add.

Link to rankings here Link to character search here

Three Key Features of the 'World Local Character Grand Prix'

1. Hybrid Voting System That Values Real-World Activities

We visualize not just online popularity, but the actual contribution characters make by interacting with people and energizing communities on the ground. Final rankings are determined by combining year-round 'Web Support Voting' with 'On-Site Support Voting' held at multiple locations across Japan. To emphasize real-world engagement, on-site voting carries a higher point weight.

2. Fair and Convenient Digital Voting Environment to Prevent Fraud

To prevent fraudulent voting through mass email generation, we have introduced a fair web voting system linked to LINE ID. At live event venues, attendees use their smartphones to scan QR codes located at each character's booth to cast votes. By integrating 'location-based (GPS) verification'—allowing voting only within the venue—we have created a voting system that is both convenient and highly secure.

3. Global Expansion as a 'World Championship' That Excites International Characters

In addition to Japan's local and corporate characters contributing to regional development, the event is open to characters from outside Japan, positioning it as a true 'World Championship.' Among the approximately 200 already registered characters, many are from overseas, creating cross-border excitement. By leveraging Japan's mature character culture as a stage, we aim to promote exchanges between international characters and provide a platform for global characters to build their brand in Japan—connecting Japan's regions and the world through smiles.

Event Schedule (Tentative)

Entry Period: Early April – (Applications still being accepted!)

Web Support Voting Period: July 7, 8:00 – December 4, 23:59 (Please note: the start time has changed from the previous release)

On-Site (Live) Support Voting Period: September – December (Held at multiple locations nationwide; voting available from the first day of each event until one hour before the final day)

Planned On-Site Voting Locations: Chiba City, Gunma Prefecture, Hikone City in Shiga Prefecture, Hanyu City in Saitama Prefecture, Izumisano City in Osaka Prefecture

Overall Ranking Calculation Period: July 7 – December 13

Call for Sponsors and Donors

We welcome corporate sponsors and individual supporters who share our vision and wish to help energize regional communities alongside these characters. Companies and individuals interested in sponsorship or support through initiatives such as 'corporate hometown tax' programs are encouraged to contact the secretariat.