Toyohashi City's 120th Anniversary: "We Create, We Build the Future"

Toyohashi City in Aichi Prefecture will celebrate its 120th anniversary on August 1, 2026. Commemorative projects will be carried out from this April until March 31, 2027. In conjunction, posters, large panel stands, and stickers featuring characters from the popular local manga "Damonde Toyohashi ga Suki tte Ittoru jan!", affectionately known as "DamoToyo," have been produced. These will be used to promote the 120th anniversary and enliven the anniversary year.

Toyohashi City was founded on August 1, 1906, as the 62nd city in Japan during the Meiji 39th year. To mark this milestone, the city is expressing respect and gratitude for the achievements of its predecessors and is developing commemorative projects under the theme "We Create, We Build the Future."

Toyohashi City's 120th Anniversary Projects

■ August 1st is the Commemorative Ceremony

A commemorative ceremony will be held on August 1st, the anniversary of the city's establishment.

Individuals and organizations who have contributed to the city's development, the promotion of citizen welfare, education, sports, and culture will be honored.

On the day of the ceremony, lectures will be given by Tae Sano, author of the manga "Damonde Toyohashi ga Suki tte Ittoru jan!", and Takibi Amamori, author of the novel "Make Hiroin ga Oosugiru!", both of whom are from Toyohashi.

■ Anniversary Events Created by University Students

To mark the anniversaries of the three universities located in Toyohashi City and Toyohashi City itself, students will plan and execute events themselves, giving form to "the city's sentiments from a student perspective" and promoting Toyohashi's appeal both inside and outside the city as a city with universities.

Students will be recruited from the three universities to develop plans, and anniversary events are scheduled to be held from autumn onwards.

■ Related Events

Various commemorative events for the 120th anniversary will unfold until the end of March.

The Toyohashi Museum of Natural History will host special exhibitions including "Pokemon Observatory" (September 21 - December 6) and "Gyogyotto Sakana★Star Exhibition" (July 3 - September 6). In autumn, the "Eejanaika Toyohashi Matsuri" (October 31, November 1) will be held, marking its 70th anniversary.

Toyohashi City 120th Anniversary Website
https://www.city.toyohashi.lg.jp/120anniv/

The commemorative projects aim to reflect on Toyohashi City's past, and by creating new encounters and exchanges, they seek to rediscover Toyohashi's charm and provide an opportunity to consider its future.

Production of Posters, Stickers, etc. Utilizing "DamoToyo" Original Illustrations

Poster Design Sticker Design

B2 size posters (500 copies), large panel stands (2 units), and stickers (60mm x 70mm, 5000 copies) have been created using SD (super deformed) illustrations of the five high school student main characters from "DamoToyo" and the 120th-anniversary logo determined by public solicitation. These will be utilized to publicize and energize the 120th anniversary.

■ Posters

Posters will be displayed in public facilities and provided to interested businesses within the city.

Toyohashi City Hall Planning Department, Public Relations and Public Hearing Division (East Building, 6th floor)
1 Imabashicho, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture 440-8501
(Weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM, closed during New Year holidays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)
* Not available for mail correspondence.
* Cannot be displayed in residences (individual or collective housing).

■ Stickers

Stickers will be distributed at event venues. The first distribution, held on April 25 (Saturday) at Toyohashi General Botanical Garden (Nonhoi Park), concluded with great success. The second distribution will take place on May 5 (Tuesday) at the Toyohashi Art Festival 2026 "Daido Gei in Toyohashi." Approximately 1,000 stickers are planned for distribution and will be available while supplies last.

Information on subsequent distributions (third and beyond) will be announced sequentially on the official city SNS and other channels.

We encourage many of you to pick them up and help us celebrate the 120th anniversary!

City Official SNS "[Official] Toyohashi City PR (Eastern Mikawa, Aichi Prefecture)": https://x.com/PR_Toyohashi?s=20

■ Large Panel Stands

One large panel stand is permanently installed on the 1st floor of the Toyohashi City Hall East Building. The other will be exhibited at 120th-anniversary event venues and similar locations.

About the manga "Damonde Toyohashi ga Suki tte Ittoru jan!" ©Sano Tae/Takeshobo

This local manga depicts main characters attending high school in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, as they "learn about and enjoy the charms of Toyohashi and Higashi-Mikawa."

It broadly introduces various attractions and elements of Higashi-Mikawa, centered on Toyohashi, without distinction between public and private sectors.

The city has been engaged in a project to utilize this manga for disseminating city information since fiscal year 2024 (Reiwa 6).

Author: Tae Sano (born in and residing in Toyohashi City)
First chapter published and serialization began in the monthly magazine "Manga Life" on November 19, 2018.
Currently serialized in the monthly magazine "Manga Life Original" since July 26, 2022.
Volumes 1-9 are currently on sale.