Name of Tohoku Lake Yamato Shijimi PR Character Announced as 'Tosami'

Tohoku Fisheries Cooperative (headquartered in Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture) is pleased to announce that the name of its newly created PR character—designed to promote the charm of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi to a wider audience—has been decided as 'Tosami'.

The character was first unveiled on Friday, April 10, 2026, and a public naming campaign began on the same day. During the campaign period, a total of 1,996 entries were received from across Japan, including within and outside Aomori Prefecture.

We sincerely thank everyone who participated in the campaign.

PR Character Name Decided as 'Tosami'
Tohoku Fisheries Cooperative has officially named its Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi PR character 'Tosami'.
Tosami is a 'shijimi spirit' living in Tohoku Lake.
Born from the feelings of 'deliciousness' experienced by people who eat shijimi harvested from the lake, this character is gentle, kind, relaxed, and fond of cleanliness.
Created to be a relatable figure for both children and adults, Tosami will convey the natural beauty of Tohoku Lake, the traditions of local fishing, and the deliciousness of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi.
Moving forward, Tosami will promote the appeal of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi through the cooperative’s official social media accounts and various PR initiatives.

Meaning Behind the Name
The name 'Tosami' was created by combining 'Tohoku' (from Tohoku Lake) and 'mi' (from shijimi).
Embedded within its friendly and charming sound is the wish to deliver Tohoku Lake shijimi to more people and bring them joy and vitality.
During the selection process, emphasis was placed on the name’s sound, ease of memorability, affinity with Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi, broad appeal across age groups, and potential to become a long-loved name.
After thorough deliberation by the selection committee, 'Tosami' was chosen as the official name for the new PR character.

Grand Prize Winner
Grand Prize Winner: Pseudonym 'Akumi-san'
Selected Name: 'Tosami'
Prize: 10kg of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi
Akumi-san learned about the naming campaign through an online public recruitment site. While viewing the delicious shijimi from Tohoku Lake and the cute character illustration, the name 'Tosami' came to mind.
Although reportedly very surprised upon receiving the winning notification, Akumi-san shared a warm comment: 'I would be delighted if many people come to love and cherish Tosami as a beloved character.'
Regarding the prize of 10kg of Tohoku Lake shijimi, Akumi-san plans to first enjoy it with family and then share it with neighbors who have been kind and supportive, spreading the deliciousness of Tohoku Lake shijimi.

Honorable Mention Winners
In addition to the grand prize-winning name, many other submissions received high praise from the selection committee.
Five particularly memorable entries have been awarded an honorable mention prize of 3kg of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi each.

'Cosami'
Wano Kokoro, Kazuo-san

'Tururu'
Kotaro-kyun-san
Hanamura-san

'Dasher'
SayuPON-san
Fujimon-san

Prize: 3kg of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi
*Winner names are listed as the pseudonyms registered during submission.

Overview of the Naming Campaign
Campaign Content: Name for the Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi PR character
Submission Period: Friday, April 10, 2026 – Sunday, May 31, 2026
Total Entries: 1,996
Selection Method: Comprehensive internal evaluation by Tohoku Fisheries Cooperative based on the proposed names, reasoning, and affinity with the character
Many submissions included heartfelt memories related to Tohoku Lake shijimi, recollections of family enjoying clam soup, gratitude toward local fishermen, and warm feelings toward the region.

Comment from Mr. Takeshi Kajiwara, Chairman of Tohoku Fisheries Cooperative
Regarding the character naming campaign,
We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming number of entries, far exceeding our expectations.
The name 'Tosami' is a perfect fit for the character representing Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi.
The area around Tohoku Lake has long been called 'Tosa.' We understand this originates from the Ainu word 'Tosamu,' meaning a lakeshore or inlet by the water.
We will carefully nurture 'Tosami'—a name that evokes the spirit of Tohoku Lake-grown Yamato shijimi—as our official PR character.
We kindly ask for your continued support and affection for 'Tosami'.

Future Plans
Going forward, Tosami will serve as the official PR character for Tohoku Fisheries Cooperative, primarily active on official social media platforms.
Through content featuring Tohoku Lake’s scenery, fishing activities, fun shijimi facts, and home-friendly recipes, Tosami will share the charm of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi with audiences both within and beyond Aomori Prefecture, including those unfamiliar with it.
We also plan to expand into local events and promotional materials, aiming to increase awareness of Tohoku Lake Yamato shijimi and foster greater interest in the region.

Related Information
Tohoku Fisheries Cooperative Official Website
Instagram
X (formerly Twitter)
Contact
Tohoku Fisheries Cooperative Character PR Coordinator
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