The Appeal of Mino City Expanded by Virtual Characters

Gifu Prefecture’s Mino City has announced an official virtual character, “Kaede Mikami“, as part of its new tourism strategy. Scheduled to debut on March 27, 2026, Friday, this character was created from the Mino City Tourism Association. Kaede Mikami is attracting attention as a new effort to convey the region’s history and charm to the younger generation both domestically and internationally.

Broadcasting Mino City’s Charm in the Virtual World

Mino City is a town where the traditional culture of Mino Washi paper, with a history of 1300 years, thrives. It features the clear Nagara River and the Edo period townhouses lining the “Udatsu townscape”, and the annual Mino Washi Akari Art Festival creates a magical atmosphere that captivates many tourists. As an official character, Kaede Mikami will introduce these attractions to a wider audience through a virtual perspective.

Kaede Mikami’s Activities and Mission

Kaede Mikami enjoys making ramen and will introduce Mino City’s daily life from a new perspective. Through X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Instagram, she will regularly share event information, beautiful landscapes, and the town’s history. As Mino City’s character, she will play the role of disseminating the region’s culture to a global audience.

Impressions and Future Prospects

The birth of Mino City’s virtual character, Kaede Mikami, can be greatly anticipated as a new form of conveying regional appeal. Simultaneously, by becoming a familiar presence to younger audiences and tourists, it is expected to increase interest in the region. Using virtual characters for information dissemination will serve as a model case for Mino City’s tourism strategy, which blends tradition and innovation. It is hoped that Kaede Mikami’s activities will become a bridge connecting Mino City with even more people.

Source: PR TIMES