Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

New Year greeting cards for mascot Hikonyan

HIKONE, Japan, Jan. 8 Kyodo - Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, poses for a photo with New Year greeting cards addressed to it at the city hall on Jan. 7, 2026. The western Japan city said Hikonyan received 13,220 cards from across the country and abroad. (Kyodo)

E

New Year greeting cards for mascot Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, poses for a photo with New Year greeting cards and a "hagoita" traditional battledore sent to it at the city hall on Jan. 7, 2026. The western Japan city said Hikonyan received 13,220 cards from across the country and abroad.

E

New Year greeting cards for mascot Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, poses for a photo with New Year greeting cards addressed to it at the city hall on Jan. 7, 2026. The western Japan city said Hikonyan received 13,220 cards from across the country and abroad.

E

Popular mascot Hikonyan

HIKONE, Japan, Jan. 9 Kyodo - Hikonyan, the popular mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, poses with New Year greeting cards addressed to the cat mascot at the city government headquarters on Jan. 9, 2025. (Kyodo)

E

Popular mascot Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, poses with New Year greeting cards addressed to the cat mascot at the city government headquarters on Jan. 9, 2025.

E

Popular mascot Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, poses with New Year greeting cards addressed to the cat mascot at the city government headquarters on Jan. 9, 2025.

E

17th birthday of popular mascot Hikonyan

The 17th birthday of Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the Japanese city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, is celebrated on April 13, 2023.

E

Hikone city mascot Hikonyan turns nine

OTSU, Japan, April 13 Kyodo - Hikonyan (C), a mascot character of the western Japanese city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, receives a birthday cake during a celebration ceremony for its ninth birthday at Hikone Castle on April 13, 2015.

E

Mascot surrounded by chocolate gifts on St. Valentine's Day

OTSU, Japan - Hikonyan, a mascot character created by the municipal government of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, is swarmed with chocolate gifts at the city hall on St. Valentine's Day on Feb. 14, 2014.

E

'Hikonyan' mascot gets 305 Valentine chocolate packs

OTSU, Japan - "Hikonyan," the official mascot of the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, poses with 305 packs of chocolate on Feb. 14, 2014, received as St. Valentine's Day gifts from fans across Japan as well as from Germany.

E

Japan Expo in Paris

PARIS, France - Kumamon (L) and Hikonyan, the official mascots representing Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture and Hikone City, respectively, take part in Japan Expo in Paris on July 4, 2013. The event introducing Japanese pop culture is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

E

Japan Expo in Paris

PARIS, France - Hikonyan (R), the official cat mascot of Japan's Hikone City, shakes hands with a child at Japan Expo in Paris on July 4, 2013. The event introducing Japanese pop culture is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

E

Hikonyan on St. Valentine's Day

OTSU, Japan - Hikonyan, a popular feline mascot of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, poses at the municipal government office on Feb. 14, 2012, among more than 160 chocolate and other gifts sent from around the nation for St. Valentine's Day.

E

Japanese cat character Hikonyan

OTSU, Japan - Hikonyan, a popular feline mascot of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, poses with over 10,000 New Year greeting cards it has received from fans in and outside of Japan on Jan. 6, 2011 at the municipal government office.

E

Hikonyan becomes police chief for a day

OTSU, Japan - Hikonyan (L), a mascot character promoting the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, salutes alongside police officers on Dec. 1, 2010, after being appointed police chief of Hikone police station for the day.

E

16th birthday of popular mascot Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the Japanese city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, receives a bouquet of flowers from Naotake Ii, head of a Hikonyan fan club, on its 16th birthday on April 13, 2022.

E

16th birthday of popular mascot Hikonyan

The 16th birthday of Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the Japanese city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, is celebrated on April 13, 2022.

E

16th birthday of popular mascot Hikonyan

The 16th birthday of Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the Japanese city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, is celebrated on April 13, 2022.

E

16th birthday of popular mascot Hikonyan

The 16th birthday of Hikonyan, the popular cat mascot of the Japanese city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, is celebrated on April 13, 2022.

E

Valentine's Day gifts for Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the mascot for Hikone city in Shiga Prefecture, poses in the western Japan city on Feb. 14, 2022, with chocolate and other Valentine's Day gifts sent from across Japan.

E

Valentine's Day gifts for Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the mascot for Hikone city in Shiga Prefecture, poses in the western Japan city on Feb. 14, 2022, with chocolate and other Valentine's Day gifts sent from across Japan.

E

New Year greeting cards for Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the mascot for the Shiga Prefecture city of Hikone, western Japan, poses in the city on Jan. 6, 2022, with stacks of New Year greeting cards sent from across Japan and abroad.

E

New Year greeting cards for Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the mascot for the Shiga Prefecture city of Hikone, western Japan, poses in the city on Jan. 6, 2022, with stacks of New Year greeting cards sent from across Japan and abroad.

E

Hikone city mascot Hikonyan turns 10

Hikonyan (L), the city mascot of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, receives a present from Sanomaru, the mascot of the northeastern city of Sano in Tochigi Prefecture, during an event to celebrate Hikonyan's 10th birthday at Hikone Castle on April 13, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hikone city mascot Hikonyan turns 10

Hikonyan, the city mascot of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, receives a birthday cake during a ceremony to celebrate its 10th birthday at Hikone Castle on April 13, 2016. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Japanese city's mascot receives over 10,000 New Year cards

"Hikonyan," the official mascot of the city of Hikone in Japan's Shiga Prefecture, is photographed at city hall on Jan. 6, 2016. The city said Hikonyan has received 11,424 New Year greeting cards from not only around the country but also China, France and Taiwan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

West Japan city begins events to mark 200th anniv. of feudal lord's birth

Hikonyan (C), a mascot character of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, takes part in a ceremony in the western Japanese city on July 10, 2015, to kick off events marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ii Naosuke, a feudal lord of Hikone whom locals praise as having played a significant role in opening Japan to international trade and diplomacy toward the end of the Edo shogunate era in the late 19th century. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Valentine's Day gifts for Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of Hikone, Japan, poses with Valentine's Day gifts from fans across the country on Feb. 15, 2021, in the Shiga Prefecture city.

E

Valentine's Day gifts for Hikonyan

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of Hikone, Japan, poses with Valentine's Day gifts from fans across the country on Feb. 15, 2021, in the Shiga Prefecture city.

E

Mascot characters from Japan, abroad gather for festival in Saitama Pref.

Hikonyan (C), a mascot character of the western Japanese city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, is among some 400 "yuru-chara" (loose character) mascots from Japan and abroad gathered in Hanyu, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, for the sixth World Character Summit on Nov. 21, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hikonyan on St. Valentine's Day

OTSU, Japan - Hikonyan, a popular feline mascot of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, poses at the municipal government office on Feb. 14, 2012, among more than 160 chocolate and other gifts sent from around the nation for St. Valentine's Day. (Kyodo)

E

Japanese cat character Hikonyan

OTSU, Japan - Hikonyan, a popular feline mascot of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, poses with over 10,000 New Year greeting cards it has received from fans in and outside of Japan on Jan. 6, 2011 at the municipal government office. (Kyodo)

E

Hikonyan becomes police chief for a day

OTSU, Japan - Hikonyan (L), a mascot character promoting the city of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, salutes alongside police officers on Dec. 1, 2010, after being appointed police chief of Hikone police station for the day. (Kyodo)

E

Japan's new era under Emperor Naruhito

Hikonyan, the mascot for Hikone city in Shiga Prefecture, holds a framed print of the two kanji characters depicting the name of Japan's new era Reiwa, in the western Japan city on May 1, 2019, the first day of the era. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hikonyan mascot in western Japan

Hikonyan, a popular feline mascot of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, poses with a number of Valentine's Day gifts in the western Japan city on Feb. 14, 2020. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hikone city mascot

Hikonyan, the mascot for the city of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, poses with a cake for its 13th birthday in the western Japan city on April 13, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Japanese city mascot's 13th birthday

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, has its 13th birthday in the city on April 13, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Japanese city mascot's 13th birthday

Hikonyan (C), the popular mascot of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, has its 13th birthday in the city on April 13, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Japanese city mascot's 13th birthday

Hikonyan, the popular mascot of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, has its 13th birthday in the city on April 13, 2019. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Japan's new era "Reiwa"

Hikonyan, the mascot for Hikone city in Shiga Prefecture, shows the name of Japan's new era, Reiwa, in the western Japan city on April 1, 2019, following its announcement by the government earlier in the day. The new era will begin May 1 when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the throne, succeeding his father Emperor Akihito. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hikone city mascot Hikonyan

Undated file photo shows Hikonyan, the mascot for Hikone city in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Hikone city mascot on Valentine's Day

Hikonyan, the city mascot of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, poses with hundreds of chocolates it received for Valentine's Day at the city office on Feb. 14, 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo