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Yukijirushi, a mainstay in the Japanese dairy industry, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its popular product Yukijirushi Coffee in 2013 and began a project called “Our Yukiko-tan Project” for creating an official brand character.
This project included an illustration contest that began in April 2014 for the character Yukiko-tan, a personified version of Yukijirushi Coffee, to which 6,843 people applied and six top winners were chosen to have their work adorn the Yukijirushi Coffee package. These were released in limited quantities in the summer.
An event using cosplayers and models as the “real Yukiko-tan” called Yukiko-tan Debut Event was then held in July at Shinjuku Station and in August at Comic Market. This broadened the existence and visual image of Yukiko-tan. At the same time, a national vote was held to pick one overall work from the six winners of the previous illustration contest to be made into a figure. The winner was CH3 and his work was made into a figure by popular sculptor Kanshi Toona. The finished product was then unveiled on the birthday of Yukijirushi Coffee: Nov. 11.
On Feb. 17, 2014, the 3D data for this figure was released on a special site. The data can be downloaded for free, so those with a 3D printer will be able to create this cute Yukiko-tan figure themselves.
Now, bringing the project to a close is an event at the Dairy Farm and Milk Museum of History in Sapporo, Hokkaido at which the completed figure, “Real Yukiko-tan” cosplay outfits, and various other goods from the project are on display.
The display is being held for a limited time until January 2015. Please be advised that you must call the day before to make reservations.
The Yukiko-tan Project, however, isn’t over yet. A second part is being planned, so look forward to a follow-up report.
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
