From City Wanderer to Beloved Mascot: Osaka Names Its Famous Stray Deer 'Shikayan'
The stray deer that had been repeatedly sighted in Osaka City, captivating the attention of citizens, has been officially named "Shikayan." At a naming ceremony held on the 3rd at Nose Onsen in Nose-cho, Osaka Prefecture, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Nara Governor Makoto Yamashita attended to celebrate this new beginning. This deer had been frequently spotted in Osaka City, becoming a trending topic on social media each time. After its protection, regarding its nickname, "Shikayan" garnered the most support in a social media poll conducted by Osaka City Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, chosen from several candidates conceived by Governor Yoshimura. During the naming ceremony, Nara Governor Yamashita presented "Shikayan" with deer crackers, and participants offered warm applause. Governor Yoshimura also expressed joy at the decision of a friendly, Osaka-like name, with some even exclaiming, "This is definitely Osaka's new yuru-chara (local mascot)...