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Magical Girl Madoka Mascot Revamped for Train Line
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Nakano Prefecture's Ueda Dentetsu's Bessho line unveiled a new version of its mascot character, named Madoka Hōjō (pictured at right). Madoka is described as a 16-year-old magical girl who commutes to high school using the train line. She is also described as being a descendent of the Hōjō family, who ruled that particular area in Nakano Prefecture during the Kamakura period.
Madoka was drawn by manga artist Koyori Sorahana, who is a resident of the city of Ueda. The mascot character will be used to help raise awareness of the 11.6-kilometer (7.2-mile) railroad line. Madoka will be featured on badges, posters, and other goods, and on the train's timetables. Madoka's costume is pink to represent the cherry blossoms that are the city symbol of Ueda.
Madoka Hōjō was first introduced as a child mascot for the train line in 2005, and this new version represents what she looks like six years later.
The Ueda Cable Vision Corporation (UCV) is currently streaming a video describing the mascot project and showing pictures of Madoka and her younger brother and sister.
Source: Netlab, The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun via Moe Ota-News Sokuhō
