Have you ever heard of "Kappon," the active PR Captain for Jozankei Onsen? If you've visited Jozankei, you might have seen him before. This time, to uncover Kappon's true identity, we arranged to meet him in person!

We were scheduled to meet Kappon on the Tsukimi Bridge. As we approached, we saw a figure with its back to us... "Excuse me, are you Kappon?" I asked hesitantly. He turned around and gave a polite bow. I see he has a plate on his head.

"I'm Kappon-pon!" he cheerfully exclaimed, showing us his name tag. Kappon has been appointed as the PR Captain for Jozankei Onsen since 2012. At the same time, he was also issued a Special Certificate of Residence by the mayor of Sapporo's Minami Ward.

On that special certificate, his name is written as "Jozan Kappa Kokichibe." It turns out that Kappon is just a nickname, and he actually has a very distinguished full name!

Another point of curiosity is the bucket wrapped around his waist. He told us that one day, while playing with a bucket that had drifted down the Toyohira River, it got stuck on his body with a loud "Kappo~n" sound and he couldn't get it off. "It's super convenient for taking baths-pon!" he explained, telling us he now enjoys hot springs every day with his bucket and towel always at the ready.

Official Kappon merchandise is sold at hotel gift shops and souvenir stores, including the Jozankei Bussankan near Tsukimi Bridge. The Jozankei Tourist Association also has a wide array of official goods, with over 40 different items in total!

The most popular official item is the "Gauze Tenugui" (a traditional hand towel) (660 yen including tax), which is praised for its high-quality material and comfortable feel. If you're interested, be sure to check it out!

Kappon loves to relax in the hot springs and gaze at the mountains of Jozankei. He has a very gentle personality and is great friends with children. Since November 2021, he has also been appointed as the official support character for Minami Ward to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Keep an eye on Kappon, as we can expect to see more and more of him in the future!

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Jozankei Tourist Association
Location: Higashi 3-chome, Jozankei Onsen, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Contact: 011-598-2012
Official Website: https://jozankei.jp/

Jozankei Bussankan Co., Ltd.
Location: Nishi 4-chome, Jozankei Onsen, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Contact: 011-598-2178
Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays
Official Website: http://www.j-bussankan.co.jp/