Hirosaki City's mascot character "Takamaru-kun"'s first book "Tatakatakamaru-kun" was released on April 1st.

This book contains 60 episodes of Takamaru-kun's four-frame cartoon. In addition to recording the manga with the same name serialized every Wednesday in the local newspaper "Mutsu Shimpo," it also includes portraits and cartoons drawn by Takamaru-kun sent from readers, and comes with an original sticker entitled "Introduction."

Takamaru-kun has been active as a mascot character for the city since 2009. Designed by Shogo Seno, director of Design Act (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) and game creator/illustrator. Mr. Seono says, "Hirosaki Castle is called Takaoka Castle, and I wanted to have strength that cannot be defeated, so I made it a hawk character that is said to be the strongest as a bird of prey."

Mr. Seono said that it was realized because of the help of many people in the first publication. "I wondered what Takamaru-kun would like to do in his daily life and Hirosaki, and what he would normally do to make everyone in Hirosaki happy," he said.

Mr. Seono said, "I want you to pay attention to Takamaru-kun's humorous personality and various poses. Sometimes Takamaru-kun thinks that he is cool, and sometimes doing things is crazy, and that place is also cute. I'm glad if you think about it."

The price is 810 yen. Sold at bookstores and souvenir shops in Aomori Prefecture.