A fan meeting celebrating the third anniversary of the unofficial hero of Akita Prefecture, “Ah-man,” whose character is inspired by Akita dogs, was held on February 1 at AEON Mall Akita in Akita City. Ah-man expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his fans who had traveled from inside and outside the prefecture and shared his ambitious goal of “becoming more well-known around Japan.”
During the fan meeting, Ah-man reflected on past activities through a slideshow of photos. Highlights included the time when he was supposed to make his debut at an event but got stuck in the entrance doorway and had to reluctantly withdraw, as well as his donations of a portion of merchandise sales proceeds to disaster-stricken areas affected by heavy rains and earthquakes. “I can continue my activities thanks to all of you, my fans. Please keep supporting me,” he said before celebrating the third anniversary with a cake shaped like his face.
Following Ah-man’s introduction, the stage was set for an exciting discussion about future activities as talent Fuka Kitagawa and rapper Rakan joined him.
When Ah-man mentioned his struggles with coming up with YouTube content, Rakan suggested, “Even just riding a bicycle would be cute. Why not make videos of your everyday life?” As for appearing on television, Ms. Kitagawa jokingly pointed out, “If there’s an on-location shoot, his large size might make it difficult to fit inside some places,” which drew laughter from the audience.
The event also featured a collaboration show with another local hero based in Yokote City, a live performance by Rakan, and a commemorative photo session.
Miyu Chida from Higashidori, Akita City, shared, “Ah-man’s kindness is what makes him special—he treats everyone equally. I hope he continues to be loved by even more people.”
Ah-man was created in February 2022 as a “hero” to help address the various challenges facing Akita Prefecture, such as population decline. He has since appeared at events throughout the prefecture and beyond, steadily gaining popularity.
