Yokote City x AI '#kzn' Co-creation Project Hosts 1-Page Manga Contest for Official Character 'Yukinko Kizuna'

Under the concept of 'Entertainment x Creators x Local Culture', the Yokote Kizuna Project Executive Committee, aiming to fuse traditional culture with modern creativity in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, is hosting a '1-Page Manga Contest' themed around its official character, 'Yukinko Kizuna', and is currently accepting submissions from across the country. The grand prize includes prize money, consideration for adoption into the project's 'official setting', and exhibitions at facilities in Yokote City.

The Yokote Kizuna Project is a regional revitalization initiative that promotes the area's appeal through content tourism. It centers on the collaboration between 'Yokote Kamakura' (a traditional snow festival with 450 years of history) and '#kzn', a singing-specialized AI born from the voice of virtual singer Kizuna AI. The official character, Yukinko Kizuna, is a newly born spirit drawn by popular illustrator Icomochi, based on a design selected from numerous public submissions. This contest aims to foster the character through co-creation by inviting the public to freely imagine Yukinko Kizuna's yet-to-be-determined personality and daily life.

The contest theme is 'What kind of child is Yukinko Kizuna?'. It seeks original 1-page manga stories (color or monochrome, analog or digital). AI-generated works are strictly prohibited. The application deadline is June 30, 2026. The Grand Prize (1 winner) offers 30,000 yen and official setting adoption; Excellence Awards (multiple winners) offer 10,000 yen; and Student Special Awards offer a 10,000 yen Amazon gift card. All winners will be displayed in Yokote City and on the official website.

Hirohito Yamada, CEO of foriio Inc., expressed his desire to 'create new value in local areas through the power of creators', anticipating that the character's growth will help spread Yokote's charm. The project is jointly run by the Yokote City Tourism Association, foriio Inc., and Activ8 Inc., aiming to broadcast Yokote's appeal domestically and internationally through content tourism.