1. Who is Nanami Hanon?
Nanami Hanon is a VTuber who personifies Shimizu Port in Shizuoka City, Japan. She was chosen in 2017 from more than 130 entries, with about 3,000 votes cast at JAPAN EXPO in Thailand 2017, and made her debut on X (Twitter) on 25 September 2017. She was the first character in the world to call herself a "gotochi VTuber" – a VTuber whose activity is rooted in one specific region. （出典：Nanami Hanon official site, nanamihanon.net ／ Gotochi Chara Catalog, localchara.jp）
Shimizu Port is a deep-water port facing Suruga Bay, with a view of Mt. Fuji. It is known for frozen tuna landings and as a port of call for cruise ships. Hanon's hat bears the port's "S" mark, and she loves tuna, the port and the town of Shimizu. （出典：Nanami Hanon official site, nanamihanon.net）
| Name | Nanami Hanon（七海波音） |
| Home | Shimizu Port, Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Debut | 25 September 2017 (X) / 2 October 2017 (YouTube) |
| Status | Unofficial local character (not endorsed by a government body), with a track record of working with Shizuoka City |
| Rights | Held by Nanami Hanon; managed by makidai LLC |
| Links | YouTube youtube.com ／ X x.com |
2. What she has done
AI guide at Shizuoka City's Shimizu Ward Office (August 2026 –)
From 10 August 2026 to 28 February 2027, Shizuoka City is running a pilot at the general information desk of its Shimizu Ward Office, using an AI avatar and a self-driving robot to guide visitors to the right counter. The avatar is Nanami Hanon. The project is run by Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Institute of Science and Technology, Shimizu Port Promotion Co., Ltd. and First Launch Inc., with makidai LLC in charge of Hanon's personality, tone and character quality. Local TV reported that the avatar handles 13 languages. （出典：Shizuoka City press release, 3 August 2026 (PDF, Japanese), city.shizuoka.lg.jp ／ First Launch Inc., firstlaunch.co.jp ／ Shizuoka Asahi TV, 10 August 2026, look.satv.co.jp）
Gotochi VTuber Summit (Shimizu Marine Terminal, 2025 –)
A yearly gathering of local VTubers from all over Japan, held at Shimizu Marine Terminal. The first summit took place on 1–2 February 2025 and the second on 22–23 February 2026, with about 40 VTubers taking part. The second summit was supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Digital Agency, Shizuoka Prefecture and Shizuoka City. The third summit is scheduled for 7 February 2027. （出典：Gotochi VTuber Summit official site, vsummi.com ／ Shizuoka Shimbun DIGITAL, 23 February 2026 (Japanese, paywalled), news.at-s.com）
Japan Expo Paris 2025 (France)
Together with uniform maker Katayama Iryo Co., Ltd., Hanon exhibited at Japan Expo Paris 2025 (3–6 July 2025) under the booth name "Beautiful Shizuoka". （出典：Katayama Iryo Co., Ltd., katayamairyou.com）
Earlier milestones
2018: crowdfunding for "Shimizu Port Quest", an RPG that turns the whole of Shimizu Ward into a game. 2019: image character of the Shimizu Port 120th anniversary website, and overall grand prize at the national "Gotochi Moe Chara Grand Prix 2019". 2020: theme of a breakout session at the 39th national convention of Japan Young Entrepreneurs Group (Shizuoka). （出典：CAMPFIRE, camp-fire.jp ／ Nanami Hanon official site timeline, nanamihanon.net）
3. What is a "gotochi VTuber"?
"Gotochi" (ご当地) means "of this particular place". A gotochi VTuber is a VTuber based in one region of Japan who focuses on promoting that region's culture, sights and food, often working with local governments, companies and media. The term started with Nanami Hanon in 2017, and local VTubers have since appeared across Japan, including some run directly by prefectural governments. A full explanation (in Japanese) is on the page "ご当地VTuberとは". （出典：Wikipedia (Japanese) "ご当地Vtuber", ja.wikipedia.org ／ Nanami Hanon official site, nanamihanon.net）
4. For business, government and media
Hanon is available for AI guide and reception systems, event appearances, exhibitions in Japan and abroad, advertising and PR illustrations, and local content such as games and videos. Commercial use requires an application and approval in advance; please apply at least two weeks before publication. Replies are sent within three business days. Non-profit local events and projects that benefit Shimizu and Shizuoka are basically free of charge, but please contact us first. Media coverage is not treated as commercial use; let us know and we will provide image materials. （出典：Nanami Hanon usage guideline (Japanese), nanamihanon.net ／ Business page (Japanese), nanamihanon.net）
5. FAQ
Q1. Is Nanami Hanon an official character of Shizuoka City?
No. She is an unofficial local character. However, she has worked with Shizuoka City, for example as the AI guide avatar at the Shimizu Ward Office pilot in 2026. （出典：Nanami Hanon official site, nanamihanon.net ／ Shizuoka City press release, 3 August 2026）
Q2. Can we use her character in our project?
Yes, with an application in advance. Fan activities by individuals are free within the guideline. Commercial use needs approval, an electronic contract and a final check by the operator before release. （出典：Nanami Hanon usage guideline (Japanese), nanamihanon.net）
Q3. Can we contact you in English?
Yes. The inquiry form is in Japanese, but messages written in English are welcome. （出典：Nanami Hanon official site, nanamihanon.net）
For business, government and media inquiries
Open the inquiry form (Japanese form; English is welcome)