this article is from soranews24!!!

Osaka International Airport has a deceptively confusing name. First, although its mailing address is indeed in Osaka, a large portion of the facility actually spills over the border into neighboring Hyogo Prefecture, specifically the city of Itami.

Second, it only has domestic flights, as during the 1990s the overseas traffic was moved to Kansai International Airport, an international airport that’s entirely in Osaka (yet completely separate from Osaka International Airport).

But even if it’s hard to find a shred of logic to the naming of Osaka International Airport, the domestic hub can now fall back on the good looks of its new mascot, the undeniably cute, possibly worrying Sora-yan.

To celebrate, the facility’s operators have created a new mascot, with 1,904 people sending in suggestions for the character’s name during January and February. In the end, Sora-yan, a combination of sora, the Japanese word for “sky,” and yan, a word used to show emphasis in the Osaka dialect, was chosen as the winner.

According to Sora-yan’s official profile, she lives in Osaka International’s La Sora Deck terrace and entertainment complex, and her job is to bring smiles to the facility’s visitors. Sora-yan has an interest in fashion, with a collection of snappy silk scarves of the type flight attendants in Japan wear, and enjoys going for walks in and around the airport.

The easygoing Sora-yan doesn’t feel any sense of rivalry with Kansai International’s mascot Kan-kun, either. The two are scheduled to make appearances together in order to jointly promote the region’s two major airports.

We can also assume that a full-line up of Sora-yan merchandise is coming, given the overwhelmingly positive reaction she’s been getting from Japanese Internet commenters.

Actually, if Sora-yan’s rosy complexion is indeed the result of heavy drinking, it would go a long way in explaining her sleepy expression and conscientious choice to walk everywhere instead of dangerously operating a motor vehicle.

Still, there’s no arguing that Osaka International’s mascot has an infectious smile, and so long as they keep her out of the cockpit, we think Sora-yan’s got a successful career ahead of her.