Local gas companies occasionally add a touch of character to the giant spherical gas containers that dot the landscape of Japan. Here are a few examples.



Nicotan (mascot of Shibata Gas) -- Shibata, Niigata prefecture [via]



Watermelon -- Tomisato, Chiba prefecture [via]



Hikari-chan and Gatto-kun -- Niigata [via]



Zen monk-poet Ryōkan -- Tsubame, Niigata prefecture [via]



Soccer ball -- Kiryū, Gunma prefecture [via]



Tokkikki (Niigata prefectural mascots) -- Niigata [via]



Ōnyūdō -- Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture



Peach -- Akaiwa, Okayama prefecture [via]



Ouchi dolls -- Yamaguchi prefecture [via]



Welcome to Isesaki -- Gunma prefecture [via]



"Taisha" wheeled fish toy -- Niigata [via]



Morioka Gas character dancing the Sansa Odori -- Morioka, Iwate prefecture [via]



Bunbuku Chagama tanuki -- Gunma prefecture [via] // Origami cranes -- Mie prefecture [via]



Japanese irises -- Niigata [via]



Watermelon -- Takizawa, Iwate prefecture [via]



Godai-chan (tourism mascot for the city of Kashihara) -- Nara prefecture [via]



Kōfu, Yamanashi prefecture [via]



Kintarō -- Saitama [via]



Flowers and butterflies -- Niigata prefecture [via]



Artist's conception of Nintendo Kirby tanks [via]