Yamanashi completes hydrogen picture book starring its mascot, releases reading videos
Yamanashi Prefecture finished a green hydrogen picture book featuring its official mascot and began distributing it to local facilities and selling it to the public.
On October 20, 2026, Yamanashi Prefecture announced that a picture book starring its official mascot, Suicho, has been completed. Shiro Nakano, the prefecture's creative producer, handled the planning and design. Using friendly language and cheerful illustrations, the book explains in an easy-to-understand way the bright future that green hydrogen can bring to children.
Starting the same day, distribution of the picture book to educational and childcare facilities and public libraries in the prefecture began, and general sales also started. The prefecture plans to use this picture book for public awareness activities aimed at realizing a hydrogen society.
Reading videos have also been released. Readings by students of the broadcasting club at Yamanashi Prefectural Yoshida High School and by Yukidaruma, an influencer and mother of six, can be viewed on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The influencer's video is a short 53 seconds long.
Hydrogen is the lightest of all elements, and when burned it produces only water without emitting CO2, which has led to expectations that it will be a decarbonized energy source. However, hydrogen hardly exists alone in nature, so the method of production is a key issue.
Hydrogen produced by electrolyzing water with electricity from renewable energy is called green hydrogen. Its feature is that no CO2 is emitted during production, distinguishing it from methods that use natural gas and other sources. Yamanashi Prefecture aims to broaden interest in green hydrogen through its mascot.
Awareness activities such as picture books are meaningful in that they bring the word hydrogen to children before adults. If the book is read at schools and nurseries, it could also become an opportunity for parents and children to talk about hydrogen. Going forward, attention will focus on the spread of distribution destinations and sales as well as the response to the videos.
BLUE NOVA Hydrogen Journal view
It is significant that Yamanashi Prefecture used its official mascot to take on the effort of bringing hydrogen to children and families. Realizing a hydrogen society requires not only technology and systems but also social understanding and acceptance. Using a local mascot as a medium, with local high school students and influencers involved in the messaging, shows a way of spreading conversation about hydrogen within the community. On the other hand, whether awareness remains an entry point for interest will depend on how it connects with concrete efforts to promote adoption. This picture book is worth watching as a way to make hydrogen feel close to home.
Source: PR TIMES
This article was written by the editors based on the cited report and translated from Japanese. AI is used to assist in writing and translation.
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