So it’s fitting that when Japan’s northeastern Miyagi Prefecture was choosing a new tourism ambassador, it settled on the beloved blue Pocket Monster.
The aquatic Pokémon Lapras is kindhearted and helpful, happily letting travelers ride on its back.
Lapras was officially introduced as Miyagi’s newest travel spokescreature in a press conference this week, when it appeared onstage with Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai.
After bathing in applause from the ceremony’s attendees, Lapras good-naturedly posed for photos with fans, accompanied by standing Miyagi tourism character/samurai rice ball Musubimaru, as seen in the video above.