Betsukai, Hokkaido

Betsukai (別海町) is a town located in Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of April 30, 2017, the town has an estimated population of 15,179, and an area of 1,320.15 km2 (the second largest in Hokkaido). The town is primarily agricultural, with numerous dairy farms. It comprises a part of the agricultural region referred to as "Milk Land Hokkaido".

History

 * 1923 - 6 villages combine, forming the village of Betsukai.
 * 1971 - Betsukai Village becomes Betsukai Town.

Mascot
Betsukai's mascot is Ryoushi-kun (りょウシくん) whose real name is Ryoushi Betsukai (別海りょウシ). He is a bull that looks like a cow. He is a fisherman, and a milk farmer. His friends are Hotatetchi (ホタテっち) (who is a Yesso scallop), Ebumaru (エビまる) (who is a shrimp), Milkchi (みるちー) (who is a milk bottle), Sakezo (サケゾー) (who is a salmon), Asarin (あさりん) (who is a Japanese littleneck clam), Hocki (ホッキー) (who is a Sakhalin surf clam) and Shiratori-san (シラトリさん) (who is a white swan). He was unveiled on 30 June 2013.