Shosanbetsu, Hokkaido

Shosanbetsu (初山別村) is a village located in Rumoi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of September 2016, the village has an estimated population of 1,249 and a density of 4.5 persons per km2. The total area is 280.04 km2. Shosanbetsu observatory is a planetarium-cum-astronomical observatory which is a popular attraction in this region.

Shosanbetsu was the hometown of famed bear hunter Yamamoto Heikichi, famous for his killing of the bear Kesagake.

Mascot
Shosanbetsu's mascot is Syosamaru (しょさまる) who is an alien bear. Her ears resemble shooting stars. She wears a helmet that resembles the Shosanbetsu observatory, a necklace made of blue honeysuckle and a pochette that resembles a pufferfish. She was designed by Eiichi Shiozaki of Osaka.