Bincho-tan (びんちょうタン) is a mascot character, created by Japanese manga artist Takahito Ekusa (江草天仁) and produced by game goods company Alchemist. The name is a play on words: binchōtan (備長炭) is a kind of charcoal, which is mainly used for cooking. However, -tan is a suffix created by the mispronunciation by young children of -san, that led to the suffix -chan. Relating to this dajare, the main cast is the moe anthropomorphic representations of different types of charcoal. An anime began airing in February 2006 that was produced by Studio Deen. Animax, who have also broadcast all episodes within respective networks across Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, translating and dubbing the series into English and other languages. The anime is set in Minabe, Wakayama, a location that is the largest producer of binchōtan charcoal in Japan.

Characters

Media

Manga

Anime

Nine episodes out of twelve episodes were aired without ending theme on TBS and BS-i. MBS in Kansai broadcast all episodes with ending theme. Incidentally, Wakayama in Kansai is famous for the production of binchōtan and Binchō-tan is the mascot of Kishu-Binchōtan Promotion Museum (紀州備長炭振興館) operated by Minabegawa Forestry Society in Minabe, Wakayama.

Music

The soundtrack of this animation includes the instrument Ondes Martenot.

DVD Releases

Audio CDs

Book

Video game

The Bincho-tan Shiawase-goyomi (びんちょうタン しあわせ暦) for PlayStation 2 and its limited edition were released by Marvelous Interactive on April 26, 2007.