Iwatobi-chan

Iwatobi-chan is a bird-like figure that serves as the mascot of Iwatobi High School. It is a comical figure featured throughout the franchise in various incarnations.

Appearance
The figure is that of a yellow bird with pink-tipped wings, two eyes with yellow sclera and orange beak set into a large, round taupe-colored head. Iwatobi-chan’s gender is unknown, although the figure is seen wearing both a blue swim brief or a pink bikini, as well as without clothing at all.

Other versions of Iwatobi-chan include a jam and cream sandwich beloved by Nagisa Hazuki and a logo that appears on swim club t-shirts. In the OVA Buildup of Early Spring!, it is seen as a life-size costume complete with oversized head. The costume is worn by Makoto Tachibana, who is manipulated into being Iwatobi High School’s mascot in the Tournament of Mascots being held in Tokyo. The beak of the costume, having been lost earlier, is returned to the tournament team by Haruka Nanase who unwittingly finds it on the sidewalk. He remains for the tournament, cheering on Iwatobi-chan/Makoto.

Story
Iwatobi-chan debuts as a six-inch carved wooden figure to be given to those joining the Iwatobi High School Swim Club being formed by Nagisa, Makoto and Haruka in Free! Although no one actually joins the team, the carved figures are taken by those attending the pre-season meeting. The original members then search for the required fourth member that results in track athlete Rei Ryugazaki leaving the track team to become a swim club member, despite not knowing how to swim. With Gou Matsuoka joining as manager and Miho Amakata becoming their advisor, the team is established.

Trivia
It may be speculated that the mascot is modeled after the winged shape that appears on the Iwatobi High School logo. Iwatobi Badge.png