Despite whatever else you might say about them, Japanese variety shows certainly try to live up to their reputation. Though you may argue about their success, one thing the shows do well is hidden camera/surprise segments. From aliens bursting out of walls to random Godzilla attacks, damasareta (“fooled” or “tricked”) gags can get almost anyone laughing–Japanese or otherwise.

And when you have a guest as spectacular as the hyperactive Funnashi, you’re almost guaranteed to dig up some comedic gold! Especially if explosions are involved.

Funasshi, the beloved yurakyara/mascot pear whose meteoric rise to popularity remains unabated, was featured on this week’s episode of Uwa! Damasareta Taishou!, a sporadically-broadcast variety show specializing in tricking guests. With spots featuring everything from the AKB 48 girls falling through broken chairs to a fat Spider-man falling through the ceiling to spray webbing on a bored actress, the show is known for its humorous-but-bizarre stunts. However, Funasshi’s appearance may be the most explosive one yet–and we were lucky enough to find a version uploaded to YouTube!

▼ “2 seconds until the giant explosion”

In the video, we see Funasshi standing blithely near a group of large balloons and a host of other mascots off to the side while a couple of crew members perform preparations. It’s all goes normally enough for a few moments before…Boom! A large box just off to the side explodes! As flames erupt into the sky, Funasshi jerks around to catch sight of the fire. But the fun has only just begun!

The first explosion, though massive, is just the catalyst–a fuse is set off, popping and cracking as the flames race towards the balloons. Funasshi, not being a foolish pear, takes off, jogging away from the balloons, but not nearly fast enough! Moments later, the gas canisters and balloons themselves are spewing flames into the sky. Funasshi, not quite the cool pear that we thought, looks back at the explosion before starting to run.

▼ Maybe cool pears look at explosions?

And this is when the real fun/horror show really begins. The colorful mascot breaks into a sprint, dashing directly up a dirt path stretching through the middle of the grass field as even more explosions burst out of the ground! Funasshi, running faster than we ever thought possible for an anthropomorphic piece of fruit, is essentially chased by the explosions! As smoke and enormous balls of fire fill the air, Funasshi screams at the top of its lungs–but never breaks character!

▼ “Holycrapholycrapholycrap…nasshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!”

▼ Like Apocalypse Now, but without 20 different versions.

▼ Eat your heart out, Chuck Norris!

▼ Well, that’s one way to inspire kids to exercise, we suppose.

▼ We wonder if the other mascots did this in an attempt to eliminate the competition…

▼ Funasshi for John McClane in Die Hard 6!

After collapsing at the end of the path, the other mascots gather around and congratulate Funasshi on escaping with its life, at which point they reveal that, yes, they knew about it all beforehand. We’re no experts on mascot culture…but we think it might be time for Funasshi to get some new friends! Still, the pear mascot wasn’t completely fooled, as it explains, saying, “I knew I was going to get tricked–I just didn’t know how or by whom!”

In the post-explosion interview with the show’s crew, Funasshi explained its thoughts while shrieking in terror and scurrying for dear life, adding in its trademark cries of “nashiii” for punctuation. “The heat and wind when I was running was terrifying nasshii! And besides that, I thought I was going to get turned into…a pear tart nasshiiiiiii!” The mascot then went into one of its patented headbanging fits, proving that it was either entirely unscarred by the event or suffering from a PTSD-induced stroke.

Obviously you should not try this at home, but we have to admit that it was one of the funniest videos we’ve seen in a long time! And, while it was no doubt absolutely terrifying, Funasshi stated in a later interview that when invited on the show, it was asked about its size for ordering safety equipment, so it knew something was going to happen.

Be sure to watch the video below.

Japanese netizens were conflicted about the segment:

That was so cool! It was like Rambo or something!

Aw. It would have been great if it’d caught fire and released some pear sap.

I saw this last night, but it seemed like a fake “surprise.”

Well, the way the flames and explosions went after Funasshi only, what else could it have been but faked?

Whether it was fake or not, there was a risk that it could have caught fire. And for a mascot to be able to run that fast is just amazing!

While this is pretty clearly not a totally “real” surprise, we can’t help agreeing with the last guy. It was pretty amazing!

Hmmm…maybe we should do our own damasareta taisho. We’re sure Mr. Sato wouldn’t mind being the target! (Shhhh! Don’t tell him!)

Source/images: Hachima Kikou, YouTube

Related Stories

• Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• Jiggly Japanese pear mascot lands itself in deep water in the US【Video】
• SoftBank’s mascot dog behaving badly at bizarre press conference
• The Bubble Princess: Japan can’t help staring at this revealing character

Origin: A pear running from explosions: Video of Funasshi fleeing fireballs cracks Japan up【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Japan’s SoftBank Corporation recently put together a typically bizarre commercial to advertise their new student discount service, and held a press conference to announce it. In attendance was the famous SoftBank dog, and a couple of large pears, who all got a little over-excited. When dealing with huge talents like these, things don’t always go to plan…

Now before you get completely confused, let’s add some background info. SoftBank is one of Japan’s leading phone carriers, whose famous mascot is a white shiba dog known as ‘Otosan’, or ‘Father’. Otosan is a talking dog with a human family. Nothing too strange about that, right? Otosan can be a bit of a grump, but he’s always got his paw on the pulse of the latest telecommunications technology.

In the new advert, Otosan is joined by Japanese talent Makoto Nonomura, and the hugely popular mascot Funasshi. What is Funasshi, exactly? Actually, he’s a ‘pear fairy’, who represents the city of Funabashi. Pear is ‘nashi’ in Japanese, so nashi + Funabashi = Funasshi. The unofficial mascot is huge in Japan right now, and someone somewhere decided it would fit right into a SoftBank commercial. Why? Who knows.

After creating the bizarre advert above, SoftBank held a press conference with its stars, which got a little out of hand…

It’s clear from the beginning that Otosan doesn’t seem particularly thrilled to be dragged up on stage with two large pears, particularly since he can’t chase after them. After putting up with a few minutes of incomprehensible running and screaming, he’s obviously decided the event was beneath him. He gives the event’s organisers the dog’s version of the middle finger: The raised leg.

But the show’s not over yet! During his energetic bounding, one Funasshi loses an eyebrow, and when the presenter bends over to pick it up it some animal instinct get the better of Otosan! Well, you can’t blame him for being agitated by the sight of two large yellow pears running around and squealing at each other. When the adrenaline’s flowing a dog’s gotta do what a dog’s gotta do!

Everyone seems almost relieved when, partway through, the talent’s had enough. He stalks off the stage and… ooh, what’s in that bag? Is that for me? 

Whoever organized this might be in for some stick at the office tomorrow! But for the rest of us, it makes for some hilarious ‘WTF Japan?’ viewing.

Source: Hachima Kikou

Related Stories

• Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
• The Bubble Princess: Japan can’t help staring at this revealing character
• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• Jiggly yellow pear, Funasshi, named top mascot in Japan
• Jiggly Japanese pear mascot lands itself in deep water in the US【Video】

Origin: SoftBank’s mascot dog behaving badly at bizarre press conference
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

On June 1, a gathering was held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the municipalization of Takasago City, Hyogo Prefecture. Dubbed the Gotoji Expo, it brought out those lovable civic-minded mascots called yuru-kyara.

And for such as auspicious anniversary the town called in a major mascot from each of the 47 prefectures of Japan such as the former Yurukyara Gran Prix winner Kumamon of Kumamoto Prefecture. An invitation was also sent out to Funasshi, the unofficial yet hugely popular mascot of Funabashi, but it had to decline because of scheduling issues.

So you can imagine the organizers’ surprise when the highly animated pear had actually turned up at Gotoji Expo?

According to Takasago City, at around noon on the June 1, what was thought to have been Funasshi had appeared at the festival. Soon after, the pear-suited person was surrounded by a group of 20 to 30 children, all presumably fans of the massively famous mascot.

Things escalated quickly after a local idol who was performing on stage spotted the manic mascot. “It’s Funasshi!” she shouted into the microphone, pointing in the jiggling pear’s direction. This triggered a rush to get at the yellow star of TV, YouTube, and gifs.

By this time police officers working the event became suspicious and took “Funasshi” into custody in what had to have been either the funniest or saddest scene possible. It was then confirmed that this mascot’s actor was not the real Funasshi at all, but some regular joe from Kakogawa. The man later told police, “It was my mother’s idea. I wore it to make my own children happy.”

The authorities are currently looking into whether the man infringed on Funasshi’s copyright or not. There are conflicting reports as to whether or not he attempted to imitate the yurukyara’s trademark undulations and high-pitched speaking. One witness said “in some photographs you can see him tumbling around. He was totally a rip-off.”

While this could be written off as a simple cosplay, the nature of the event and similarity to yurukyara‘s duties in general may irk some in the business. Last year the real Funasshi was reported to have pulled in around 200 million yen (US$1.9M) whereas an official mascot like Kumamon was said to have generated over 100 billion yen ($980M) for his prefecture. Needless to say, they’re brands that some have a lot invested in and they may not take too kindly to imitators.

Unless you do a really half-assed job of it like we did.

Source: Kobe Shimbun (Japanese) The Japan Times (English)
Images: Funasshi Official Facebook
Mr. Sato Image: RocketNews24

Related Stories

• SoftBank’s mascot dog behaving badly at bizarre press conference
• Hokuto City chooses developmentally challenged sushi as new mascot
• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• The Bubble Princess: Japan can’t help staring at this revealing character
• Jiggly yellow pear, Funasshi, named top mascot in Japan

Origin: Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Japan has more than its fair share of ridiculous mascots, ranging from the absurdly muscled pot sticker, Chaozu-kun, to the snarky Yoshida-kun representing the country’s least popular prefecture.

But of all the crazy characters, our most favorite mascot to ever represent Japan has got to be Funnashi, the jiggly yellow pear. Just one look at his rotund head and undulating belly, coupled with his somewhat creepy high-pitched voice, and you’ve got something so hilariously bizarre, even a professional newscaster for CNN couldn’t keep it together on live TV.

CNN reporter Kristie Lu Stout was in the studio wrapping up a piece on mascots in Japan. Right before she was supposed to pick up where the Tokyo-based reporter left off, a clip of Funabashi City’s mascot, Funasshi, flashed across the screen. The YouTube clip cuts in late, but if Funasshi’s past is anything to go by, what Kristie saw most likely looked something like the following GIFs:

So understandably, Kristie felt the need to laugh at the creature that could have only come from the minds of Japan. Take a look at the clip and see for yourself:

And if you’d like to know more about Funasshi, we’ve got you covered.

Related Stories

• The Bubble Princess: Japan can’t help staring at this revealing character
• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
• Can’t Be Bothered with Halloween Decorations? Celebrate with These Cute Mini Pumpkin Dumplings!
• Little girl gets a makeover but doesn’t like what she sees, Mum can’t contain her laughter【Video】

Origin: American newscaster can’t stop laughing at crazy Japanese mascot
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

There just doesn’t seem to be any stopping Funasshi, the anthropomorphic pear who serves as unofficial mascot for the city of Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture. Funasshi’s mix of cute looks and hyperactive gyrations have won over fans both in Japan and abroad, and now Japan’s hottest piece of fruit is ready to capitalize on its popularity with a new café in Tokyo’s fashionable Shibuya district.

We decided to pay a visit to the Funa Café on opening day, and couldn’t think of a better RocketNews24 delegate than our very own Mr. Sato, who it turn couldn’t think of a more appropriate outfit than his very own freaky Funasshi cosplay getup.

The Funa Café opened on September 2 inside the Parco department store, where it’ll be occupying a space on the fifth floor for the limited time it’s scheduled to be in operation. We were so excited that we showed up at 6 a.m., a full five hours before the doors opened. And if you think that’s crazy, we still weren’t the first ones in line!

As time passed, the line continued to grow longer and longer behind us. We’d say 90 percent of the Funa-fans were women, and Mr. Sato seemed to catch the eyes of several of them, although we’re not sure whether it was because they found him handsome or terrifying.

Ordinarily, the Parco complex doesn’t open until 10, but the staff cut us a break and let everyone who was waiting for a seat at the Funa Café line up inside starting at 9:40. This act of kindness came not a moment too soon, since the Tokyo skies were clear and we’d been staring to sweat standing around in the sun.

So we stepped into the building with the other 100 people in line, and enjoyed soaking up the AC for the next 80 minutes. Finally, at 11, the wait was over, and we were ushered to our table.

We were a little surprised that Funasshi didn’t make a personal appearance at the grand opening, but there were plenty of stuffed versions of the popular mascot in the gift corner, as well as its picture plastered on the walls.

▼ We’re not sure if Funasshi actually has a gender or not, but we have to say, that apron is quite fetching.

Hardcore fans will probably be satisfied by the interior design and Funasshi-shaped foods alone. As a matter of fact, the café looks so cute we were worried they might have forgotten to put much effort into how the food and drinks taste. Thankfully, though, it turns out the Funa Café takes flavor as seriously as presentation, as every single thing we tried was delicious.

If you only order one item, make it the 980-yen (US$9.70) pear juice soda. We saw more people sipping one of these than any other beverage, thanks to its pleasing tartness that was a perfect pick-me-up after waiting for hours outside in the morning heat.

▼ Relaxing and refreshing

▼ Not quite so much

There’s also a pear and banana Funasshi smoothie for 780 yen.

▼ We’re kind of surprised they dropped the ball by not calling it the “Funassmothie.”

▼ The 1,280-yen Funasshi burger

▼ OK, it’s cute, but it’s got nothing on our homemade Pikachu burger!

▼ Funasshi cannibalism!

▼ For 1,580 yen, the tantan-men noodle set seemed a little underwhelming, until we found out that you get to take the Funasshi mug home with you!

And of course, what would a Japanese café be without a collection of cute desserts?

▼ The 1,080-yen pudding parfait comes with an edible word bubble of Funasshi’s trademark “hyahi” laugh.

▼ The “illusion mousse” costs 1,280 yen, but justifies its slightly higher price with some awesome presentation.

▼ The display case of Funasshi cookies

If we’re being completely honest, we were a little surprised at the prices, which were a higher than we’d expected from a character-themed café. Since the quality was above and beyond what you’ll usually find at these kinds of restaurants, though, in the end it still felt like a fair deal.

Aside from making sure to bring a little extra cash with you, there’s one other piece of advice we feel we should mention. We left the restaurant just as the peak lunch crowd was starting to roll into Parco’s restaurant area. Remember how we said the Funa Café is located on the fifth floor? As we walked out, we noticed that the line now stretched from the café’s entrance to the stairwell, and from there all the way back down to the second floor. So make sure you come early, because that Funasshi is one seriously popular pear.

Restaurant information
Funasshi Funa Café
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Udagawa-cho 15-1, Parco Part 1 7th floor
住所：東京都渋谷区宇田川町15-1 パルコ パート1 7F
Opens at 11 a.m., last food order at 10 p.m., last drink order at 10:30 p.m.
Website

Photos © RocketNews24

Related Stories

• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• Jiggly Japanese pear mascot lands itself in deep water in the US【Video】
• Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
• SoftBank’s mascot dog behaving badly at bizarre press conference
• Jiggly yellow pear, Funasshi, named top mascot in Japan

Origin: We chow down on the un-pearably cute food at the brand-new Funasshi café!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Have you been wondering what Japan’s favorite mascot has been up to lately? Who, you say? Why, Funasshi, of course, Japan’s squiggly wiggly pear mascot from Funabashi City in Chiba! After rocketing to fame and winning Japan’s top mascot honors in 2013, Funasshi has been touring Japan and the world! Its latest trip was to report for Fuji TV’s “World’s Best Of Picture Show: Top Research“. Find out all the American locations a gyrating pear looks out of place in after the jump.

Where’s the first place you wouldn’t expect to see a human-sized, dancing pear? If you said “under the sea,” that’s what we thought too! But our expectations aren’t one to stop the tour de force that is Funasshi, as a promotional video for the Fuji TV program shows Funasshi on its first ever diving experience!

That’s the Neptune Memorial Reef off the coast of Florida, which is an underwater cremation memorial site. It’s a very popular diving area and the world’s greatest man-made reef. This is certainly a perfect spot for Funasshi to experience the wonders of sea life.

▼Funasshi doesn’t need any SCUBA gear. 

Known as one of the only mascot characters who talks in Japan, it had much to say about sinking to the ocean floor. “When I first dove in, I was very scared that I was going to be washed away because I couldn’t see anything. However, the Atlantic Ocean is very beautiful and it’s like a totally different world!”

▼Busting a move, 40 feet under. 

Not only did Funasshi get all wet for Fuji TV, but it also attempted a whole bunch of other activities while in the United States and we are sure it will make for some pretty exciting television!

▼Attempting some plane acrobatics in a Cessna.

▼Learning to pitch to kick off at a Miami Marlins’ Major League Baseball game.

Awesome teaching my new buddy @funassyi how to pitch like @srSHREK31! #VoteHitsMcGehee http://t.co/2FsZNHzwor

—
Billy The Marlin (@BillytheMarlin) August 15, 2014

For those in Japan, don’t miss these crazy antics from our favorite pear mascot airing on Tuesday, September 23 at 7pm on Fuji TV’s “World’s Best Of Picture Show: Top Research”. Otherwise stay tuned in to RocketNews24 for all your fantastic Funasshi fun!

Images: PR Times, YouTube
[ Read in Japanese ]

Related Stories

• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• Jiggly yellow pear, Funasshi, named top mascot in Japan
• Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
• SoftBank’s mascot dog behaving badly at bizarre press conference
• Hokuto City chooses developmentally challenged sushi as new mascot

Origin: Jiggly Japanese pear mascot lands itself in deep water in the US【Video】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Those familiar with Japanese pop culture have probably come across the jiggly pear mascot Funasshi, and those living in Japan probably can’t escape his image on TV, T-shirts, and tea. The unofficial mascot of Funabashi City had a grassroots rise to fame which was very unique in the world of mascots and stands as an inspiration to many.

Our very own Mr. Sato stands as one of those inspired by the giant dancing fruit, and decided to emulate Funasshi’s success by becoming a self-starting mascot himself. Of course, what better thing to represent than Funasshi himself! So by donning yellow make-up and leotards, he transforms into Satosshi, the unofficial mascot of Funabashi’s unofficial mascot Funasshi.

First stop on his road to riches is Funabashi City where the legendary “Funasshi Burger” topped with a slice of pear is said reside. There couldn’t be a better place to get some exposure.

Joining Satosshi along for this journey was fellow RocketNews24 Japan reporter Nakano. From the very start, Nakano has his reservations about Satosshi going into Funabashi dressed as their beloved mascot. He had heard stories of residents becoming violently angry at people who have pretended to be the jiggly pear in the past.

As Mr. Sato was applying his third coat of white eye make up on the car ride through Chiba Prefecture, Nakano pleaded one last time to reconsider. “They might misunderstand your intentions,” Nakano said. “Besides, Funasshi probably doesn’t really need your help. He’s already pretty big you know.”

“Look, those times the townsfolk got mad were because people were trying to pass themselves off as the real Funasshi with an identical costume,” Satosshi replied climbing out of the car. “I clearly look different. I’m a mascot of Funasshi and I think my love for him and the city really comes across in this costume.”

Satosshi continued his defense to Nakano saying how the real Funasshi was too busy traveling around the world, and that someone had to “hold the fort” while he was gone. However, despite Satosshi’s appeals, Nakano still couldn’t feel safe standing next to this big yellow walking target of hate.

They made their way to the Golden Burger restaurant where the Funasshi Burger was served. “I can’t go in there,” Nakano thought to himself, “They’re totally going to lynch us.”

Nakano: “Oh, say Satosshi?”

Satosshi: “Yessshi?”

Nakano: “Um, I just remembered… I’m, like, a vegetarian.”

Satosshi: “Ohssshi?”

Nakano: “Yeaaaah, the sight of meat just makes me think of all those slaughtered animals and stuff. It really offends me. If you don’t mind I’m just going to go find some… uh, baba ghanoush. I’ll meet up with you later okay?”

Satosshi: “Oh… okay then.”

And so Satosshi walked towards the entrance to Golden Burger alone. “That poor bastard,” thought Nakano.

He waited outside for the sounds of a scuffle and the sight of Mr. Sato’s lifeless body inevitably being thrown down the stairs for impersonating a local legend. However, minutes passed and nothing happened. Nakano peered up at the restaurant window.

It was fine! Satosshi sat there calmly eating his Funasshi burger in a crowded restaurant like it was perfectly normal. Just then, Nakano’s phone suddenly dinged and he checked his Twitter feed. It was from Golden Burger.

“Satosshi came to Golden Burger! Naturally he enjoyed a Funasshi Burger☆”

Ding!

“Funasshi Burger is Delicioussshi!”

Ding!

“Cannibalism”

After emerging from the restaurant unscathed, Satosshi told Nakano that the Funasshi Burger was surprisingly delicious. It had a slice of pear on top of the patty, which seemed a risqué choice for a burger topping, but the result was great.

He also got a souvenir Funasshi sticker for ordering it.

Nakano was shocked but also moved by the open-heartedness of the people of Funabashi. Rather than run Mr. Sato out of their town as the fraud he was, they welcomed him with fruity burgers and stickers.

Then it occurred to Nakano that perhaps it wasn’t just the wild antics of Funasshi that made him a success, but the generous support of the overwhelmingly nice people of Funabashi around him that helped his rise to greatness.

Shop Information

Golden Burger

2F Y.K. Bldg. 1-13-14 Honmachi, Funabashi, Chiba

Mon.-Thurs. 6:00pm-4:00am
Fri. 6:00pm-Midnight
Sat. 11:30am-Midnight
Sun. & Holidays 11:30am-4:00pm, 6:00pm-11:00pm
Closed on Tuesdays

Deliciousshiness ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (because of the excitement of learning that pears actually went well with hamburgers)

Model: Mr. Sato
Report by Nakano
Photos: RocketNews24

▼ Look for Satosshi in your neighborhood unofficially raising awareness of Funasshi who’s unofficially raising awareness for Funabashi City

[ Read in Japanese ]

Related Stories

• Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
• SoftBank’s mascot dog behaving badly at bizarre press conference
• Jiggly Japanese pear mascot lands itself in deep water in the US【Video】
• Shiraishi Island needs YOUR character ideas!
• Jiggly yellow pear, Funasshi, named top mascot in Japan

Origin: Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

The inimitable Mr. Sato is such a big fan of Funasshi, the unofficial jiggly pear mascot of Funabashi City, that he even created his own mascot-to-the-mascot, Satosshi. This Halloween, Satosshi decided to head down to the famous Shibuya crossing to make friends with fellow costume-wearing Tokyoites.

Might there be other, kindred spirit Funasshi fans there? Will Satosshi be busted as an unofficial impersonator? Could Mr. Sato’s journalistic efforts be thwarted by a sudden attack of deadline confusion? And worse still, what if no one recognises him? Join us after the jump for a photo report from Satosshi’s big night out.

On this adventure, Satosshi is joined by his sidekick Sanmarinasshi, who also shares his love of pears, dancing, and belly flops.

▼ Yoroshiku onegaishimasshi!

▼ Time to leave the office!… (er, sorry, offisshi)

Satosshi and Sanmarinasshi hopped in a cab and rolled on down to Shibuya. They were expecting it to be busy, but they were still amazed by how many people there were! At first, they found themselves in the middle of a crowd of so many people, they couldn’t even move.

▼ “There’s no way we’re going to get acrosshi!”

Just when he was starting to wonder why he’d come at all, Mr. Sato suddenly remembered something even worse – he still had work left to do tonight! Luckily, he had his laptop with him, so he escaped from the crowd, sat down on the pavement and started working.

▼ “I don’t know if I can finisshi!”

Around him, Satosshi heard the voices of passers-by making disgusted comments about something. “What’s that?” they sneered. “So gross!”…”It’s not cute at all!”

Satosshi’s little yellow heart sunk as he realised: people were talking about him. Of course. In Shibuya on Halloween, the standard of costumes is amazingly high. How could he even have thought he could fit in here?

Then, suddenly, Satosshi heard another voice from behind him: “Can we take a picture together?” And then, one after another, a series of beautiful girls came to ask to have their photo taken together! It was like a dream!

▼ Is this the real life? Is this just fantasshi?

▼ They can’t believe their eyesshi!

It was worth coming after all, Satosshi realised, as he and Sanmarinasshi then got to meet hundreds of partiers in awesome costumes.

▼ Satosshi has fans from all walks of life (and death).

▼ They found another costumed pair who’d come as each other’s sidekicks!

▼ Sanmarinasshi tried to pout, too, but his mouth can only make a smile now.

Overall Satosshi was amazed and impressed by the range of costumes on show this Halloween.

▼ Check out the triple Jibanyans in the back!

▼ Well we know Mr. Sato loves coffee, so it stands to reason that Satosshi does too!

▼ Three very tall Marilyns.

▼ Zombie schoolgirls!

▼ Kayakuda Don!

 ▼ And a very cute Princess Fiona!

But best of all, they found a kinsman and friend: a Funasshi!

▼ One of us! One of us!

Although very impressed with the costumes he saw, Satosshi couldn’t help but notice that most of the party-goers who’d really gone all-out were girls. All-in-all, he felt the guys he saw were holding back a little with their outfits. His message for any reluctant male costume-wearers next Halloween? Give a really out-there costume a go! There’s nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd, after all.

All photos (c) RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]

Related Stories

• We’re going bananas over these amazing Attack on Titan…bananas!【Photos】
• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• “But we’re speaking Japanese!”: Humorous video confronts lingering stereotypes in Japan
• We try to get the first PS4 sold in Japan, and so does this guy dressed like a Move controller
• Limited edition triple-size Lotte pie snack is so popular, we’re unable to get our hands on them!

Origin: Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi celebrates Halloween 2014 in his own special way!【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Earlier this week, we took a look at the year’s 20 most popular karaoke songs for teens, and found that the list was made up entirely of anime themes, vocaloid songs, and the Japanese version of “Let It Go” (proving there’s literally nowhere you can go where you won’t run into the Frozen hit). And while we’re sure the 2-D sweep put a smile on the face of otaku and technophiles, we can imagine some traditionalists grumbling about a lack of music with a connection to anything real.

Well, is a human-sized pear real enough for you?

Given the character’s hyper-active dance moves, it was only a matter of time before Funasshi, anthropomorphic pear and unofficial mascot of Chiba Prefecture’s Funabashi City, made his way into the music world. His first effort, the single for “Funa Funa Funasshi – Funasshi Official Theme Song” hit stores in November of 2013 and climbed all the way to number eight on the Oricon charts. This marked the best performance to date by a regional yuru-kyara mascot, besting the previous mark of number 13 set earlier that year by Kumamoto Prefecture’s Kumamon.

▼ The video for “Funa Funa Funasshi – Funasshi Official Theme Song”

Funasshi’s follow-up tune, this year’s “Boogey Boogey Funasshi – Funasshi Official Theme Song #2” didn’t soar quite as high, but still managed a respectable peak of number 12 on the charts last August. Maybe part of the second single’s lower sales, though, was because fans were waiting for the character’s first full album, which just dropped on December 17.

During the seven-day period ending December 21, Uki Uki Funasshi – Official Funasshi Album – Spurting Pear Juice sold 12,000 physical copies, landing it at number four on Oricon’s album charts. The unprecedented success marks the first time a regional mascot’s album has placed in the top five since Oricon began releasing its rankings in January of 1968.

The album, published by Universal Music, is said to be “packed with Funasshi’s rock soul and pear juice,” but employs a number of musical styles. Among the 11 tracks listeners will find not only the character’s two previously released singles, but also a “metal rock” number, plus the samba-infused “Rainbow in the Pear Sky.”

▼ If you feel like singing along, the lyrics are below

Ohayou taiyou. Kyou mo niko niko aozora da!
Good morning, sun! The sky’s so blue and cheerful again today!

Haiiro amagumo ha doko ka he tondetta
The gray rainclouds have all blown away
Arigatou Papa Mama. Yasashii eigao wo furimaite
Thank you, Papa and Mama. You always smile so kindly
Mainichi bokura ni genki wo kureru ne
And it makes us feel happy every day
Kanashii koto ha hayaku wasurechau nasshii
Let’s just forget about all the sad things – pear

Tanoshii koto matteiru. Genki ippai!
Fun things are waiting for us. We’re so happy!
Haru ni ohanami hyahhaa!
Cherry blossom viewing parties in the spring, hyahhaa!
Sakura chitteta yo busshaa!
The sakura petals scatter, busshaa!
Natsumatsuri kimi to hanabi doon!
Going to the summer festival with you, and watching fireworks, boom!
Itsumo issho
We’re always together
Doshaburi yandara nashizora reinboo.
When the rain stops, there’s a rainbow in the pear sky

Yuuyake koyake de sorosoro kaerou. Mata ashita
Just a little burned by the setting sun, it’s time to head home. See you tomorrow
Sakki ha gomen ne. Ii yo arigatou
Sorry about what happened earlier. Don’t worry about it, and thanks
Nakisou na toki ha itsumo denwa kurete
When you feel like you’re about to cry, give me a call, anytime

Dou demo ii koto hanasu waracchau
We’ll just talk about whatever and laugh
Aki ni ha undoukai wasshooi!
In the fall, the sports festival, wasshooi!

Oddly enough, after such an energetic performance up to that point, the video just sort of fades out in mid-song. Don’t worry, though. Given how well his CD is selling, we don’t think we’ve seen, or heard, the last of Funasshi’s special brand of weird cuteness. If you can’t bear the wait, though, you can order his album from Amazon Japan right here, right now.

Sources: Gadget Tsushin via Hachima Kikou
Top image: YouTube
Insert images: YouTube (1, 2)

Related Stories

• Fake Funasshi fails at function, foiled by fuzz for infringement
• Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
• 15 quotes from manga characters to pick you up when you’re feeling down
• Shiraishi Island needs YOUR character ideas!
• Jiggly yellow pear, Funasshi, named top mascot in Japan

Origin: Regional mascot/hyper pear Funasshi’s new album hits number four on Japanese charts【Videos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

With three unique box designs and eight toys to collect, this is one of the cutest character collaborations we’ve ever seen!

Funassyi is an adorable Japanese mascot character who unofficially represents the city of Funabashi, in Chiba Prefecture. The yellow pear-fairy has become so popular in recent years that it’s appeared in a number of TV programs and commercials, released a CD and even starred in its own anime series.

▼ If it’s your first time seeing Funassyi, you can find out all about the non-gendered mascot in this TV appearance below.

As testament to its popularity throughout Japan, an entire Happy Meal range from McDonald’s has now been created in its honour, and the cute toys in the collection perfectly match its crazy, hyperactive, enthusiastic personality.

▼ The first set of toys, on sale from 16 September, include: a “Donald Funassyi ” that runs on wheels and a plain Funassyi that pops up, which it’s been seen to do in real life.

▼ And there’s also a couple of Funassyi dressed in McDonald’s crew uniforms, with the one on the left featuring a lens that reveals four different scenes inside, and the one on the right scooting around on its bottom.

▼ From 23 September, four additional toys will be released, including an adorable “Dancing Funassyi”…

▼ A Funassyi playing hide-and-seek…

▼ A cheeky Funassyi, popping up from behind a pack of fries…

▼ And a Funassyi that gets clamped under a bun at the flick of a switch.

▼ The Happy Meal sets will also come in adorable new boxes featuring the funny character.

▼ Customers who purchase a Happy Meal on 17, 18 and 19 September will also receive an exclusive sticker set.

That’s a lot of love for one crazy pear character! The limited edition range will be on sale at McDonald’s store around the country from 16 September.

Source: McDonald’s Japan
Top Image: McDonald’s Japan (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert Images: McDonald’s Japan

Funasshi has had more than six years of celebrity fame, so maybe it’s time for the pear creature to have a little R&R.

You may not know it, but the life of a popular mascot character like Funasshi is jam-packed with activities. The yellow pear creature that has been the unofficial mascot for Funabashi City in Chiba Prefecture has been in the spotlight for more than six years!

After its appearance on a video sharing site that went viral in 2012, the dancing, jumping, jiggly anthropomorphic pear soon became an Internet sensation, which landed it its first TV break that same year. That was quickly followed by a steady stream of commercial roles and television appearances, and even a musical debut. The character is so popular that it’s been able to sell over 800 million yen (US$7.22 million) worth of merchandise!

Yes, Funasshi has been busy, but such a tight schedule of public appearances can take a toll on a person, and a fruit, which is apparently why Funasshi hasn’t been appearing on many TV shows recently. It did make an appearance on February 18’s Shabekuri 007 x Deep and Touching One Minute Stories that Will Change Your Life ~Compilation Special~, where it talked about its recent PR absences.

▼ “Being active for six to seven years is a little hard on the body,” it said. “To put it simply.”

とぉっー♪ヾ(。゜▽゜)ノみんなー今日も一日お疲れ様なっしー♪
春になると無性にスキップしたくなるなっしなー♪
スキップ着地に犬のうんぽ踏んだあの頃を思い出すなっしー♪
明日みんなスキップしていろんなもの踏みます様に梨汁ブシャー:＊
もやスキップ pic.twitter.com/jMAEfdELY3

— ふなっしー (@funassyi) February 25, 2019

After nearly seven years of a busy schedule, Funasshi is feeling the physical toll of its lively and energetic dancing. Apparently it’s tired enough to think about going back to its pear-filled homeland. “To be honest,” it said, “I’d like to go back to the mystical Land of Pears and just relax, but I feel bad for all of the people who have supported me up until now.”

Funasshi’s income has also decreased in proportion to its workload, but the good news is it’s not struggling for money. It keeps all of its savings in pears, which it says it has collected about one million of. Considering pears in Japan can cost about 300 yen apiece, Funasshi could be sitting on a nice pot of 300 million yen (US$2.7 million)!

It’s also living well below its means in a modest one bedroom apartment in Funabashi, which measures about 60 square meters (about 650 square feet), so if it needs to retire in Pear Land, it certainly has the means to do so.

みんなー今日も一日お疲れ様なっしー♪ヾ(。゜▽゜)ノふにゃみんなが喜んでくれて良かったなっしなー♪
ふにゃの頑張りがみんなに伝わっているなっしー♪
これからも梨ファミリー力を合わせて日本を元気に世界を笑顔にしていくなっしー♪

明日もみんなに幸せを願って梨汁ブシャー:＊
もやファミリー pic.twitter.com/CNvaLCQJi5

— ふなっしー (@funassyi) February 24, 2019

But Funasshi is not abandoning its fans any time soon. To help manage the workload, Funasshi has brought other Funasshis from Pear Land to help it; together, they’ve started to split the jobs and the physical toll so that Funasshi doesn’t have to abandon its fans by retiring or taking a break.

So, for now, fans will still have Funasshi around to bring them daily joy, but hopefully it doesn’t strain itself too badly. We wouldn’t want it to cause fans to worry as much as X-Japan’s Yoshiki’s fans worry about him!

Source: Narinari.com
Featured image: Twitter/@funassyi
Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!