Jun 04 (Japan Today) - In the vast ecosystem of costumed mascots in Japan, the Kumamoto Prefectural character Kumamon probably stands at the top of the food chain. His empire has been estimated well into the billions of yen annually and he has even gained a following in China.
While the money and fame is great, there is also a cost to reaching the top. As the de facto representative of all mascots – the mascots' mascot if you will – there is a heavy responsibility to act with the grace and dignity becoming of the post.
Unfortunately for a brief but tragic moment, Kumamon forgot this and decided to get a little naughty during a April 5 broadcast of "Eitaro No Kataranne" filmed on location in Minamiaso, Kumamoto.
In the video, show correspondent Hiroki Ota and Kumamon visited a roadside service station to try some of the regional specialty Tonkatsu Soba. After placing the meal on the table, Kumamon suddenly grabbed Ota's chair and pulled it out from under him.
Ota fell flat on his buttocks while some of the piping hot soup splashed onto him. After writhing in pain on the ground for about half a minute, Ota got up and said he would try the food a little later. At the time of the fall it appeared as if Ota might have landed on the microphone battery clipped around his waist as well.
