Kumamon visits Boston

Looks like it's a largely Japanese media contingent, does anyone in USA take this stuff seriously?

I see people every day on the train and the streets who look just like Kumamon.

Kumamon went to congraturate Red Sox. Even strange loss on third game, Red Sox politely won WS..

Laughing stock

taxpayer yen hard at work

Ummm... sorry, but the 'large' media presence there seems to be only Japanese.

Ridiculous...

Ummm They seem to be asked in Boston, but it must be at Japan.....??

I wonder who gave the more intelligent answers.

Don't be ragging on poor ol' Kumamon. He's just happy to be travelling and meeting more people. If Kumamon does for Japan tourism what he did for Kumamoto's then who can be ragging on him?

Uehara and Tazawa videos were all over in USA when Sox Won. . More like ly Kumamon traveling dosts were paid by MLB. The cameramen look like typical American sport casters (Chinese?) Especially Uehara's last inning photo when Sox won was even in regular newa time, though they had problem in pronouncing Uehara. Intelligent answer by Red Sox will be Please Angelw, don;t try to take our Japanese players with your huge money. We even invited Kumamon.

Japanese tax money poorly spent.

For all of you having a laugh, feeling superior and looking down on what you think is Japan's childish side (How many are the same that complained about Japan being racist? Remember it works both ways.), you should be interested to know that Kumamoto Governor Kabashima spoke at Harvard University and the title of the lecture was 'The Political Economy of Kumamon: A New Frontier in Japan’s Public Administration'. That is the reason for his visit to the Boston area. Furthermore, Governor Kabashima earned both his MPA and PhD at Harvard University. So, I am quite sure his answers to any questions were intelligent.

So, I am quite sure his answers to any questions were intelligent.

About as intelligent as they can be sitting next to a guy dressed up like a cartoon character.

About as intelligent as they can be sitting next to a guy dressed up like a cartoon character.

The creation of the character (still one of the most popular in Japan) and its extremely successful use as a promotional tool for Kumamoto Prefecture, in addition to the fact that he was invited by Harvard University to talk about this phenomenon, should speak for itself about the intelligence of sitting next to it.

I think the governor is having the last laugh :

http://fukuoka-now.com/news/kumamon-rakes-in-the-yen/

I think the governor is having the last laugh :

I agree.

There is no harm in building Soft-Power of a nation by such things. Koreans went all the way with their Gangnam and Japan is trying for this. However, very few seem to be amused by Kumanon.

Fantastic. Japanese politico flies around the world with a man in a suit, and the Japanese media can fly after him to take some photos. This is then reported in the Japanese media as evidence of a non-existent Western obsession with kawaii japaneseness.

And we all get to pay more tax because there's no money left.

Why the pinpoint pupils? Meth?

Eautaceux Janais wrote "Why the pinpoint pupils? Meth?"

NOPE!

It's the normal reaction of eyes to the bright lights of sweet success. Plus, it's just cute.

i was just wondering if kumamon speaks or not. most mascots, besides funashi, don't speak.

no offense to kumamon, but the mascot craze in japan borders on overkill. from prefectures to companies, there's a mascot.

For all of you having a laugh, feeling superior and looking down on what you think is Japan's childish side (How many are the same that complained about Japan being racist? Remember it works both ways.), you should be interested to know that Kumamoto Governor Kabashima spoke at Harvard University and the title of the lecture was 'The Political Economy of Kumamon: A New Frontier in Japan’s Public Administration'. That is the reason for his visit to the Boston area. Furthermore, Governor Kabashima earned both his MPA and PhD at Harvard University. So, I am quite sure his answers to any questions were intelligent.

And yet, He gives a press conference with a stuffed animal....

Spot on, slumdog ! (All postings!)

Some people just like to have a grumpy reaction to anything light hearted and harmless.

When Uehara finished final three pitch to win, all sort of American sport announcers were busy completing final Boston Red Sox winning and hagging. Some local media wondered where are Japanese media. Kumamon and Kumamoto Governor visiting their field must be very emotional for these two Japanese players,.

I think it's noteworthy that Japanese baseball is reaching international standards. Now the only question is when will there be a real world series?

slumdog: "For all of you having a laugh, feeling superior and looking down on what you think is Japan's childish side....", "...you should be interested to know that Kumamoto Governor Kabashima spoke at Harvard University and the title of the lecture was 'The Political Economy of Kumamon: A New Frontier in Japan’s Public Administration'."

So, we shouldn't think it childish that such an accredited man took a quite cheap-looking bear mascot to be interviewed by Japanese media in a foreign nation after a baseball victory that has nothing to do with the bear?

"Furthermore, Governor Kabashima earned both his MPA and PhD at Harvard University."

So he decided to take a bear with him. How much of this was covered in local (by that I mean Boston) media? and how hard were they laughing?

An Open Letter to Provincial Japanese Beaurocrats

You do yourselves and your country no favors by promoting infantile mascots to represent your prefectures and your nation.

Americans respect self-respect. Get some.

That mascot looks just like your typical Japanese salaryman. Oh, er, hang on a minute...

gelender: we just say WS but actually MLBWS. Major league Baseball World Series.