Kumamon, the popular black bear character and mascot of southwestern Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, has been on a "business trip" to China for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking excitement for local fans thrilled to have the opportunity to interact with the character once again.
With a visit to Shanghai, Kumamon returned to mainland China after a hiatus of some three and a half years. The character, known as "Xiong Ben Xiong" in China, has gained popularity in the country, and some fans took pictures with him while others hugged the mascot at an event in the city on Wednesday.
Kumamon, who calls himself a "sales manager" tasked with bringing happiness to people, also handed out his "business cards" to event participants and promoted tourism to the prefecture.
A woman in her 20s said she was happy to "see Xiong Ben Xiong in action for the first time" at the event.
On Friday, Kumamon visited a Shanghai secondary school that promotes Japanese language education. He thanked former students who donated to help those affected by the major 2016 earthquakes in Kumamoto.
Following the pair of quakes in Kumamoto, volunteers at the school collected donations worth 6,000 yuan ($825) and sent messages of encouragement to those affected by the disasters.
Mao Liming, 15, said the donation campaign was "proof of a China-Japan friendship" and expressed hope that she will visit Kumamoto and join exchange activities between the two countries.
Kumamon was initially created in March 2010 to promote Kumamoto ahead of the launch of the Kyushu shinkansen bullet train service the following year.
