I feel like I might get scolded with "not again," but here is more on Funassyi, the unofficial yuru-chara of Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture.
On my way back from Takebashi, at a bookstore along the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, I spotted a sign for "Funassyi DVD Funamix 7.25 in store" and "Pre-orders now accepted"= photo upper left. Reserve tickets= photos upper right and lower right= are being handed out too. Honestly, it rivals a major artist or a popular gravure idol.
An excerpt from the Amazon product description reads —
"Watch it and feel a little better, nasshi! Everyone's work and study
goes smoother, nasshi! Economic recovery, hooray! That's 'Funamix,' nasshi! Go wild! Talk! Bounce! Run! Roll! Sing! Sulk! Get tired! ? A freshly shot 'yuru' location DVD packed with the offbeat charm of Funassyi, who keeps overturning the common sense of local mascots. ... Introducing Funabashi's recommended spots, trying bicycles, jump boxes, 50-meter dashes, rowing boats, and all sorts of other challenges, taking on food reports, performing original songs live ... rampaging in every direction! Just plain fun, utterly pointless! ? A DVD that makes you feel a little better when you watch it!"
The copy is pretty over the top, and the obvious Abenomics tie-in is "a bit much," but perhaps that anything-goes attitude isFunassyi's signature.
Tall poppies get cut down — that's life. Women's magazines ran pieces like "Funabashi City says NO to official recognition! 'Spendthrift criticism' too" (Josei Seven, May 23 issue), yet the popularity endures. Since July 3, in the anime "Nyuru Nyuru!! KAKUSEN-kun" on Tokyo MX, Funassyi has appeared under its "real name" and even made a voice-acting debut, I hear. The show is full of Funassyi-like characters to begin with, so whether it stands out is debatable.
On TV Asahi's Sunday-night "SmaStation" broadcast on July 6, in the first-half 2013 hit ranking, it placed a solid second after "Imadesho" prep schools. It was grouped with Kumamon and others under "new popular characters keep appearing," but in the regular quiz corner
, "Unofficial yet popular ... Funabashi City's?" was the question, and guest Masanao Takashima said, "The name wasn't given, but I knew."= photo upper center.
When everyone starts competing — "I know!" "Me too" "Me too" — you've made it, I suppose.