Funassyi talks about the unyielding determination of Funabashi’s 10th anniversary of local character activities “Hyaha in any situation”: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

The unofficial character “Funassyi” from Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Funassyi, born from an illustration of a single citizen, has become a nationally popular person with violent movements and light talk that are not like mascots. Even now that the boom has settled down, the idea of ​​”everything is for the fans in front of me” has not changed. (Kohei Oshima)

* There is a link to the full interview at the end of the article.

◆ From “completely suspicious person” to popular person nationwide

Funassyi is a “local character” that appeals to Funabashi’s specialty pears. Unlike other characters, he continues his activities as an “individual” who has not revealed his identity without the support of local governments. With a design that imitates a pear, there is a story of “sunfish” that crushes her face with both hands.

The activity started on Twitter in 2011. With the mascot boom as a tailwind, fans were gathered with free-spirited posts. She gradually became told “I want to meet” through Twitter, and asked a Chinese contractor to make a costume based on the illustration. In the spring of 2012, he started full-scale activities such as realizing interaction with fans for the first time.

Funassyi recalls that time, “I was happy that the fans really came to see me. At that time, I wasn’t thinking of doing such a big thing.”

Initially, he was a “completely suspicious person” (Funassyi), but his appearance on a TV commercial for a beverage maker in 2013 was a turning point. The violent movements in his commercials became a hot topic, and he appeared in numerous media. He gained national recognition, but it wasn’t the form Funassyi wanted. “Originally, a local character to have a good time at a local festival. I have no intention of staying in the entertainment world.”

In the TV appearance, we also challenged planning such as skydiving that comedians would challenge. On location in Mexico in the middle of summer, he had a heat stroke and even jumped into the sea to meet a whale shark. “I wondered if I was dead at this time,” she said with a laugh.

◆ Promote original activities rooted in the community

In recent years, he hasn’t appeared in the media as much as he used to, but he continues to work rooted in Funabashi. Appeared twice in the limited-time wrapping vehicle of Shin-Keisei Electric Railway (Kamagaya City, Chiba Prefecture). We have also completed the Funasshi Park, a park where children can play in Funabashi City. She also continues to deliver presents to children in Funabashi on Christmas. She aims to be “a hero who entertains someone, like the old Tiger Mask.”

We are planning many commemorative events this year, which is the 10th anniversary of our activities, but we have a common feeling of gratitude to our fans. There is a feeling that it is not loose as a mascot that entertains people. “Characters are cheerful and cheerful. Characters are cheerful and cheerful in any situation.”

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