Interest

Eva, Haruhi Heroes Donate to Tiger Mask Movement

The Tiger Mask movement gained even more momentum as Japanese orphanages and other facilities reported over 290 donations since Christmas. As of Wednesday, the gifts include over 350 backpacks and a total of 10 million yen (about US$120,000) in cash. Not only were there gifts under the name of the manga/anime pro wrestler Tiger Mask, but also other cultural icons:

• Takasaki, Gunma: On Monday, an anonymous woman left the Kibōkan facility a pre-paid Tosho card worth 30,000 yen (about US$360). Then, on Tuesday, the Kibōkan received 60,000 yen (US$720) in cash in the mail under the name of "Rei Ayanami" — the character from the Evangelion anime franchise. The enclosed letter read, "I'm a student so I can't give much, but here is a belated New Year's gift."

• Nasushiobara, Tochigi: A man brought four backpacks to the prefecture's northern child guidance center at around 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the man, a male stranger asked him to bring the backpacks over from the parking lot of a nearby supermarket. The accompanying letter was signed "Ryōji Kaji" — another Evangelion character.

• Matsusaka, Mie: The municipal offices discovered six dozen pencils for girls, Minnie Mouse and Hello Kitty erasers, memo pads, writing boards, and letter sets on its doorstep on Wednesday morning. Inside a Pokémon paper bag was a letter signed by Haruhi Suzumiya of the light novels and anime franchise of the same name: "I don't use these anymore, so please use them for children in need."

• Saitama, Saitama: The prefecture's southern child guidance center received stationery sets from Shinosuke Nohara — the title kindergartner of the manga and anime Crayon Shin-chan. Usui, the late creator of Crayon Shin-chan, lived in Saitama Prefecture and based the stories' setting on his own Kasukabe City.

• Yokote, Akita: Authorities received 100,000 yen (US$1,200) under the name of Arsène Lupin. That is the name of Maurice Leblanc's gentleman thief in French detective literature and Monkey Punch's manga/anime character Lupin III, which was loosely inspired by Leblanc's stories.

• Nagoya, Aichi: Authorities received stationery from Kamen Rider, the titular characters of the popular live-action special-effects franchise.

• Hirosaki, Aomori: Authorities received three bicycles from "Ultraman's father." Ultraman is the star of Tsuburaya Productions' live-action (and anime) franchise about transforming super heroes who protect Earth.

• Sendai, Miyagi: The authorities received backpacks from "Date Masamune." Date is not only the famous real-life samurai warlord who made Sendai's Aoba Castle his base of operations, but he also stars in the Sengoku Basara game and anime franchise.

• Tokushima, Tokushima: The authorities received pastries and stationery from Hyūma Hoshi — the title character of the classic baseball manga and anime Kyojin no Hoshi.

• Aomori, Aomori: Authorities received 1 million yen (US$12,000) under the name of the Disney character Stitch!.

Sources: Sports Nippon, Sankei News (link 2), Zakzak, Nikkan Sports

Update: • Miyazaki, Miyazaki: Gift-wrapped stationery and a clock were left at the Caritas no En orphanage on Wednesday morning. A note from the anime robot "Tetsujin 28-go" (Gigantor) said, "I feel this isn't much, but please accept these." Source: Nishi Nippon Shimbun