Kumamoto Gov. Ikuo Kabashima on Tuesday took Kumamon to Harvard to give a lecture at one of America's most prestigious universities on how the cuddly black bear mascot has helped "maximize the overall happiness" of the prefecture's residents.
Later at Fenway Park in nearby Boston, the pair later met Wally, the mascot of the Red Sox, this year's World Series champions.
At Harvard, more than 100 students and other people packed the hall to listen to Kabashima's lecture, which was titled "Kumamon's political science and economics." The 66-year-old governor has a doctorate in political economics from the Ivy League school.