The pear-like character Funassyi may seem at first glance to be from another world, but the unofficial mascot of Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, is starting to make a real difference in this one.
The yurukyara character, notable as much for its excess of energy as for the mystery surrounding its creator, has privately donated part of the proceeds from its activities to people who suffered from the devastating March 11 disasters, which mark their fifth anniversary Friday.
Minamisanriku Mishin Kobo, a craft studio in the Miyagi Prefecture town of Minamisanriku, was founded in fall 2011 to give local women a chance to earn money with their sewing skills. The studio is just one of the organizations receiving help from the popular mascot.