Tokyo life starting with painting

Kumamoto Prefecture set aside an official venue specifically for Kumamon, and this venue was named ‘Kuma Pavilion’. (kuma means bear in Japanese)

There are three to four Kumamon performances in this venue every day, which are completely free promotional performances.

This is also a place where many locals from Kumamoto Prefecture like to bring their three-, four-, and four-five-year-old children.

For example, the 26-year-old young lady Koyama Hazuki likes to bring her daughter here to watch Kumamon performances.

With Kumamoto Prefecture’s vigorous promotion of local people, coupled with Kumamoto’s cute image, Kumamon has long been a particularly popular mascot character among these children.

Especially during the Chinese New Year, many parents brought their children to Kuma Pavilion because they had nothing to do.

The atmosphere inside the venue was very lively, with many children shouting Kumamon's name excitedly, hoping that the representative mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture would appear soon.

Of course, Koyama Hazuki couldn't shout along with them like a child. She was talking and laughing with the neighbor's wife who also came to watch the show. The main discussion was about where to buy new clothes and go shopping after watching the show.

Just when they were talking passionately——

The entire venue fell silent for a moment.

It can be said that one second it was full of children's voices, and the next second it was completely silent.

There is a heavy atmosphere in the air.

This made Hazuki Koyama look around in surprise, and then saw Kumamon who was greeting him on the performance stage.

She turned to look at her daughter again, only to find that her daughter's nose was twitching, her eyes were red, and she looked like she was about to cry in the next second.

Um? how so?

"Didn't Kumamon come out? Why are you crying?" She touched her daughter's head and asked lovingly.

Before her daughter could answer, a little boy next to her suddenly shouted——

"That's not Kumamon! It doesn't have Kumamon's blush!"

Only then did Hazuki Koyama notice that Kumamon, who was standing on the stage with his head tilted and looking naughty and cute, really had no blush.

The children below shouted together.

This made the host on the stage in a hurry. With an embarrassed look on his face, a group of security guards carried Kumamon away as if he had done something wrong.

In the afternoon, the Kumamoto Prefectural Government held a press conference.

At the press conference, the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture bowed heavily to the press staff and said apologetically: "I regret to inform you that after our investigation, Kumamoto's blusher was accidentally lost and it was verified that it could not be returned to the county government. Found inside. But Kumamon’s blush has a deep meaning, symbolizing our Kumamoto Prefecture’s tomatoes, horse meat and other specialties. We will definitely spare no effort to find it!”

This must be another marketing ploy by Kumamon.

Akashi Ryuji, who was standing next to the TV, couldn't help but shake his head when he saw the news.

The idea of ​​holding a press conference for a Kumamon "blush" is indeed very clever.

And it’s quite interesting how the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture said something very funny in a serious manner, but——

This time there is really a lack of explosive points.

It's just that Kumamon's blusher was lost. It's nothing worth paying attention to. Just find it.

Compared with the previous marketing methods of the sales director, this pales in comparison.

But it’s okay, and it’s barely enough material to be included in a magazine.

Just when Akashi Ryuji was about to raise his hand to record this material, he heard the Kumamoto Prefecture Governor say seriously: "We have officially entrusted the Kumamoto Prefecture police to set up a special investigation team, and we will definitely investigate the missing cheeks." Red is back!"

Wait a minute?

Has a special investigation team been set up? Just for this kind of thing?

Akashi Ryuji opened his mouth wide, and he soon thought again - this was another strategy to promote Kumamon in a serious and funny way.

Kumamoto Prefecture seems to have been creating a government image that is more relevant to the new generation of young people, and it can be said that it has spared no effort in promoting Kumamon Bear.

The governor of Kumamoto Prefecture also made various appearances to help promote the event.

As soon as the words "police and investigation team" come out, it will definitely attract the attention of many people. Young people will find it particularly interesting, because this is a joke taken by Japanese officials.

This kind of funny mischief is very close to the people.

On the other side, the older generation will definitely be particularly angry. At least the social critics will definitely say something like ‘a waste of police power’.

But it's okay, at least the prefectural police won't go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to file a case.

When Akashi Ryuji was holding the cup and wanted to take a sip of water, he heard the Kumamoto Prefecture Governor speaking on the TV again——

"We have submitted materials, and Kumamon will personally go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to file a case. We will also apply for them to set up a special investigation team to assist us in the investigation."

ah?

puff! ! !

Akashi Ryuuji couldn't take a sip of water and almost choked to death: "Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department?!"

Looking at the Kumamoto Governor who kept bowing and apologizing in front of the flashlight, even he had some doubts as to whether someone had really stolen all the blush on the Kumamon leather case.

You know, that's the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department!

Put it this way.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has jurisdiction over the entire police force in Tokyo, including 826 police stations, 102 police stations, 258 station offices, and 84 regional security centers. The number of police officers reaches more than 43,000.

That is a large organization with more than 43,000 police officers. If Kumamon can successfully file a case, it will be a big deal for the entire Japan!

Akashi Ryuji wiped his mouth and watched the urgent news attentively.

Kumamoto Prefecture is very considerate. As soon as the camera at the press conference turned, it immediately came to the perspective of reporters following Kumamon.

A group of reporters followed the swarthy Kumamon.

We did go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department!

Kumamon, who had lost his blush, held the materials in his hands and submitted them to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department personnel. The moment the other party nodded and successfully accepted it, Akashi Ryuji felt that the world had turned upside down.

All he could think about was - is there still such an operation in Japan?

This is no longer a big news issue!

Even the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department started making trouble with Kumamon!

It wasn't until now that Akashi Ryuuji reacted.

This is no longer a simple marketing tool as previously thought.

This is a New Year carnival carefully planned by Kumamoto Prefecture!

In particular, the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture also mentioned: "If Kumamon blush can be found in various places and returned by mail, Kumamon will personally distribute the New Year's bonus to everyone."

As soon as these words were spoken, Akashi Ryuuji became even more certain.

Kumamoto Prefecture has been planning for a long time!

Just waiting to launch this carnival during the New Year period.

And this also made Akashi Ryuji more concerned about who was the person who proposed this plan?

Yes, this is what Akashi Ryuuji cares about most.

As an article writer, he naturally cannot just look at the surface. He must also grasp the hot news hidden under the surface.

Besides, with such an expert, why was Kumamon’s marketing performance so poor before? All of them were immediately pulled over.

not understand. I really don't understand.

Akashi Ryuuji hoped that his acquaintances in Kumamoto Prefecture could help him find out the reason, so that he could get first-hand information and write the entire article.

"Kumamon is really going to be a big hit this time."

Akashi Ryuji looked at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, which was linked to Kumamon, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Although the process was bumpy and bumpy, and it was scolded by many incomprehensible social critics, the final result was just as Higashinoji expected.

The online discussion about Kumamon has attracted more than 200,000 people in Japan in one day.

Kumamon is completely popular!

Although there are a small number of negative reviews nowadays, most of them are still positive reviews - there is nothing that can be done about it. Zero negative reviews like those in novels are simply a fantasy.

Many people who didn’t know about Kumamon before now know clearly about Kumamon’s existence.

Kumamon and Kumamoto Prefecture also enjoyed the popularity.

Many people also know that there is Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, and Kumamoto Bear is the mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture.

People are looking for Kumamon's blusher everywhere, not because of the prize money, but because it is really interesting - everyone is bored at home all the time during the New Year.

Although you can live a lazy life, you can join in the fun, and there will still be people who laugh and go out to play with a group of friends in the name of Kumamon.

In this regard, some young people in Japan are still different from China.

If in China, after finally celebrating the New Year and taking a winter vacation, it is estimated that many young people in China will be sealed by the quilt monster and call "Mom" while sleeping in bed.

Or maybe the eyes are up but the body is not up yet.

In short, the current situation is very good, Kumamon is on fire.

Taking advantage of this craze, the name of Higashino Kumamon designer was once again dragged out by many media and repeatedly hyped, and it felt like being whipped to death.

What's the matter? 'Following the genius cartoonist, the genius designer may also have the title of Higashino Tsukasa! ''Japan's future star, Higashino Tsukasa, the designer who shoulders Japan's future! ’ ‘Interviewing with classmate Higashinoji, it turned out that in the eyes of his classmates, he actually looked like this? ’

These headlines have as many secondary problems as they do Higashinoji's scalp feels inexplicably numb just looking at these names.

He originally didn't take the flattering comments from the media to heart at all. After all, the media is a thing that will support you when the wind goes well and despise you when the wind goes against you.

But for a new star like this, it’s so embarrassing to shoulder the future of Japan.

Maybe the Japanese are very used to this kind of flattery, but Higashinoji felt goosebumps all over his body when he heard it.

Among these news, a piece of news suddenly popped up that made Tonoji more concerned.

It's not like he jumped out, but when Higashinoji was walking on the road, Fukure Kirito suddenly came over and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Higashino-sensei for establishing the Higashino Group."

Higashino Formation

This title, which is similar to the underworld, makes Tonoji somewhat concerned.

So he asked members of his marketing team to help search for news and finally determined where the name 'Higashino Group' came from.

Not news, but a magazine article called Trending Now.

The headline above is also very easy to understand – ‘Kumamon’s successful marketing? No! This is a victory for the Higashino team! ’

This article focuses on the operating conditions behind Kumamon and the main initiator of this operation plan-Higashinoji.

The article reads: As we all know well, Higashinoji, also known as Mr. Higashino, is only seventeen years old. At this age when his peers are still in school, Higashinoji can be a cartoonist and oil painter. The designer of Rising Star and Kumamon is not an exaggeration to say he is a genius.

The seventeen-year-old Kumamon designer also carefully planned this Kumamon New Year carnival!

After detailed investigation by the author, Kumamon's popularity fell into a downturn a few years ago. The reason was that Kumamon's marketing strategy was too old-fashioned and conservative. In order to save Kumamon, whose popularity was gradually declining, the Kumamoto Prefectural Government invited Higashino Tsukasa to become the leader of the marketing team a week ago. Then a week later, various marketing methods were rolled out, and Kumamon went from dying in an instant. The situation comes alive!

There is definitely an indispensable contribution from Mr. Higashino!

Mr. Higashino, it was not the joint efforts of the Higashino group that created this rare situation!

The author wrote a lot of things later, which probably explained some of the situations and problems faced by Higashinoji in the marketing group.

It can be seen that the other party's investigation is very detailed, and he knows at least some of the inside stories.

At the end of the article, the other party also specifically used the words "The Higashino group that all Kumamon fans are looking forward to is established!" 'This sentence.

This sentence was spread by Kumamon fans in a short period of time, forming an organization similar to a fan club.

‘Higashino-gumi’ means Higashino fans.

This time, fans of "Midnight Ring", "The Winner Is Justice", and "The Lonely Gourmet" all stood up and said that they were also members of the Higashino Group and that everyone was a fan of Higashino Tsukasa.

This is how the name of the Higashino Group was established.

It makes it look like Higashinoji is like a Japanese gang leader.

This made Higashikata shake his head speechlessly.

These fans can't do anything else, Gonghuo is really the number one.

If they knew that he was at best a temporary worker in Kumamoto Prefecture, he would be quitting his job and returning to Tokyo in two days. He didn't know where the Higashino group would go.

but

never mind.

In this way, the warm-up of the Shinkansen and Kumamon linkage is over.

What really makes money is not marketing or popularity.

But how to turn heat into cash.

Now that the popularity is enough, it depends on how the Shinkansen and Kumamoto Prefecture will operate in the future.

Anyway, what happens after that has nothing to do with Higashinoji.

He still has a lot on his hands.

Of course, the most important thing is the news from Musashino Art University——

It is now possible to officially submit entries for the Art Creation Awards, and submissions will be due in two months.

This made Touyesi confused.

oh--

They had all forgotten that there was such a thing.