What you should know about KUMAMON (+ my CRAZY Kumamon story) | Japan Station 188

What you should know about KUMAMON (+ my CRAZY Kumamon story) | Japan Station 188

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk all about Jaan's most famous "local mascot" Kumamon. We cover everything you should know about Kumamoto's most beloved bear. I also share an absolutely crazy story that happened to me when I went to see the Kumamon show in Kumamoto in the fall os 2025.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About Kumamon
  • How Kumamon was created
  • The history of Kumamon
  • Who created Kumamon
  • How Kumamon used to look quite different when he was first unveiled
  • How Kumamon's appearance changed
  • About Kumamon's creepy appearance
  • About the Osaka press conference that introduced Kumamon to the world
  • How much money Kumamon has generated over the past 15 yeas
  • What the name Kumamon means
  • About yurukyara/local mascots
  • About the unique free license system Kumamoto used to help popularize Kumamon
  • What the name Kumamon means
  • How Kumamoto police are using Warumon (a Kumamon knock off) to raise awareness of scams/crimes
  • About the (almost) daily free Kumamon show iin Kumamoto at Kumamon Sqaure
  • My absolutely insane Kumamon story
  • And much more!
👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi 👉Affiliate Links

Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo.

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Here is a screenshot of a photo of what the Kumamon suit looked like when it was first created. As you can see, the head appears to be mostly the same but the body is skinnier and has fur. The suit also appears to be baggier. As a result, this gives Kumamon a somewhat unsettling appearance. This image is from this Asahi Shinbun article.

👉Follow on Social Media

Jaksot(217)

How charcoal is saving this rural Japanese town (Ami Eldridge of Sumizumi LLC) | Japan Station 190

How charcoal is saving this rural Japanese town (Ami Eldridge of Sumizumi LLC) | Japan Station 190

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Ami Eldridge, the co-founder of Sumizumi LLC, a company in rural Kochi Prefecture trying to revitalize the area through charcoal production. 👉Topics Discus...

5 Tammi 32min

Why "religion" in Japan doesn't make sense (to Westerners): A Talk with Hiroko Yoda | Japan Station 189

Why "religion" in Japan doesn't make sense (to Westerners): A Talk with Hiroko Yoda | Japan Station 189

On this episode of Japan Station, author Hiroko Yoda joins us to talk about the complexities of religious and spirituality in Japan, a topic she covers in her new book Eight Million Ways to Happiness....

31 Joulu 202557min

Understanding Christmas in Japan (About Japanese Christmas) | Japan Station 187/Ichimon Japan 67

Understanding Christmas in Japan (About Japanese Christmas) | Japan Station 187/Ichimon Japan 67

This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022). On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Christmas like in Japan? (About Japanese Christ...

9 Joulu 20251h 4min

Hanakin: What does it mean? (Dead Japanese Slang) | Japan Station 186

Hanakin: What does it mean? (Dead Japanese Slang) | Japan Station 186

On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the world of dead Japanese Bubble Era slang. Specifically, I talk about the term hanakin (花金). Also I talk about the days of the week during World War II i...

2 Joulu 202517min

He WALKED 3200 km across ALL of JAPAN! (Sensei Martian) | Japan Station 185

He WALKED 3200 km across ALL of JAPAN! (Sensei Martian) | Japan Station 185

On this episode of Japan Station, Sensei Martian talks about what it was like walking 3200 km from Cape Sata, the southernmost point on mainland Japan, to Cape Soya, the northernmost point on mainland...

28 Marras 202557min

I walked across KYUSHU! Here's what happened (Kyushu Challenge Wrap Up) | Japan Station 184

I walked across KYUSHU! Here's what happened (Kyushu Challenge Wrap Up) | Japan Station 184

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the Kyushu Challenge, my recent 558 km walk from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi to Sakurajima, Kagoshima. 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge The route I...

20 Marras 202555min

How I got my CHEAPEST Japan ticket EVER! | Japan Station 183

How I got my CHEAPEST Japan ticket EVER! | Japan Station 183

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about how I was able to save money on airfare for my latest trip to Japan. I also share how I almost lost money due to a luggage issue and I talk about why reg...

14 Marras 202530min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
psykopodiaa-podcast
psykologia
adhd-podi
rss-rahamania
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
rss-valo-minussa-2
kesken
rahapuhetta
rss-narsisti
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
leikitaanko-laakaria
rss-niinku-asia-on
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-arkea-ja-aurinkoa-podcast-espanjasta
dear-ladies
rss-psykalab