The evolution of Funassyi, Part 26: The City of Funabashi Thanks Funassyi, Finally
On October 30, 2013, Mayor Matsudo of Funabashi presented Funassyi with a Certificate of Gratitude (kansha-jo) for helping to promote Funabashi and its products, especially pears (previously). The presentation was done in City Hall, in front of a group of children from neighboring nursery schools and kindergartens. Funaemon, the main official mascot of Funabashi, was also in attendance.
Funassyi sounds tearful when he gives his acceptance speech, saying how he “started this on my own, without asking anyone for permission” and that he was “so grateful for the recognition”. After the cold shoulder he got from city hall early in his career, under the previous mayor’s admnistration, it may have been a bittersweet moment for Funassyi, but as always he is gracious.
The video above is Part 1 of 4; the rest are below.
Part 2: Funassyi is presented with a free pass to all public baths in Funabashi. (In 2013 “Funassyi is smelly and dirty” was an ongoing topic in the media - as explained here.) He’s also presented with drawings of himself by some of the children in attendance. Mayor Matsudo closes with a short speech, asking Funassyi for his continued cooperation in promoting Funabashi.
Part 3: Funassyi answers questions from the assembled press corps. Among other things, he mentions that some of his fans called Funabashi City Hall complaining about Funassyi being unofficial, and asking why they didn’t make him official. He apologized for “inconveniencing” City Hall, since he was just doing this (being Funassyi) of his own volition. He also says that his favorite place in Funabashi is “a great ramen restaurant”, and that his big remaining goal for the year was to appear on the Kohaku Utagassen show on New Year’s Eve (note: he achieved that goal in 2013 and 2014).
Part 4: The obligatory photos. Note how Funaemon gently leads Funassyi by the hand when directed by the MC to go to the front, and how Funassyi gives the kids a few more jumps and head bangs, and shakes hands with the front row before he exits.
