Kumamon anniversary thanks
Kumamon, the Kumamoto prefecture mascot, marked 10 years since the 2016 earthquake with a public thank‑you to supporters, a post that garnered over 14,000 likes. (x.com) The message ties tourism and local recovery remembrance into the mascot’s ongoing regional promotion. (x.com)
Kumamon used the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes to thank supporters in a public message tied to remembrance and recovery. (x.com) The earthquakes struck Kumamoto Prefecture in April 2016, and memorial events were held on April 12 and April 14, 2026, to mark a decade since the disaster. Jiji Press reported that people in Mashiki, one of the hardest-hit towns, offered flowers and silent prayers this week. (jen.jiji.com) Jiji Press also reported that the 2016 quakes killed 278 people and were the first in Japan’s recorded history to register the maximum seismic intensity of 7 twice. The anniversary has brought new ceremonies, official pamphlets and public messages across the prefecture. (jen.jiji.com) Kumamoto City’s 10-year recovery pamphlet says the prefecture is treating 2026 as a milestone for remembrance, reconstruction and gratitude to people who supported the region after the disaster. The document describes a policy shift “from being supported to supporting each other” as officials frame the anniversary. (city.kumamoto.jp) That framing fits Kumamon’s public role. Kumamoto Prefecture says the mascot serves as its official sales manager and happiness manager, promoting the prefecture’s food, nature and attractions inside and outside Japan. (pref.kumamoto.jp) Tourism remains part of the recovery story. The Japan National Tourism Organization’s Travel Japan site says officials have promoted “reconstruction tourism” in Kumamoto and nearby Oita, encouraging visitors to see places rebuilding after the 2016 disaster. (japan.travel) One of the clearest examples is Kumamoto Castle, which suffered major damage in the earthquake and is still being restored. The official Kumamoto tourism site says overall restoration is projected to continue until 2052, even after parts of the site reopened to visitors. (kumamoto-guide.jp) Kumamon’s own tourism footprint is also concrete. The official Kumamoto tourism site says Kumamon Square is the mascot’s operating base in central Kumamoto, where daily performances and exhibits draw visitors looking for a direct connection to the character. (kumamoto.guide) The anniversary message landed because Kumamon is not just a mascot in this story. In Kumamoto, the black bear is also one of the prefecture’s most visible public messengers for memory, visitors and the long work of rebuilding. (pref.kumamoto.jp)
