Kumamon Receives Over 5,000 New Year Postcards for 2021

Kumamon mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture holds New Year's greeting cards at the southwestern Japan prefectural government office building on Jan. 5, 2021. (Kyodo)

KUMAMOTO (Kyodo) — Kumamon, the black bear-like mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, has received around 5,300 “nengajo” postcards for the new year, including from overseas, the prefectural government said Tuesday.

“I miss you,” and “I want to see you this year” were among the messages sent as of Monday to the beloved character, who has largely refrained from making public appearances since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

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