
The inimitable Mr. Sato is such a big fan of Funasshi, the unofficial jiggly pear mascot of Funabashi City, that he even created his own mascot-to-the-mascot, Satosshi. This Halloween, Satosshi decided to head down to the famous Shibuya crossing to make friends with fellow costume-wearing Tokyoites.
Might there be other, kindred spirit Funasshi fans there? Will Satosshi be busted as an unofficial impersonator? Could Mr. Sato’s journalistic efforts be thwarted by a sudden attack of deadline confusion? And worse still, what if no one recognises him? Join us after the jump for a photo report from Satosshi’s big night out.
On this adventure, Satosshi is joined by his sidekick Sanmarinasshi, who also shares his love of pears, dancing, and belly flops.
▼ Yoroshiku onegaishimasshi!
▼ Time to leave the office!… (er, sorry, offisshi)
Satosshi and Sanmarinasshi hopped in a cab and rolled on down to Shibuya. They were expecting it to be busy, but they were still amazed by how many people there were! At first, they found themselves in the middle of a crowd of so many people, they couldn’t even move.
▼ “There’s no way we’re going to get acrosshi!”
Just when he was starting to wonder why he’d come at all, Mr. Sato suddenly remembered something even worse – he still had work left to do tonight! Luckily, he had his laptop with him, so he escaped from the crowd, sat down on the pavement and started working.
▼ “I don’t know if I can finisshi!”
Around him, Satosshi heard the voices of passers-by making disgusted comments about something. “What’s that?” they sneered. “So gross!”…”It’s not cute at all!”
Satosshi’s little yellow heart sunk as he realised: people were talking about him. Of course. In Shibuya on Halloween, the standard of costumes is amazingly high. How could he even have thought he could fit in here?
Then, suddenly, Satosshi heard another voice from behind him: “Can we take a picture together?” And then, one after another, a series of beautiful girls came to ask to have their photo taken together! It was like a dream!
▼ Is this the real life? Is this just fantasshi?
▼ They can’t believe their eyesshi!
It was worth coming after all, Satosshi realised, as he and Sanmarinasshi then got to meet hundreds of partiers in awesome costumes.
▼ Satosshi has fans from all walks of life (and death).
▼ They found another costumed pair who’d come as each other’s sidekicks!
▼ Sanmarinasshi tried to pout, too, but his mouth can only make a smile now.
Overall Satosshi was amazed and impressed by the range of costumes on show this Halloween.
▼ Check out the triple Jibanyans in the back!
▼ Well we know Mr. Sato loves coffee, so it stands to reason that Satosshi does too!
▼ Three very tall Marilyns.
▼ Zombie schoolgirls!
▼ Kayakuda Don!
▼ And a very cute Princess Fiona!
But best of all, they found a kinsman and friend: a Funasshi!
▼ One of us! One of us!
Although very impressed with the costumes he saw, Satosshi couldn’t help but notice that most of the party-goers who’d really gone all-out were girls. All-in-all, he felt the guys he saw were holding back a little with their outfits. His message for any reluctant male costume-wearers next Halloween? Give a really out-there costume a go! There’s nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd, after all.
All photos (c) RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]




















Funasshi’s unofficial mascot Satosshi grabs a pear burger and risks getting beaten up
Hard Ku**mon is here to put lazy mascots out of work with his creepy latex hugs
Halloween costume idea: Dressing up as the Tokyo neighborhood that banned Halloween parties【Pics】
Tokyo Halloween 2015: Our reporters’ collection of photos from their night in Shibuya【Photos】
Our reporters search for the spirit of Halloween in Shibuya and make some new friends
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Resident Evil’s terrifying Licker becomes a bag in Japan that wants to feed you
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Exasperated Tokyoite can’t escape Halloween, discovers Halloween personified in his taxi driver
Mr. Sato’s half-assed Halloween costume will get you full marks on the streets of Shibuya【Photos】
SoraNews24 hits Tokyo’s biggest Halloween party dressed as one of Japan’s most popular characters
We give Mr. Sato a Gyro Bowl: Can it withstand even his creepiest undulations?
Cosplaying in Tokyo as Beijing Olympics mascot Bing Dwen Dwen…Mr. Sato style【Photos】
We hit Japan’s biggest Halloween party poorly dressed as Japan’s hottest beverage
Shibuya Halloween 2018 cosplay costume collection【Pics & Videos】
Mr. Sato’s dad gives him some tough love when asked if he knows what his son does for a living
Mr. Sato gets his bush trimmed at a fancy Tokyo hair salon【Photos】
Retro fashion magazines from Tokyo’s street market remind Mr. Sato of a special gift from his dad
A reader asks Mr. Sato to meet in-person, and gives him an unforgettable message