Forget the mascot – we want the man behind the mask!
It’s no secret that Japan likes its mascots, and you’ll find that there’s a cute little character to represent anything and everything possible. Even Japan’s cities and prefectures have their own characters (some official and others not) to represent them – Kumamoto Prefecture has Kumamon, Funabashi City in Chiba has Funassyi, and Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture has KitaQman.
Generally, people don’t wonder who it is in costume bringing those characters to life. Besides, that would ruin the magic, wouldn’t it? But things were a little different with KitaQman, because when the Fukuoka city mascot revealed his true identity, suddenly it wasn’t about the hero anymore, but it was all about Yuki Taki, the good-looking guy behind all of that armor.
▼ Because, um… just look at him!
この時期になるとヒーロー活動は汗だく！
— キタキュウマン (@kita_q_man) May 28, 2016
差し入れありがとう！感謝です！
皆はイケメンに感謝してね pic.twitter.com/lT7FogbKMJ
At first, KitaQman wasn’t very well-known or popular…
▼”・Police: ‘Who are you?’ ・KitaQ: ‘I’m KitaQman. Don’t you know me?’ ・Police: ‘No, we don’t.'”
警「誰ですかあなた」
— キタキュウマン (@kita_q_man) June 30, 2016
北「キタキュウマンですけど知りませんか？」
警「知りません」#警察に言われたこと pic.twitter.com/Sos04MTcxF
…but, while it’s taboo for a superhero to remove his mask and reveal his identity, once he did so, people became intrigued by the handsome face behind the mask and KitaQman soon became a household name.
KitaQman has an official website and Twitter you can follow, but if superheroes aren’t quite your thing, you can follow Yuki’s Instagram instead, and oggle at his beautiful face all day long.
*SWOON*
Source and images: Twitter/@kita_q_man, Instagram/@taki_yuki via Byokan Sunday
Featured image: Instagram/@taki_yuki
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Japanese department store rooftop is a secret oasis where you can escape the crowds in Tokyo
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Majority of Japanese mayors say foreign residents are essential but most see good and bad effects
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Japanese department store rooftop is a secret oasis where you can escape the crowds in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Record number of foreign children in Japan need help understanding Japanese in school
Demon Slayer’s Mugen Train is now ready to be your personal home sushi train too【Photos】
Exhibit featuring cutting-edge smell technology held at Tokyo Skytree
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Record number of foreign children in Japan need help understanding Japanese in school
Demon Slayer’s Mugen Train is now ready to be your personal home sushi train too【Photos】
Exhibit featuring cutting-edge smell technology held at Tokyo Skytree
Hamburg and Hamburg Shibuya: A Japanese restaurant you need to put on your Tokyo itinerary
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 5 million yen【Vid】
Hokkaido wild marijuana removal efforts can’t keep up with rate of growth
This is What a Whopper With 1000 Slices of Cheese Looks Like
In Hokkaido there’s weed, weed everywhere, but not a drop to smoke
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
We try Akihabara’s new Shaken Ramen in a bubble tea cup 【Taste Test】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
We made hanamaru monaka, a traditional Japanese sweet loved by legendary-swords-turned-hot-guys
Leave a Reply