Kumamoto Prefecture has set aside an official venue for Kumamon, which is named 'Kumakan'. (Kuma means bear in Japanese)

There are three to four Kumamon performances a day at this venue, and they are completely free of charge.

It is also a place where many Kumamoto locals like to bring their children as young as three or four or four to five years old.

For example, the twenty-six-year-old young wife, Hazuki Koyama, likes to bring her daughter here to watch the Kumamon show.

With Kumamoto Prefecture's strong promotion of the locals, coupled with Kumamoto's cute image, Kumamon has long been a particularly popular mascot character among these children.

Especially in the past few days of the Chinese New Year, I was idle and idle, so many parents brought their children to the KUMA Hall.

The atmosphere in the venue was very warm, and many children excitedly called Kumamon's name, hoping that the Kumamoto Prefecture representative mascot would appear soon.

Naturally, it is impossible for Hazuki Koyama to shout with them like a child, and she talks and laughs with the neighbor's wife who also comes to watch the performance, and the main discussion is where to buy new clothes and shop after watching the performance...

Just when they were talking enthusiastically—

The whole venue fell silent for a moment.

It can be said that one second is still a child's voice, and the next second is silent.

There was a heavy atmosphere in the air.

This made Koyama Hazuki look around in surprise, and then saw Kumamon on the stage greeting him.

She turned her head to look at her daughter again, only to find that her daughter's nose twitched, her eyes were red, and she looked like she was going to cry in the next second.

Well? How so?

"Didn't Kumamon come out? Why are you crying? She touched her daughter's head and asked lovingly.

Before his daughter could answer, a little boy next to him suddenly screamed-

"That's not Kumamon! It doesn't have Kumamon's blush! ”

Koyama Hazuki noticed that standing on the stage, tilting his head, looking naughty and cute, Kumamon... There's really no blush.

The children below shouted along.

This made the host on the stage also in a hurry, and his face was embarrassed, and a group of security guards 'carried' Kumamon away as if he had done something wrong.

In the afternoon, the Kumamoto Prefectural Government held a press conference.

At the press conference, the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture bowed heavily to the press and said apologetically, "We regret to inform you that after our investigation, Kumamon's blush was accidentally lost and could not be found within the prefectural government. But Kumamon's blush has a deep meaning, symbolizing our Kumamoto Prefecture's specialties such as tomatoes and horse meat, and we will definitely spare no effort to get them back! ”

This must be another marketing ploy by Kumamon.

Ryuji Akashi, who was standing next to the TV, couldn't help but shake his head when he watched the news.

Holding a press conference for a Kumamon's 'blush' was a clever idea.

And the appearance of the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture saying very funny words in a serious manner is also quite interesting... But—

This time there was a bit of a lack of explosion.

It's just that Kumamon's blush is missing, and it's nothing to pay attention to... Just get it back.

This pales in comparison to the marketing methods of the previous sales manager.

But it's okay, it's barely enough material to be written into a magazine...

Just as Ryuji Akashi was about to raise his hand to record this material... After that, I heard the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture say very seriously: "We have officially entrusted the Kumamoto Prefectural Police to set up a special investigation team, and we will definitely get the lost blush back!" ”

Wait a minute...?

Formed a special investigative team? Just for this kind of thing?

Ryuji Akashi's mouth opened wide, and he quickly thought of it again - this was another strategy to promote Kumamon for a serious and funny book.

Kumamoto Prefecture seems to have been creating an image of a government that is closer to the new generation of young people, and it can be said that Kumamon has spared no effort in publicizing Kumamon.

The governor of Kumamoto Prefecture also makes various appearances to help publicize.

As soon as the words "police and investigation team" come out, they will definitely attract the attention of many people, and young people will find it particularly interesting, because this is the Japanese official initiative to make a joke.

This kind of funny play is very close to the people.

On the other hand, the older generation will definitely be particularly angry, at least the group of social commentators will definitely come up with something like 'waste of police power'.

But it's okay, at least the county police, so they won't go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to file a case.

Ryūji Akashi was pinching his cup and wanting to take a sip of water, when he heard the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture speak on TV-

"We have already submitted materials for Kumamon to personally go to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department to file a case, and we will also apply for them to set up a special search team to assist us in our investigation."

Yes?

Burst!!!

Ryuji Akashi didn't drink a sip of water, and he almost choked to death: "Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department?!" ”

Looking at the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, who kept bowing and apologizing in front of the flash, even he was a little suspicious that someone had really stolen all the blush on the Kumamon holster.

You know, it's the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department!

Let's put it this way.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has jurisdiction over 826 police stations, 102 police stations, 258 police stations, and 84 regional security centers, with more than 43,000 police officers.

That's a large organization of more than 43,000 police officers... If Kumamon can still successfully file a case... This is a great thing for the whole of Japan!

Ryuji Akashi wiped his mouth and looked intently at the urgent news.

Kumamoto Prefecture is very empathetic, and as soon as the camera on the other side of the press conference turns, it immediately comes to the perspective of reporters following Kumamon.

A group of reporters followed the swarthy Kumamon.

I really went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department!

Kumamon, who had lost his blush, held the materials in his hands and handed them to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and the moment the other party nodded and successfully accepted it, Akashi Ryuji only felt that the world was turned upside down.

His mind was full of - there is still such an operation in Japan?

It's not a big news problem anymore!

Even the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is making trouble with Kumamon!

It wasn't until now that Ryuji Akashi reacted.

This is no longer the simple marketing ploy that was previously thought.

This is a New Year's national carnival carefully planned by Kumamoto Prefecture!

In particular, the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture said, "If Kumamon blush can be found in various places and returned by mail, Kumamon will personally give you a New Year's bonus." ”

As soon as this sentence came out, it made Akashi Ryuji even more certain.

Kumamoto has been planning for a long time!

It is waiting for the New Year's period to start this carnival.

And this also made Akashi Ryuji care more... Who is the person who came up with this plan?

Yes, that's what Ryuji Akashi cares about the most.

As an article writer, he naturally can't just look at the surface, and the hot news hidden under the surface must also be grasped.

Besides, with such a master, why did Kumamon still have such poor marketing results before? Directly pulled all across.

Don't understand. I really don't understand.

Akashi Ryuji only hoped that the group of acquaintances in Kumamoto Prefecture could help him ask the reason, so he could directly take the first-hand information and write all the articles.

"This time Kumamon... But it's really going to be a big fire. ”

Ryuji Akashi looked at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, which was linked to Kumamon, and couldn't help muttering to himself.

......

Although the process was bumpy and scolded, and he was scolded by many inexplicable social critics, the final result was as Higashino Tsukasa expected.

There is an online discussion about Kumamon, and in one day, the popularity of the entire island nation has exceeded 200,000.

Kumamon is completely on fire!

Although there are a small number of negative reviews these days, most of them are still positive - this is also something that cannot be helped, and zero negative reviews like this is simply a fantasy.

Many people who didn't know about Kumamon before are now aware of Kumamon's existence.

And Kumamon and Kumamoto Prefecture enjoyed the heat.

Many people also know that there is a Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, and Kumamon is the mascot of this Kumamoto Prefecture...

There are people looking for Kumamon blush, not for the prize money, but because it's really interesting – it's boring to stay at home for the New Year.

Although you can spend your days lazy, there will still be people who go out to play with a group of friends in the name of Kumamon.

In this regard, some young people in Japan are still different from the Celestial Empire.

If it is in the Celestial Empire, it is not easy to celebrate the New Year and take a winter vacation, it is estimated that many young people in the Celestial Empire will be sealed by the quilt monster and sleep in bed and call 'Mom'.

Or maybe it's the kind of eyes that get up, but the body doesn't get up yet.

Anyway, the situation is very good now, and Kumamon is on fire.

Taking advantage of this craze, the name of the designer of Tsukasa Higashino Kumamon was once again dragged out by many media to rub the heat repeatedly, and there was a feeling of whipping corpse.

What's the following genius manga artist, the ghost designer may also have the name of Tsukasa Higashino! ''Japan's rising star, the designer who shoulders Japan's future Tsukasa Higashino!' ''Interview with Tsukasa Higashino, it turns out that in the eyes of his classmates, he is actually like this? ’

These big headings have more middle and second diseases, and there are more middle and second diseases... Higashino Tsukasa just looked at these names and felt that his scalp was inexplicably numb.

He didn't take the media's touted comments to heart at all. After all, the media is a thing that supports you with the wind and tramples on you against the wind.

But what kind of new star like this is shouldering the future of Japan... It's so embarrassing that I can't help it...

Maybe the Japanese are used to this kind of hype... But when Higashino heard this, he only felt goosebumps all over his body.

And among these news, suddenly there was a piece of news that Higashino Tsukasa cared about.

It's not that he jumped out, but Tsukasa Higashino was walking on the road, and Dusk Qiren suddenly came over and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Mr. Higashino for setting up the Higashino Group."

Higashino Gumi...

This name similar to the underworld made Higashino Tsukasa a little concerned.

So he asked the members of his marketing team to help him find news... It was finally determined where the title of 'Higashino Gumi' came from.

Not news, but a magazine article called "Current Trends".

The headline above is also very easy to understand - 'Kumamon Successful Marketing?' No! This is a victory for the Higashino group! ’

This article focuses on the operation behind Kumamon and the main initiator of this operation plan, Tsukasa Higashino.

The article reads: As we all know, Higashino Tsukasa, that is, Higashino Sensei, his age is only seventeen years old, and at this age when his peers are still in school and studying, Higashino Tsukasa can be a manga artist, a rising star in oil painting, and a designer of Kumamon, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a genius.

And the same seventeen-year-old Kumamon designer carefully planned this Kumamon New Year carnival!

After a detailed investigation, Kumamon's popularity fell into a slump a year ago, and the reason for this was that Kumamon's marketing strategy was too old-fashioned and old-fashioned. In order to save Kumamon, whose popularity was gradually declining, the Kumamoto prefectural government invited Tsukasa Higashino to become the leader of the marketing team a week ago, and immediately after a week, various marketing methods were rolled out, and Kumamon was instantly rejuvenated from a dying situation!

This is definitely due to Mr. Higashino's indispensable contributions!

Higashino-sensei... No... It was the joint efforts of the Higashino Group that created this rare situation!

This author wrote a lot of things later, probably to explain some of the situations and problems faced by Tsukasa Higashino in the marketing group.

It can be seen that the other party's investigation is very detailed, at least he knows all the inside stories.

At the end of the article, the other party also used the phrase "The Higashino Gumi, which all Kumamon fans are looking forward to, has been formed!" This sentence.

This phrase was spread by Kumamon fans in a short period of time, forming an organization similar to a fan club.

'Higashino-gumi', that is, the meaning of Higashino Tsukasa fans.

This [ www.biqugew.xyz] Fans of "Midnight Bell", "Winner is Justice", and "Lonely Gourmet" have all stood up, saying that they are also from the Higashino Group, and everyone is a fan of Higashino Division.

The name of the Higashino gumi was also made in this way.

It looks like Tsukasa Higashino is like a Japanese gangster leader.

This made Higashino Tsukasa shake his head speechlessly when he looked at it.

These fans can't do anything else, Gonghuo is really the first place.

If you let them know that you are a temporary worker in Kumamoto Prefecture at best, you will quit your job and go back to Tokyo in two days... I don't know where they're going to go with the Higashino group.

But...

Never mind.

In this way, the warm-up of the linkage between the Shinkansen and Kumamon is over.

It's not marketing or popularity that really makes money.

It's about how to turn the heat into cash.

Now the heat is enough... It depends on how the Shinkansen and Kumamoto Prefecture operate in the future.

Anyway, what happened after that has nothing to do with Tsukasa Higashino.

He still has a lot of things on his hands.

Of course, the most important thing is the news from Musashino Art University-

Submissions are now available for the Artistic Awards, and the deadline for submissions is two months later.

This made Tsukasa Higashino stunned.

Oh –

I forgot that there was still this stubble.