Chiba-kun suspends out-of-prefecture activities following heavy rain

Chiba Prefecture's mascot, Chiba-kun, has announced a temporary suspension of all activities outside the prefecture. The decision follows severe flooding and landslides caused by record-breaking rainfall and Typhoon 25, which have impacted various areas within Chiba.

The suspension comes after Chiba-kun participated in a promotional event in Osaka from September 19 to 21. Following the natural disaster, the character faced social media criticism regarding its presence outside the prefecture during the crisis. In response, the prefecture stated the decision aims to focus the character’s efforts on supporting and being present for the residents of Chiba.

As a result of this hiatus, Chiba-kun will no longer appear at the ‘Gotochi Character Carnival in Gunma 2026’ scheduled for September 26–27, nor will the character participate as a special guest in the ‘Yuru-verse 2026 Final Vote.’ No specific date for the resumption of out-of-prefecture activities has been provided.