There are times when you look around and think, "Gee, there are not enough chara…

There are times when you look around and think, “Gee, there are not enough characters.” This happened recently when those in charge of Higomaru, Kumamoto Castle’s official character (below left) decided he needed some friends and thus came up with 熊本城の仲間たち (Kumamotojyo with Friends, below center). The characters are all named after various famous locations within the castle (Iidamaru-kun, Gennoshin-kun, Nagabei-kun, Utoyagura-ji, and the sole female representative, Akazu-chan - the latter is hilarious if you know anything of the history of that gate); they are portrayed with various ailments symbolizing the current dilapidated condition of the castle, but their appearances will improve as castle reconstruction proceeds. - William