Kumamon is back! -- Kirk
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Popular Kumamoto mascot Kumamon is back in action for the first time in about three weeks following a major earthquake in the southwestern prefecture.
The magnitude 7.1 quake that struck Kumamoto on July 28 prompted the chubby black bear with red cheeks to suspend his activities.
On Sunday, Kumamon visited Ryuhokusaibu Elementary School in the hard-hit town of Hikawa to cheer up children and other people there. The school has been used as an evacuation site.
Children hugged Kumamon and enjoyed fishing for water balloons with him in a traditional festival game.
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