Tiger Mask donation phenomenon
Encyclopedia
The Tiger Mask donation phenomenon is a series of donation
s of randoseru
(school backpacks) and other items to orphanage
s around Japan
. The first donation happened when someone left ten 30,000 yen backpacks at a child guidance center in Gunma Prefecture
on Christmas Day in 2010. A note attached to the bags was signed "Naoto Date", the real name of the titular character of Tiger Mask
, a popular 1960s and 70s manga
about a wrestler who fought for orphans, being raised in an orphanage himself. Since the initial donation, copycat donations have appeared around Japan at various facilities for children, ranging from more backpacks to toys, food, and monetary gifts.
and anime
Tiger Mask
. In the manga and anime, Tiger Mask (whose real name was Naoto Date) was a feared heel wrestler in America who was extremely vicious in the ring. However, he became a face
after returning to Japan when a young boy said that he wanted to be a villain like Tiger Mask when he grew up. The boy lived in an orphanage, the same one that Tiger Mask grew up in during his childhood. Feeling that he did not want the boy to idolize a villain, Tiger was inspired to be a heroic wrestler and fights for the children in the orphanage.
The backpacks were to be distributed between six orphans from six different orphanages in Gunma.
on 1 January 2011. Six backpacks, three black and three red, were left. A note left behind stated:
As with the ten original backpacks in Gunma, they were left with a note signed by Naoto Date. The backpacks were to be distributed to new arrivals at the local orphanages and other children that Odawara Child Guidance center serves.
As of January 11, 2011, over 100 donations inspired by Tiger Mask have been reported across Japan. After the two initial donations, many other orphanages and children's facilities began to receive copycat donations of backpacks. Some have also received toys, food, and money to help pay for new backpacks. In addition, parallels to other anime and manga concerning orphaned children have also crept into the donation phenomenon.
, Iwate
had their tanks filled up and two 20-liter containers of heating oil
was left outside the center by an unknown person. An evacuee discovered the donation upon starting his car and noticing his fuel gauge go from nearly empty to full. The evacuee noted: "We had hardly any fuel left. We were in a real pinch. I'm so grateful for the donation. I reckon it was Tiger Mask." The evacuation center noted that they would use the heating oil during the night to conserve fuel due to the ongoing crisis
.
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
s of randoseru
Randoseru
A is a firm-sided backpack made of stitched firm leather or leather-like synthetic material, most commonly used in Japan by elementary schoolchildren. It measures roughly 30 cm high by 23 cm wide by 18 cm deep, and features a softer grade of leather or material on those surfaces...
(school backpacks) and other items to orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s around Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The first donation happened when someone left ten 30,000 yen backpacks at a child guidance center in Gunma Prefecture
Gunma Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...
on Christmas Day in 2010. A note attached to the bags was signed "Naoto Date", the real name of the titular character of Tiger Mask
Tiger Mask
is a Japanese manga series written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Naoki Tsuji. The series was first published in Kodansha's Bokura Magazine from 1968 to 1969 and was later published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1970 to 1971...
, a popular 1960s and 70s manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
about a wrestler who fought for orphans, being raised in an orphanage himself. Since the initial donation, copycat donations have appeared around Japan at various facilities for children, ranging from more backpacks to toys, food, and monetary gifts.
Naoto Date/Tiger Mask background
Many of the donations have been made under the name of Naoto Date, a character in the mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
Tiger Mask
Tiger Mask
is a Japanese manga series written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Naoki Tsuji. The series was first published in Kodansha's Bokura Magazine from 1968 to 1969 and was later published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1970 to 1971...
. In the manga and anime, Tiger Mask (whose real name was Naoto Date) was a feared heel wrestler in America who was extremely vicious in the ring. However, he became a face
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
after returning to Japan when a young boy said that he wanted to be a villain like Tiger Mask when he grew up. The boy lived in an orphanage, the same one that Tiger Mask grew up in during his childhood. Feeling that he did not want the boy to idolize a villain, Tiger was inspired to be a heroic wrestler and fights for the children in the orphanage.
First donation
On 25 December 2010, in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture, a child guidance center was visited by someone leaving ten 30,000-yen (about US$360) backpacks, five black backpacks wrapped with blue ribbons, and five red backpacks wrapped with pink ribbons. A card attached to the bags simply said:
Please use these backpacks for the children.
(signed) Naoto Date
The backpacks were to be distributed between six orphans from six different orphanages in Gunma.
Second donation
A second donation was found by a security guard at the Odawara Child Guidance Center in Kanagawa PrefectureKanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
on 1 January 2011. Six backpacks, three black and three red, were left. A note left behind stated:
A New Year's gift — Naoto Date
The donation of backpacks in Gunma last year moved me deeply. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the news. Thinking I might do something as well, I offer these gifts. May the Tiger Mask movement live on.
As with the ten original backpacks in Gunma, they were left with a note signed by Naoto Date. The backpacks were to be distributed to new arrivals at the local orphanages and other children that Odawara Child Guidance center serves.
Copycat donations
Japan has around 580 children's centers that house around 30,000 children.As of January 11, 2011, over 100 donations inspired by Tiger Mask have been reported across Japan. After the two initial donations, many other orphanages and children's facilities began to receive copycat donations of backpacks. Some have also received toys, food, and money to help pay for new backpacks. In addition, parallels to other anime and manga concerning orphaned children have also crept into the donation phenomenon.
| "Tiger Mask/Naoto Date" donations and copycat donations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Location / date | Items left | Note left / circumstances |
| Nagano City; January 7, 2011 | * Three black backpacks in boxes gift-wrapped in blue. * Three red backpacks in boxes gift-wrapped in pink. |
"...I also have a child who is entering first grade this year." "A belated Santa Claus Santa Claus Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus... ." |
| Shizuoka City; January 7, 2011 | 100,000 yen in cash in an envelope, postmarked from the nearby city of Shimada Shimada, Shizuoka is a city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2010, the city has an estimated population of 100,846 and a population density of 319 persons per km². The total area is 315.88 km².-Geography:... on January 6, 2011. |
"A New Year's Gift Happy New Year! I wish everyone who takes care of the children at the Shizuoka Home a good year. It's not much, but it would make me happy if I can help the children grab hold of their hopes and dreams." "Naoto Date" |
| Okinawa; January 7, 2011 | Three randoseru | A helmeted man, described as being in his 40s, left the three backpacks and a note signed "Naoto Date" at the Shimazoe no Oka orphanage in Nanjō City Nanjo, Okinawa is a city in the southern part of Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.It was formed on January 1, 2006, from the merger of the town of Sashiki, and the villages of Chinen, Ōzato and Tamagusuku, all from Shimajiri District.... . The children at the orphanage were reported to have exclaimed in joy, "Wow! He even came to Okinawa!" Note: "I present these to those of you entering first grade. From someone who loves you from the heart, gambare! (Do your best!)" |
| Gifu Gifu Gifu may refer to:*Gifu Prefecture, located in the Chūbu region of central Japan*Gifu, Gifu, the capital city of Gifu Prefecture*Gifu , a region located in southcentral Gifu Prefecture*Gifu Castle atop Mt... ; January 8, 2011 |
Five backpacks in gift-boxes | Note: "To all of you entering first grade: Congratulations! Naoto Date." |
| Atsugi, Kanagawa Atsugi, Kanagawa is a city located in central Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 225,622 and a population density of 2,410 persons per km². The total area was 93.83 km²... January 9, 2011 |
Two red bags containing twenty-two models and toys, including: * Eleven SD Gundam models * Two Fraulein Revoltech models from The Idolm@ster by Kaiyodo Kaiyodo thumb|320px|Kaiyodo Figure Museum Kurokabe is a Japanese company dedicated to figurines and garage kits. Its headquarters is in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. While the company mostly focuses on anime related characters, it recently has acquired other licenses, e.g... * Hot Wheels Hot Wheels Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco.-Models:... car * Rubik's Cube Rubik's Cube Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik.Originally called the "Magic Cube", the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toy Corp. in 1980 and won the German Game of the Year special award for Best Puzzle that... * Two plush toys |
Found in the parking lot of the center. Note:"I'm sorry these aren't backpacks. Naoto Date." |
| Nagasaki, Nagasaki; January 9, 2011 | Seven new red and pink randoseru | Left by an elderly woman at the Nagasaki Handicapped Children and Women's Support Center. Note: "A donation by the Nagasaki Naoto Date." The word "Hibakusha Hibakusha The surviving victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are called , a Japanese word that literally translates to "explosion-affected people"... " was also written on the note. |
| Nanjō, Okinawa; January 9, 2011 | Two randoseru | Due to a miscommunication by a staff member, two more backpacks were delivered to help out five children in addition to the already donated three backpacks by a helmeted "Naoto Date." |
| Hanamaki, Iwate Hanamaki, Iwate is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of March 31, 2011, the city has an estimated total population of 102,455, with a household number of 35,831. Hanamaki is most famous as the birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa and for its onsen. The city recently celebrated the 50th anniversary since its... ; January 9, 2011 |
100,000 yen | Found in a customer suggestion box at the Ito-Yokado Ito-Yokado is a Japanese General Merchandise Store, part of Seven & I Holdings Co. There are 174 Ito-Yokado stores operating in Japan. The group has expanded to China, where they formed a joint venture with Wangfujing Department Store and China Huafu Trade & Development Group Corp. to open one of five stores... store in Hanamaki. Note: "Please use this for children with a future ahead of them. Naoto Date." |
| Miyakonojō, Miyazaki Miyakonojo, Miyazaki is a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1924. On January 1, 2006 the towns of Takajō, Takazaki, Yamada and Yamanokuchi merged into the city. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 169,384 and a population density of 259 per km²... ; January 9, 2011 |
Plastic bag with five notebooks covered with anime characters and pencils | Note: "I'm sorry this is just a small gift, but it's from my heart. Naoto Date" |
| Shizuoka, Shizuoka; January 10, 2011 | Six randoseru | Speculated to be a second donor than the one from January 7, a local luggage store was visited by a masked man claiming to be from Tokyo who bought six of the bags worth 233,100 yen (US$2,800) in cash on Saturday afternoon. Note: "I'm sorry for being late. Naoto Date." |
| Iwaki, Fukushima Iwaki, Fukushima is a city located in the southern part of the Hamadōri coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.A designated "core city", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan... ; January 10, 2011 |
200,000-yen (US$2,400) "children's gift certificate" | Discovered by a 13-year-old first-year middle school boy on the front door knob at the Iwaki Ikueisha center. Note: "I offer this somewhat belated New Year's gift. Please give everything you've got in studying and sports, and grow up to be wonderful adults. Naoto Date." |
| Yokohama, Kanagawa; January 10, 2011 | Mailed package with six pencil sharpener Pencil sharpener A pencil sharpener is a device for sharpening a pencil's writing point by shaving away its worn surface. Pencil sharpeners may be operated manually or by an electric motor.-History:... s, four sets of twenty four colored pencils, and ten dozen pencils |
Anonymous donor was inspired by the Tiger Mask donations. |
| Akō, Hyōgo Ako, Hyogo is a city located in the south west of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 50,902, with a household number of 19,841 and a density of 401.18 persons per km². The total area is 126.88 km². The city was officially founded on September 1, 1951... ; January 10, 2011 |
Four randoseru | Left at a police station due to the donor unable to find an orphanage. |
| Tottori, Tottori Tottori, Tottori is the capital city of Tottori Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.As of 2006, the city has an estimated population of 200,974 and a density of 262.48 persons per km². The total area is 765.66 km².... ; January 10, 2011 |
Box of stationary supplies | In an accompanying envelope, in addition to quoting the Tiger Mask theme song, a message stated; "Please tell the children that they are never alone and that the world has not abandoned them just yet." |
| Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu across the Kanmon Straits.... ; January 10, 2011 |
Two randoseru with a DVD copy of Hayao Miyazaki Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,... 's Laputa: Castle in the Sky. |
In Laputa, the two main characters (Sheeta and Pazu) have grown up without parents, similar in circumstance to Tiger Mask. The note stated: "The appearances of Tiger Mask all over Japan moved me. But I am not Tiger Mask. […] Unfortunately, I could not provide more backpacks […] Study hard, make friends, and grow up to be Tiger Mask — a kind of hero I couldn't be." |
| Okayama, Okayama Okayama, Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km².... ; January 11, 2011 |
two backpacks and two boxes of kibidango (millet dumplings) | Donor mentions references to Momotarō Momotaro is a popular hero from Japanese folklore. His name literally means Peach Tarō; as Tarō is a common Japanese boy's name, it is often translated as Peach Boy... , a Japanese folk tale of a boy who is found by an old couple in a giant peach. |
| Himeji, Hyōgo Himeji, Hyogo is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 535,945, with 206,409 households. The total area is 534.43 km².- History :... ; January 11, 2011 |
two randoseru and two paint sets | Found at a children's nursing home, signed by "Joe Yabuki", the title character in Ashita no Joe. |
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Sometime during the night of March 17 - morning of March 18, three cars parked at an evacuation center in YamadamachiYamada, Iwate
is a town located in Shimohei District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 20,413 and a population density of 77.49 persons per km². The total area is 263.44 km²....
, Iwate
Iwate
Iwate can refer to:* Iwate Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan.* Iwate, Iwate, a town in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.* Japanese cruiser Iwate, an armored cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1900 to the end of World War II....
had their tanks filled up and two 20-liter containers of heating oil
Heating oil
Heating oil, or oil heat, is a low viscosity, flammable liquid petroleum product used as a fuel for furnaces or boilers in buildings. Home heating oil is often abbreviated as HHO...
was left outside the center by an unknown person. An evacuee discovered the donation upon starting his car and noticing his fuel gauge go from nearly empty to full. The evacuee noted: "We had hardly any fuel left. We were in a real pinch. I'm so grateful for the donation. I reckon it was Tiger Mask." The evacuation center noted that they would use the heating oil during the night to conserve fuel due to the ongoing crisis
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
.