It’s hard to be taken seriously….
….when you have Kleenex sticking out of your nose! But that’s just how Hideo Higashikokubaru, a one-time comedian using the stage name Sonomanma Higashi, and currently the Governor of Miyazaki prefecture in southern Japan, is portrayed on this tissue box cover.
I found this product while browsing through my local mall and just couldn’t stop laughing. I thought it was hilarious even before my friend told me who he was. He ran for governor on the slogan “dogenkasento ikan,” or “something must be done” and I know just what he should do – get them to stop selling this product. He just looks silly!
If you don’t believe me check out his photo on the Miyazaki Prefecture website.
on 24 April, 2008 on 12:24 pm
Made me larf!!!!!!!
on 24 April, 2008 on 2:18 pm
Glad you liked it Susie! I was soooo tempted to buy it but it was a little over Y2,000 and I’m not sure it goes with my decor….
on 25 April, 2008 on 1:49 am
Yeah, I eat sometimes at this little shokudo near where I work and they sell bottles of sake with his cartoon face plastered on them.
on 27 April, 2008 on 10:03 pm
Higashikokubaru has a long history of not being taken seriously – he was Beat Takeshi’s sidekick on “Takeshi’s Castle”. For those who don’t know, this show was repackaged and dubbed in English as “MXC”, featuring Vic Romano (Takeshi) and Kenny Blankenship (Higashikokubaru).
on 28 April, 2008 on 2:59 pm
I read that he was on Takeshi’s Castle. When we are at home we sometimes catch it on Spike. It’s definitely light hearted and hilarious – I can’t believe that they actually got people to sign up to do those things!