{
  "id": 13354535,
  "title": "Kumamon Stone Statue Unveiled Near Kumamoto Castle",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/kumamon-stone-statue-unveiled-near-kumamoto-castle",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-10T07:29:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20261010-353233/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A stone statue of Kumamon, the beloved mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, was unveiled near Kumamoto Castle on Saturday. The statue stands 170 centimeters tall, including its pedestal, and is situated to allow visitors to photograph it alongside the iconic castle in the background. The unveiling ceremony, attended by around 20 people, featured a surprise appearance from Kumamon himself, who appeared pleased with the new addition. The idea to erect the statue came from the federation of the city's shopping street associations in 2024, and the production costs were funded through crowdfunding. A total of 114 individuals and groups contributed ¥7.16 million, surpassing the initial target of ¥5 million.",
  "summary": "A stone statue of Kumamon, the promotional mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, newly erected in central Kumamoto City was unveiled to the public on Saturday.",
  "key_points": [
    "Stone statue of Kumamon unveiled near Kumamoto Castle.",
    "Statue stands 170 cm tall with pedestal.",
    "Unveiling attended by 20 people, Kumamon surprised."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}