Baseball is saddened by the news of the death of a 31-year-old staff member of the popular mascot "Tsubakuro."
Baseball is saddened by the news of the death of a 31-year-old staff member of the popular mascot "Tsubakuro."
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The archipelago was saddened by the news of the death of a staff member who had been in charge of the mascot "Tsubakuro" for 31 years, representing the Japanese professional baseball (NPB).
The Yakult Swallows club announced on the 19th that "Stab, who has been protecting Tsubakuro, has died."
"I sincerely thank you for your warm words of encouragement after the announcement of the combat mission," the club said. "I would like to inform you that (Mascot's) activities will be suspended for the time being. I also ask that you respect the privacy of the deceased and keep a warm eye on them."
Not only Japanese sports media, but also leading daily newspapers such as "Asahi Newspaper" and "Yomiuri Newspaper" delivered the news of Tsubakuro's staff. According to media reports, the staff member complained of poor condition on the 6th and said he would cancel the scheduled event and the performance after the opening game. According to club officials, he reportedly suffered from pulmonary hypertension.
Tsubakuro, a mascot who debuted in Meiji Jingu (Yakurt's home stadium) on April 9, 1994, has been in charge of a staff member for 31 years. Tsubakuro was loved by many fans as a star in the mascot world, representing not only the Yakult team but also the Japanese baseball world. He enjoyed a lot of popularity due to his cute appearance, witty remarks, and various performances. His related products also recorded more sales than players.
The Yakult club treated Tsubakuro as a member of the team, not just a mascot. He earned records for participating in 1,000 consecutive games on July 10, 2008, and 2,000 games on August 5, 2022. At the end of the season, the club's front desk and Tsubakuro entertained fans with annual salary negotiation performances. 먹튀검증
On January 28, Tsubakuro renewed his contract on the condition that the company provides unlimited drinks for its parent company's "Yakult 1000" for an annual salary of 60,000 yen (about 570,000 won). Norichika Aoki, a club legend and special adviser to the general manager who retired after last season, drew attention at the press conference for salary negotiations.
When the news of the death of a staff member who was in charge of Tsubakuro, who was loved for his role as more than a mascot spread, a wave of condolences continued on social media. Not only the fans but also the players prayed for their souls.
Yakult closer Kazuto Takuchi expressed his affection through SNS, saying, "Thank you so much for accepting me like this. I pray for you from the bottom of my heart." Akiyoshi, who served as the winning team for the Yakult from 2014 to 2018, also posted on his SNS, "I had a lot of fun playing together, eating together, going to karaoke. Tsubakuro is my proud friend. Rest well." Former umpire Ryotaro Sakai also prayed for the rest of his life, saying, "Tsubakuro, who always talked to me before the game and was close to the umpire. I wish you all the best in peace."