This year's champion of the 40th "Sanrio Character Ranking," Pompompurin, proved his immense popularity and the unwavering support of his fans, bringing even more attention to the adorable character who will celebrate his 30th anniversary next year.
But things got even wilder yesterday (October 20) when the official Japanese Pompompurin X account dropped a "Pompompurin Petting Map." This promotional stunt immediately blew up, sparking a massive online discussion, especially among fans who couldn't help but wonder about... petting Pompompurin's b-u-t-t.
Take a look at the official petting map, and you'll see that a good head pat is Pompompurin's absolute favorite. His tummy is also high on the list, and it seems like almost every spot makes him happy when petted. Seriously, he just looks so squishy and pet-able!
However, if you've been following the fandom, you might remember a few years back when an official "golf bag stuck in Pompompurin's butt" product turned his derriere into a full-blown meme. It was iconic.
So, it's no surprise that as soon as the petting map dropped, countless netizens immediately started posting comments like, "Isn't the butt a danger zone?" and "Is it really okay to pet him there?" Clearly, Pompompurin's backside continues to fuel imaginations!
While it's definitely a running internet gag, this petting map has certainly stirred up a lot of buzz. As for whether that famous butt is actually fair game for pets, we'll have to wait and see if the official channels ever give us a definitive answer!