Tsubakuro, the beloved mascot of Japan's Tokyo Yakult Swallows baseball team, has been charming fans since joining the squad in 1994. Known for its adorable yet mischievous antics, Tsubakuro often engages in outrageous behavior, earning it the affectionate nickname "Rascally Penguin" and solidifying its status as one of NPB's most iconic mascots.
Just this past February, the team announced that Tsubakuro would be taking a temporary hiatus due to health concerns, focusing on rest and recovery. However, today (February 19), netizens were shocked to see a news ticker on CBC News displaying, "Obituary: Yakult's Tsubakuro Performer Has Passed Away," leaving many Japanese fans and the public stunned and questioning its veracity.
▼ Tsubakuro (つば九郎) instantly became the top trending topic on X in Japan.
When the hiatus was announced in early February, the team also stated that Tsubakuro would not appear in pre-season or regular-season games, nor would it attend several public events over the next two months. This included the cancellation of Tsubakuro's talk show, originally scheduled for April 14 and 15 in Ehime Prefecture.
With this new development, despite the news only appearing on a CBC News ticker, it was enough for fans to connect the dots, fearing that the performer's health issues during their break had unfortunately taken a tragic turn.
( However, the Yakult Swallows official channels had not yet made a public statement, so whether the passing was true remained unconfirmed. )
Many fans flocked to Yakult's official X post today, leaving comments and hoping for an official explanation regarding the truth of the matter.
Even on Tsubakuro's official blog, fans left messages on the last post from February 3, hoping that the news wasn't true and that Tsubakuro was alright. After all, Tsubakuro has been a beloved presence for over 30 years, and fans deeply cherish the mischievous yet adorable mascot.
It's worth noting that the performer inside Tsubakuro had remained the same since its debut in April 1994. Their distinct mannerisms and personality were incredibly unique and almost impossible to replicate. For Japanese fans, a change in performer would mean it wouldn't quite be the Tsubakuro they knew and loved.
UPDATE: The Yakult Swallows team has released an official statement confirming the passing of Tsubakuro's performer. The team expressed gratitude for all the fans' concern and acknowledged Tsubakuro's contributions to the club.
