ふなっしーが – Funassyi, a superstar in a pear costume

今やゆるキャラ知名度No.1であろう、ふなっしー。CNNでも紹介。わぁお！
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T8dsrmX9KM
(CNNにインタビューされるの巻 ‐前編‐)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gHusYjqttE
(CNNにインタビューされるの巻 ‐後編‐)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHA6JeWWxj4
(ふなっしーに笑いが止まらない美人アナウンサー)

実家の居間にも、その姿が違和感なくあったりする、という。。。
例えば、梨汁キャンディ。 「美味しいよ。食べる？」と母に勧められる。

このふなっしーは、母の友人による手編み作品。すごい完成度。

Handmade Funassyi knitted by a friend of my mother’s.

旅先で。梨の妖精がリンゴに挟まれているって。。。

Funassy, the pear fairy, is sandwiched between an apple…

CNN introduced Funassyi as a cute, cuddly, and sometimes bizarre mascot. Unlike the other mascots who are calm and quiet, Funassyi is loud and energetic. He talks a lot in a high-pitched voice, ending his sentences with his catch phrase, “nashiii!”
Each “YURU-chara - loose character" mascot represents a city or prefecture and their appearance is linked to their place of origin.  Funassyi insists he is a pear fairy & representing Funabashi city unofficially where a lot of pears are produced and my parents are living。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T8dsrmX9KM
(Interview by CNN #1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gHusYjqttE
(Interview by CNN #2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHA6JeWWxj4
(Funassyi made her lose it on live TV news show)