Sendai Shiro Santa Strikes Again

Once again, the massive inflatable monk with the small dear friend have graced the ceiling area of Sendai strapping arcade welcoming shoppers to spend at their chosen businesses at their convenience this holiday season.

I have written about this character before and his status as a local mascot for good businesses. Historically, the mentally ill monk that the iconography is based on would favor certain businesses that would inevitably wind up doing really well otherwise. He became a local folk deity (sort of?) for good consumerism and business.

Every year he hangs out above the shops in the arcade and dresses like Santa sitting on a sleigh pulled by a single reindeer. It's always if it's strange to see the combination of east and west in this way, but I can't help but smile when I look at it.