Rhys Darby: Big in Japan

Whoa!

Japan.

We've arrived!

Oh!

Look ― a volcano.

Suzuki-san, descend.

Ooh! Steady as she goes.

I'll do it. Here we go, I've got it.

Two quick bursts and a gentle comedown.

Get down gently.

Whoa!

The Kiwi has landed.

I'm here to learn, experience, and eat everything I can.

I intend to walk a line,

a line as fine as the samurai's sword.

From one end of this great country to the other.

But my adventure is also a personal one.

Wonderful.

I've made a career playing kooky and unusual characters.

And I love the unusual side of Japanese culture.

So Japan might be the perfect place for some serious personal and professional development.

One night only!

To become a better person and reach new heights as a performer.

So, join me, Rhys Darby.

On my first trip to Japan.

Oh, look. There it is.

Travelling from Kumamoto in the south...

It's just absolutely bonkers.

To the beauty of Sapporo in the north.

All right! Let's go.

Where I'll do deep research

on the wild...

the wonderful, the dangerous...

world of Japan,

where tradition lives alongside the fabulous new.

Yeah, I might get a tub like this at home, actually.

I start my epic journey in the city of Kumamoto,

where a massive earthquake in 2016 caused widespread damage, including to the stunning Kumamoto Castle.

Beside the castle is Kumamoto Shrine.

I've come here with my translator, Miyuki,

to receive a blessing and make a wish for the adventures ahead.

So, Miyuki. This is my first Japanese shrine experience. Yep.

What's happening here? OK.

In New Years, we always come to the shrine to pray for good hope and wish of the coming year.

So, what, exactly, do you say once you get up there?

You have to say your name and an address, so that the god will know exactly who you are.

Really? Yeah.

He's not all-knowing and all-seeing? Not yet.

So, you have to, kind of, tell him. Divulge...

Yeah, who you are. Particular details. Yep, yep.

So the god knows, 'Yes, OK, you're the one.'

Yes. And then you will make a good wish. Whatever you want.

I'll give it a shot. Yes, please.

I've always had an interest in Japan, yet I have never been here.

So I'm definitely a fish out of water here.

Now, I don't like the term 'fish out of water, ' because to me, that means you're practicallydead.

Fish don't really survive out of water. So I prefer to think of a fish that's evolved.

And to think of us as fish that are constantly evolving, learning, and adapting to our situations

makes me feel more comfortable. I'm a fish, adapting.

So, here I am now. I've got little leggy things, and I can move. So that's stage one.

Before I leave this shrine, I'm gonna write down my hopes and wishes

that everything turns out well for our upcoming journey.

With my wish let loose on the universe, I'm feeling ready to get stuck into Japan.

And I'm excited to meet one of the country's biggest stars,

whose home town is right here in Kumamoto.

I've always had a fascination with mascots, the idea of a non-human entity representing a sports team.

But here in Japan, they have mascots for everything. Check these out.

This is a Haunted Tokei Guy, who has a possessed clock tower for a head.

The frightening Melon Bear, from Hokkaido.

And this one is Takapo. He represents an airport.

He is in fact a sentient runway with two aircraft for hands.

This guy is the ghost of a fermented horse mackerel.

But the big king is Kumamon.

Can't litter in this place, so...

Kumamon is a yuru-chara, which is the Japanese name for mascot.

He has millions of fans and was voted number one yuru-chara in Japan for three years running.

So I hope to meet Kumamon and maybe pick up a few mascot moves.

But first, I need to get some intel from his boss, Kumamoto Governor Ikuo Kabashima.

Kabashima Ikuo desu.

Ah.

Right.

No. How much?

Wow. To the city, US$1.5 billion.

Billion dollars. Billion.

Yes.

Right.

Yes.

All right, I have a gift for you. This is for you. This is our kiwi. Soft...

Mascot? Mm?

This is mascot in New Zealand? Yeah. It's New Zealand's mascot.

And if you squeeze, you can hear the bird...

Oh, I see, I see. Oh, good.

Cute voice. Yes. Cute.

One present for you.

This is actually a Kumamon pin badge, only for governor.

Wow, that's an honour.

So, I give you this one. That's amazing.

A very special... This is very, very special.

Don't give to anybody. Oh, no. No.

The gates have been opened for me to enter the yuru-chara world. Number one yuru-chara.

Number one yuk― Number one yuru-chara.

Very nervous. I'm about to meet Kumamon.

It's a bit like a first date, really. No one else here knows he's gonna turn up but me.

And I have no idea what sort of pandemonium is gonna ensue,

once the biggest celebrity, arguably in Japan, turns up any second―

Oh, here he is. Kumamon.

Oh!

Watashi wa Rhys desu.

What a pleasure to meet you. Whoo-hoo! Look at him go.

Whoa! That's a good one.

Despite his size, he can move very well. He's got very agile movements.

You know, I think that's important.

You've gotta look and feel happy,

the way you move, bring joy.

Wow.

Now, what does Kumamon mean to you?

Happy. Happy! Yeah, happy.

Come on, have a hug.

There we go.

He's not just a mascot. But, really, it's all about love.

It's all about happiness, and it's about giving that to the people.

It's hard to understand, but once you're here, you can feel it.

I feel like somewhat of a mascot myself, back in New Zealand,

so I bring happiness to people, and people smile when they see me, on occasion.

So I know what it's like to be stared at.

- ('KUMAMOTO' THEME SONG PLAYS) - (AUDIENCE CLAPS RHYTHMICALLY)

It's great physical theatre.

The magic really is in the performance of Kumamon.

He's doing a great job.

Interesting to watch and learn how the process works.

We're all kids in Kumamon's candy shop.

And once you think like a kid and you buy into him being real,

then it becomes real, and that's the key.

In Japan, even when small children grow up into adults,

they still hold mascots in their hearts.

I love Kumamon because he's cute and cheeky.

After the recent big earthquake, Kumamon brought us hope and encouragement.

I like he's... you know, a little bit fat. (LAUGHS)

I've learnt a lot today. I can see the effort that goes in to the work as a mascot.

It's not just simply turning up and waving your arms.

And I'm looking at it and I'm thinking, 'I could do this.'

The amount of happiness that comes from throwing happiness out there, I think, is rewarding.

What time's your next gig?

OK, day two, and I've got big plans.

Japan is steeped in ancient history, with some traditions running back thousands of years.

But they also have a fascination with modern robotic technology.

And so if you know me, you'll know I love robots. I've been doing impressions of them all my life.

So I'm hoping this next destination will really tickle my fancy.

I'm heading to Nagasaki, to the Huis Ten Bosch theme park.

It's a replica Dutch village that reflects the historical relationship

between the Dutch and the Japanese since the 15th century.

But within this village, I'm curious to stay at a hotel unlike any in the world.

In Nagasaki, at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park,

I'm walking into something that's a first for me ― and indeed a first for the world.

Please enjoy your stay. Konnichiwa.

Robot cloakroom.

This is the world's only fully robotic hotel.

And since opening in 2015, it has become a popular novelty attraction

for robot lovers of Japan and beyond.

Choose your locker.

I love robots, and particularly doing robot impressions.

So for me, this is a great chance for some deep research and method preparation

for future robot performances.

Here we go.

Ooh!

Oh yes, I see what's happening here. It's gonna turn up over here.

Oh, here we go.

Wonderful.

Touch the hatch.

I don't wanna touch the glass.

No.

Oh yes. Robot... starting again.

There we go. All right, the check-in.

Hello, I'd like to check in please.

Oh! English?

What about dinosaur?

Ah. All good to go. Just as a backup, I might just check in with... Yumiko.

Please hold up your passport. A lovely pen. I like the technology on that.

The check-in process is now complete. There we go. Look at that.

Good.

It's weird.

I feel alone.

And this is just in a short time, already.