Photo/Illutration Tokyo Yakult Swallows’ mascot Tsubakuro, left, holds a news conference after renewing his contract in Tokyo on Jan. 29. 2024. Doala, the mascot of the Chunichi Dragons, shows up as a guest. (Takahiro Horikawa)

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows employee whose humor and quick wit made Tsubakuro one of the most popular mascots in Japanese professional baseball has died, the team said Feb. 19.

The employee had complained of poor health on Feb. 6, and the team had suspended Tsubakuro’s scheduled events at spring training and at games of the upcoming regular season.

Tsubakuro debuted in 1994, and the employee was the only person to officially portray the mascot.

“We express our gratitude and respect for your achievements in bringing Tsubakuro up to this point as the team’s mascot,” the Swallows said in a statement posted on the team’s website.

The team did not release details about the employee who donned the Tsubakuro costume or the cause of death.

It said future activities of Tsubakuro “will be suspended for the time being.”

‘I JUST ENJOY MYSELF’

According to the team’s website, Tsubakuro was born in Japan, is of unknown age, and is based on a swallow.

He was a strong pitcher in high school, winning six Koshien national championships.

He throws and hits right-handed and wears number 2896 for Yakult, a beverage maker. His hobbies include photography and dining out.

In his profile, Tsubakuro said one of the best things about joining the Swallows is that he can consume as many Yakult drinks as he wants.

In August 2022, Tsubakuro “played” in his 2000th game in a home stand against the Yomiuri Giants at Meiji Jingu Stadium in central Tokyo.

When asked by a reporter about the secret of his long career, Tsubakuro proudly stated, in his customary style of writing down his thoughts in a sketchbook, “The strength of my liver and my legs and back.”

As for why he became popular, Tsubakuro wrote, “I’m good at socializing.”

However, when asked about his beliefs, he turned serious and said, “I just enjoy myself.”

He also wrote that the purpose of his existence is to be a “bridge between fans and the team.”

With his adorable looks and satirical comments, Tsubukuro was also praised by fans and players of other teams.

In 2024, the Swallows celebrated the 30th anniversary of Tsubakuro’s debut with a series of events.

Sales of Tsubakuro-related goods often exceeded those of the players.

One of his routine performances at home games was “Aerial Kururinpa.”

After the fifth inning at Jingu Stadium, Tsubakuro would come out on the field, spin his helmet around several times, throw it high in the air, and hope it would land snug on his head.

He never succeeded. But the fans loved the routine, and he refused to give up.

UNLIMITED DRINK SUPPLY

As is customary in the off-season, Tsubakuro (not the employee) also entered contract renewal negotiations.

Every year, he did not immediately accept the terms of the contract, and negotiations were usually held over to the new year.

This off-season, Tsubakuro’s contract was finalized on Jan. 28, for the same salary of 60,000 yen ($400) plus an unlimited supply of “Yakult 1000,” a popular dairy lactobacillus drink.

Tsubakuro appeared at a news conference with Norichika Aoki, a long-time Swallows star and former major leaguer who now serves as special adviser to the general manager after retiring in 2024.

The mascot said he agreed to the contract because the Swallows finished in fifth place in the six-team Central League for the second straight year.

MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY

After the Feb. 6 announcement of the employee’s ill health, the team said it received many sympathetic messages via the internet and other means.

The team thanked fans for “all the warm words of encouragement since the announcement of the staff’s health condition.”

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