Small change and a big heart.
A fun and really sweet aspect of Japanese culture is the trend of anonymous donations made in the name of masked people. Easily, the most iconic of these is Tiger Mask, a title taken by several people donating expensive randosel school bags to orphans and needy families and helping out in other ways. Based on a wrestling manga hero of the same name, these real-life heroes have also led to a variety of copycats and spin-offs. I think there was even a kind-hearted Jason Mask one time.
And every New Year’s Eve since 1974, on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, police have discovered a bag full of coins at one of their stations and outposts, along with a note that reads, “These are coins I collected, one by one every day. I’d be happy if it can help those suffering due to traffic accidents, even if just a little,” and is signed “Gekko Kamen,” meaning “Moonlight Mask” in English and also occasionally localized as “Moonbeam Man.”
Hardcore tokusatsu fans will likely know one or more of these names as the precursor to the entire genre of superhero kids TV shows. Originally airing in the ’50s, Moonlight Mask was the archetypal masked, motorcycle-riding crusader of justice.
Every year the police honor Moonlight Mask’s wishes and donate the coins to funds supporting those orphaned by traffic accidents. However, very recently, something truly unexpected happened.
On 19 October, in Niigata City on the mainland of the prefecture, a police officer approached his patrol car and found an envelope on the windshield. Inside were coins totaling 240 yen (US$1.53), and on the envelope a note said, “I’d be happy if it can help those suffering due to traffic accidents, even if just a little.”
On the same day, about 1.5 kilometers from the first incident, another envelope was found at a police box in the Shirone Chuo area of the city. This one contained 299 yen (US$1.99) in change and had a note with the very same legendary words of Moonlight Mask. In both cases, no witnesses spotted anyone leaving the envelopes. This would mark the first time in over 50 years that Moonlight Mask or someone else using the same moniker donated to victims of car accidents outside of Sado Island.
▼ News report showing the envelopes and coins
Deputy Chief Ryo Takahashi of the Niigata Minami Police Precinct said they will honor Moonlight Mask’s wishes and forward the 539 yen to children orphaned by traffic accidents. He added, “I am deeply moved by this person’s unending concern for the victims of car accidents. Because they are a hero, we are not investigating to uncover their true identity.”
We can probably all agree that a noble deed should be respected regardless of its magnitude. However, this particular magnitude wasn’t enough to cover a combo at McDonald’s, and some readers of the news online had trouble fully coming to terms with that.
“Oh… Well…”
“I thought the report just had a typo in the number.”
“It is the thought that counts, I guess…”
“It’s always been New Year’s Eve. So why now?”
“He does donate often. I looked it up, and this is his 53rd donation. Last time he gave 30,010 yen.”
“I guess the rising cost of living is even putting a strain on Moonlight Mask.”
“I wonder if this person is extremely poor themself.”
“I want to say the amount isn’t important, but at a certain point wouldn’t this be considered a form of harassment?”
“Only a horrible person would laugh at a gesture like this.”
“This person must be pretty old by now. That was probably a good amount of money in their day.”
“Their handwriting is very neat. They must be very meticulous.”
“539 was the license plate number of Moonlight Mask’s motorcycle! Do your homework before shooting off your mouths!!!”
That last comment would have been a cool detail, but a fun fact is that Moonlight Mask’s motorcycle had the license plate number Mu-8323 or 8328. Though it can be hard to see with from the angles the TV series’ scenes were filmed at, and with 1950s-quality cameras, some eagle-eyed fans were able to catch a peek of the superhero’s road-legal bike and at least narrow it down to those two.
It’s especially ironic because while within the series private detective Juro Iwai is heavily implied to be Moonlight Mask’s secret identity, this is never confirmed, and even the actor for Moonlight Mask is listed as “?” in the credits. But anyone even remotely inclined to find out who he is need only look at the back of his bike and run a check on it.
It just goes to show that the true spirit of Moonlight Mask is to help those in need and right the wrongs of society at all costs, even if your plan isn’t all that well thought out. Every little bit helps.
Source: UX News, My Game News Flash, Ameba/Samugai, Kaiju House
Image: Pakutaso
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