Photo: YouTube/Team Coco
entertainment

Mayor of Japan’s Conan town to Conan O’Brien: 'If you want the money, come visit'

28 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

Just a few days ago, American comedian and late-night TV host Conan O’Brien learned that while his popularity stretches far from his home nation, the number-one Conan in Japan’s heart is "Detective Conan," star of the anime/manga of the same name. Upset over his second-place-in-Japan status, and jealous of the fact that Hokuei, birthplace of Detective Conan creator Gosho Aoyama, is popularly known as “Conan Town.” O’Brien called out the city on his show, demanding three trillion yen ($270 billion) in indemnities for the appropriation of his given name.

Though O’Brien’s show is relatively unknown in Japan, his reaction to discovering the existence of Conan Town reached all the way to Hokuei, which responded through the city’s official Facebook page with a message that starts off formally cordial…but then makes a demand of its own.

“To: Conan O’Brien

From: Hokuei Town (“Conan Town”) in Japan

Thank you for introducing Hokuei to the world. Here is a famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle quote to serve as a present to you from the mayor of Hokuei: 'There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.' It is elementary my dear, Conan O’Brien. If you want the money, come visit Hokuei.”

But if he’s going to go all the way to Japan, O’Brien says he wants more than just three trillion yen, and he laid out three additional conditions in a new segment of his show.

Specifically, American Conan says he wants:

1. A building named after him. Since the local train station and airport are already associated with Detective Conan, O’Brien says he’ll settle for a Hokuei laundromat rebranding itself as “American Conan’s Fluff 'n Fold.”

▼ He’s even designed the storefront already.

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2. A key to the city, plus a key to the homes of everyone who lives within 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) of Conan Town.

  1. The hairstyle on Hokuei’s commemorative Detective Conan statue changed to “something just a little more flattering,” or, specifically, O’Brien’s distinctive 'do.

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“Do all that, plus three trillion yen you owe me, and I’m on my way!” shouts O’Brien as his video closes, and now Hokuei Mayor Akio Matsumoto has issued a video statement of his own, addressing American Conan in English.

Matsumoto informs O’Brien that Japan doesn’t have a custom of giving keys to the city. The equivalent gesture of success is to award someone with the status of “mayor for a day,” along with a sash announcing their temporary title. “With this you can make all your demands come true. If you come, I will give you this!” Matsumoto promises.

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But if O’Brien is upping the ante, so too is Matsumoto, who says he has three demands of his own, saying:

“First, I want my face next to President Lincoln on Mount Rushmore.

Second, I want my own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Third, I want you to bring 15,000 American hamburgers with you when you come (That’s one for each resident of Conan Town).

Be here or be square.”

Obviously, O’Brien lacks the political power to add someone’s face to Mount Rushmore, and he probably doesn’t have the necessary entertainment industry clout to get Matsumoto a star on the Walk of Fame either. And of course, given O’Brien’s farcically huge financial demand, and Matsumoto’s equally over-the-top requests, it’s clear that both sides are going for comedy first, and serious negotiation second.

But procuring 15,000 hamburgers, then personally delivering them to a sleepy town in rural Tottori Prefecture seems like not only a a doable task for O’Brien, but exactly the sort of comedy he does best. So we look forward to his eminent and beefy arrival.

Source: YouTube/Team Coco

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Conan O’Brien lays out his case that anime’s Detective Conan is just a copy of him【Video】

-- Detective Conan asks what kind of criminal you are…through instant curry

-- Conan O’Brien turns into a goldfish for a surprise Korean drama cameo

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

28 Comments
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Good to see that Mayor Matsumoto has a sense of humour, a rare condition among Japanese local officials.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Why ask for a trillion yen when you could ask for - a billion?

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Alex Einz: "atleast someone is entertained by that egotistical , slapstick lowbrow american clown"

I love it when you guys come on to "spend" your time ranting about what a waste of time others are, it's quite humorous in and of itself.

In any case, the Mayor seems a good sport about it, but he can't even come close rivalling Conan in challenges, dares, or fun. But, I could see Conan going over there with the burgers, for sure, and that would be funny. No doubt the Mayor would smile, give him a sash, and the would indeed put a pic up of Conan somewhere. All good fun.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

hey here in Aichi where I live, there is a city called Konan (江南市)

Should I notify him? lol

11 ( +12 / -1 )

They should do like the town of Obama in Fukui prefecture. Just enjoy the publicity and have fun !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama,_Fukui#Relationship_with_U.S._President_Barack_Obama

11 ( +11 / -0 )

atleast someone is entertained by that egotistical , slapstick lowbrow american clown

So? That’s exactly how he portrays himself.

Good repartee by the mayor. These guys are just having fun.

Lighten up.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Alex Einz: "atleast someone is entertained by that egotistical , slapstick lowbrow american clown"

I think you are missing the point - that this is a wonderful distraction from the Trump shenanigans and it's nice to see something in the news that isn't depressing.

And I think Conan is mostly funny.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

That's how the american world works. Trying to get money even if you don't deserve it or on the base of a stupid reason.

And this how you would expect someone who is ignorant of the situation to respond. Conan is a biting satirist. He is brilliantly intelligent and his humor sometimes flies above those with less evolved senses of humor.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

There is a little town in Kyushu called Usa, perhaps they could sue the USA?

Or maybe Conan-ku in Yokohama could sue him?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Matsumoto san has a good sense of humour AND he's put his little village on the tourist map, so who's the winner out of this?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This seems all in good fun and the mayor is very kind to play along.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Some of you need to get a sense of humor. What a surprise, people from different countries find different things funny. At least Conan and the mayor seem to be having fun and I’m ok with that.

@Alex Einz

I wonder what the humor is like in your home country. I bet you’d be shocked to find out not everyone would find your country’s comedy funny either.

@hjnice

Obviously the demand for money was just a joke...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Seems like some fun banter. Good for both sides. Perhaps 10 more visitors a year will show up from this.

A more specific request than "15,000 American hamburgers" is needed. There are widely varying qualities of hamburgers. 15,000 Krystals/White Castles would likely be a huge disappointment, just sayin'.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

excrement level intelligence is attracted to excrement level humor... 

Sheesh. I think American's tend to lack humor these days. But you are clearly no barrel of laughs yourself.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Some Japanese hair product company will soon have a gel name 'Conan - strong permanent hair gel', then O'brien can ask for some yen.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the irony is the name Conan originated as far back as 1400yrs ago in Ireland, also Saint Conan of the Isle of man seems like neither can lay claim to the name after all.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

O’Brien called out the city on his show, demanding three trillion yen ($270 billion) in indemnities for the appropriation of his given name."

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Mayor should have offered 3,000 yen + 1 plate of octopus sashimi, saying as a public servant any more would be in poor taste. ;)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Conan's ok.

I'd rather Stewart Lee visit, tbh.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

After reading the majority of these comments, I'm disappointed many of you don't understand Conan's humor! First of all, it's sarcastic and all in good fun. Do you honestly believe he wants Conan Town to give him 3 million Yen?! Secondly, Conan is an educated Harvard graduated.. he's intelligent enough to know what people like to watch on their tv sets. Lastly, when Conan travels abroad to other countries... it's to bridge the US with that country through humor and education. He tries to inform his viewers about a different world, but with a comedic lens. If you're not familiar, I urge you to look at his visits in South Korea, Cuba, Mexico, Germany, etc. It's more about bringing people together than it is "an American being stupid in another country."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Alex Einz: "everyone find my countries humor amazing and funny, it is also intelligent, most Americans lack the intelligence to process it .. "

That is some Trump level rethoric you have.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

everyone find my countries humor amazing and funny, it is also intelligent, most Americans lack the intelligence to process it .. think US is a Mcdonalds of humor vs mine is a juicy wagyu burger...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

oh and he better keep em garbage burgers away from japan , we rather eat actual food.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Meh.  He's not funny anyway.

If any other Conana is going to be recognized by Hokuei should be Conan the Barbarian.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

real original NOT

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

apparently... excrement level intelligence is attracted to excrement level humor... in other news.. Americans think their humor is funny .. but people mostly not laughing with it but at it...

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

That's how the american world works. Trying to get money even if you don't deserve it or on the base of a stupid reason.

Alex Einz, you're right ... a little bit. I would describe it in other words, BUT the Japantoday watchdogs would supress the post.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

atleast someone is entertained by that egotistical , slapstick lowbrow american clown

-30 ( +4 / -34 )

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