Kenta Watanabe, creator of VTuber Hot Springs Mascot Chizuru, said he got lost in the Oita floods - News

Kenta Watanabe, creator of VTuber Hot Springs Mascot Chizuru, said he got lost in the Oita floods - News

Last week's heavy rains in Japan killed 69 people


Il Asahi Shimbun reported Friday that Kenta Watanabe, the creator of the mascot character “Dennō Okami Chizuru” has been missing since torrential rains caused floods and landslides across Japan's Kyushu region on Tuesday. Police on Wednesday confirmed the death of Kenta Watanabe's grandmother, Toshimi Watanabe (81), manager of the Ryokan Tsuruya Intaku inn,.

Kenta Watanabe (28) was in the car with her grandmother and parents Yumi (51) and Tomomi (54) when floods in the Oita region of Kyushu swept the car away. Sunday NHK World reported that research groups are still looking for Kenta and her parents.

“Dennō Okami Chizuru” is the mascot of the Ryokan Tsuruya Intaku inn, which is located in the Yunohira spa district in Yufu. The character is also a VTuber, who spreads tourist information about the Yunohira spa district and the Ryokan Tsuruya Intaku. The character became popular and a local vocal actress was attached to the character.

Dennō Okami's official Twitter account Chizuru account released its latest update on Tuesday evening stating that the staff of Ryokan Tsuruya Intaku was temporarily evacuated.

Heavy rains in Japan over the past week have left 69 people dead, one person without vital signs and 13 people missing. Most of the victims are in Kumamoto prefecture in Kyushu. Searches for missing persons are still ongoing.

Thanks to Omiya for the tip.

sources: The asahi shimbun (Ryuta Kuratomi and Satoshi Juyanagi), Oita Gōdō Shimbun, NHK World


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