Anonymous donations by ''Tiger Mask'' in Japan

Tokyo, Jan 12 (Kyodo) Anonymous donations of schoolbags and other items to homes for children under the names ofcartoon hero ''''Tiger Mask'''' and others has been spreadingacross Japan since the Christmas season.

More than 30 locations have so far reported such actsof charity till yesterday.

Donors, mostly to children''s homes, identifiedthemselves under different names including ''''Date Naoto,'''' acartoon character and himself an orphan, who becomes prowrestler ''''Tiger Mask'''' and supports children at such homes inan animation series in the 1960s.

Other pseudonyms include ''''Unfortunately, I am not aTiger Mask,'''' ''''Yabukijo,'''' an old-time animation filmcharacter, or ''''Momotaro,'''' a nursery tale hero.

Their gifts range from stationery and cash to rice,vegetables, fruit and millet dumplings.

In one instance, at a home for children in YamaguchiPrefecture, a box arrived Monday containing two schoolknapsacks along with a DVD of animated film ''''Laputa -- Castlein the Sky'''' by famed director Hayao Miyazaki.

The letter attached to the box said, ''''I am moved byTiger Masks appearing in various places in the country. Thisis just a token of my thoughts but it would make me happy ifyou could make use of them.''''

Also on Monday, a man who appeared to be in his 30sshowed up at a home for children in Fukuoka city and handed anemployee five school bags. ''''I decided to make a gift ofschool bags after watching TV,'''' the man was quoted as sayingand then left without identifying himself. (Kyodo)