Taoyuan City National Games poster features 'lecherous monkey' mascot, sparking online laughter

A large promotional poster for the upcoming National Games in Taoyuan City has become an unexpected online sensation, not for its athletic imagery, but for the prominent appearance of a beloved mascot. The 23-meter-high banner, displayed on the side of the city hall, features star athletes from local professional teams, but notably replaces the Rakuten Monkeys' official logo with their popular mascot, "Yuan Qi Xiao Zi."

This mascot, affectionately nicknamed "Se Hou" or "lecherous monkey" by fans, is known for its humorous and close interactions with cheerleaders, leading to its playful moniker. The mascot's unexpected prominence on the official city hall banner has amused netizens, who have praised the city for highlighting its most popular figure.

The National Games are scheduled to be held in Taoyuan from October 17 to 22, encompassing 32 different sports categories spread across 43 venues. The event aims to be a significant sporting spectacle for Taiwan, featuring both traditional and newly added disciplines like freediving and disc golf.

City officials have emphasized the importance of the games, which are considered the highest-level multi-sport event in Taiwan outside of the Asian Games and Olympics. The promotional campaign, themed "Dare to Move, Challenge the Peak," aims to generate excitement and participation.