The other day, I was walking through sunny Hollywood on my way to a job when, right before my eyes, I spotted everyone’s favorite rodent, Mickey Mouse. I had met Mickey once before in New York, but now he looked different – a little gaunter.

Thinking, “something’s not right” I approached him to ask for a photo like I did in NYC.

“Okay! But don’t forget to tip! Haha!”

Yup, that’s Mickey alright. Wow. Just like him, trying to entertain as many people as possible, Mickey has made his way across the USA. No wonder he’s thinned out a bit. Admiring his dedication, I shelled out a buck and took some shots of him.  Odd – his time in California seemed to have given him a Mexican accent too.

After finishing my assignment I had decided to go through Hollywood again to see if Mickey was still there. Sure enough he was, but he looked different again.  He was kind of dressed like a patriotic pimp in a shiny red-white-and-blue suit and top-hat.

Also, during the daytime he had been accompanied by his longtime wholesome girlfriend Minnie Mouse. But now, Minnie was replaced by a scantily clad leggy Navi from the movie Avatar in high heels.  This late-night edition Mickey wasn’t quite what I remembered so I rushed over again to ask for a photo.

“Okay! But don’t forget to tip! Haha!”

Hmm… the voice was different from the Mickey I met this morning. He lost his Mexican accent completely. Wow. He must’ve wrecked his voice talking to all these people.  But all he does is ask for tips.  Oh man, Mickey must have fallen victim to the global recession too.  While keeping this harsh reality in the back of my mind I tried to take my pictures with a straight face, and sullenly moved on.

It seems Mickey has followed the paths of other fallen stars in Hollywood like Charlie Sheen and Lindsey Lohan, drawn in by the bright lights, fast cars, and Navis.  However, he still showed me some glimpses of that old Mickey magic.  I caught him removing his head and hands from his body on several occasions.  It’s not as flashy as Fantasia any more but it left me with a flicker of hope that Mickey gets the help he needs and moves onto a more peaceful place like Salt Lake City.

So if you come across Mickey hustling money from tourists at a famous sightseeing spot, don’t forget to tip. And just maybe you’ll see some magic too.

Story, Photos, Video: Daiichiro Tashiro on Twitter (Japanese)

▼Video showing day and night Mickey making paper on the streets of LA.

▼Just walking along the street in Hollywood and – it’s Mickey!

▼Lucky me, finding Mickey again here of all places!

▼“Okay! Don’t forget to tip! Haha!”

▼Jeeze, Mickey has it rough these days.

▼You hang on tight to that dollar Mickey! It’s breaking my heart.

▼Wait.  What’s that they’re looking at? It’s an official Disney Store! I haven’t seen one of those in ten mintues!

▼Cuuuuute!

▼As I leave the Disney Store, I took one more shot of Mickey talking to the Insane Clown Posse.

▼What…?!

▼the…?!

▼Hell?! Mickey’s head is floating in the air? What sorcery is this?

▼Came back in the evening for All-American Mickey, and there he is taking his head off and holding it upside-down.

▼Looks like he’s trying to pick up a Navi.

▼Wha? Mickey’s fur has fallen off his hands! Things are worse than I thought.

▼Back in the day these two would make a power couple, but now on the streets… terrible.

▼That little boy seems to sense something’s wrong.

▼This little boy too.

▼I got my pictures too.  I didn’t forget to tip.

▼Hmm? What’s that?

▼It looks like…

▼Gah!

▼That’s odd.  It must have been a strange angle.  Let’s check another pose.

▼Mama!

▼Don’t forget.  When you meet Mickey in Los Angeles, don’t use a flash for photos.

[ Read in Japanese ]