I have long harbored a secret desire to have a hedgehog as a pet. I wouldn’t be able to get one right now, as my cats probably wouldn’t leave the poor thing alone (and the last thing a pet hedgehog should be is a plaything for two rambunctious cats) — but if I ever get one in the future, I can only hope that it will be as cool as the one you are about to meet. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, now presenting Marutaro, the hedgehog master of disguise!
Marutaro’s owner is a mystery; he or she has told a variety of news outlets that s/he wishes to remain anonymous, so we know pretty much nothing about him or her. Given that the hedgehog’s Twitter, Vine, Tumblr, and regular blog are all written in Japanese, though, I think it’s probably safe to assume that that’s where the action is going down. According to the About section of Marutaro’s blog, he’s a pigmy hedgehog who loves to sleep, eat, and run around—when, that is, he’s not spending time dressing up and posing for photographs. It’s hard work being a hedgehog, you know? I mean, someone’s got to speak for the ducks of the world:
Or stand in for Goku when he’s off saving the world:
Or provide his friendly neighborhood sea lion with a ball when his favorite red rubber one has gone missing:
Or pretend to be Pikachu when the occasion calls for it:
Over time, Marutaro’s disguises have gotten more elaborate; what began as simple paper masks have grown into full-on costumes with props and scenery. The hedgehog’s owner told Mashable back in April that Marutaro’s many getups are “a means to better convey [his] already colorful personality.” He’s even been getting in on the World Cup action lately, unleashing his hidden football/soccer powers upon the world:
Goooooooooooal!
If, like me, you simply cannot get enough of Marutaro, feel free to head over to any of his various social media accounts and prepare to lose yourself in a deep and wonderful hole of hedgehogness. Happy Friday!
Images: hedgehogdays/Twitter
