The segment, which was originally broadcast on HBO on April 21, 2019, includes a brief history of the events surrounding Shinjokun, the official mascot character of Susaki City in Japan, the real life otter Chiitan, and the unofficial otter mascot character, Chiitan.
John Oliver, the host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, has found himself in the unlikely position of an Internet feud with an unofficial Japanese mascot character thanks to a segment that aired on Episode 09 of Season 6 of Last Week Tonight.
The segment caps off with the introduction of Chiijohn, an new unofficial mascot character designed to “fill the hole in Shinjokun’s heart”.