RIP Franchises of our youths

[Drunk Monk]

Oh damn. I didn't even know this existed. Momotaro was my favorite fable when growing up. It had a major influence on my life. 

'Beloved' work of art stolen from Bay Area park
By Amanda Bartlett, Assistant Local EditorOct 23, 2025

A statue of Japanese folk hero Momotaro was stolen from Guadalupe River Park, San Jose, Calif.
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An investigation is underway in San Jose after a culturally significant statue was stolen from its longtime post in a city park.


Momotaro, named for the popular Japanese folklore hero who is also often translated as “Peach Boy,” was a gift from San Jose’s oldest sister city, Okayama, Japan. The relationship between the cities was established in 1957, and the replica of the bronze statue that guards Okayama Station has stood in Guadalupe River Park near the Center for the Performing Arts since 1993. The statue depicts the boy and his dog, monkey and pheasant companions who go on a quest to defeat a band of ogres, with the tale celebrating their courage and teamwork along the way. 

Side-by-side photos show the Momotaro statue before and after it disappeared from San Jose, Calif.
San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs/Facebook
But sometime prior to Oct. 15, the work of art vanished, the San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs announced in a Tuesday statement, asking the public to be on the lookout for the “important and beloved part of our community.” Photos shared by the agency showed the boy’s hollow shoes and the animals’ feet were all that remained of the statue after it was apparently cut down and torn out. 
Authorities asked anyone with information about the statue’s whereabouts to call the San Jose Police Department’s non-emergency line at 408-277-8900 and reference the case number 25-288-0623.
It’s not the first time a piece of public art has been stolen from the South Bay city in recent years. In January of 2024, a sculpture worth $100,000 and weighing more than 600 pounds was pilfered from the parking lot of an art studio near San Jose Mineta International Airport, the Mercury News reported. A suspect was arrested after the work had already been sold for parts at a nearby scrap yard. 
In 2023, a sculpture of a 1600s-era ruler riding a horse that commemorated another one of San Jose’s sister cities — Pune, India — was also snatched from Guadalupe River Park. It was discovered by authorities within days of its disappearance, mostly intact.
The San Jose Police Department did not immediately respond to SFGATE’s request for more information regarding the most recent theft. 
Guadalupe River Park is a 120-acre park on the banks of the Guadalupe River, boasting over 2 miles of trails, a rose garden and a historic orchard.