Cartoon hero sparks a wave of donations

Acts of kindness are inspired by a comic book

TOKYO - Japan has been enthralled by the mysterious comeback of a 1960s manga comic book hero that has sparked a nationwide wave of gift-giving by anonymous donors to underprivileged children.

The spate of donations started on Christmas Day, when presents were left at a children's welfare center near Tokyo, with a note saying they came from "Naoto Date", the alter ego of professional wrestling character "Tiger Mask".