Do you remember the “Katamari contest” I won back in December 2009, and how I got a wrong prize? I was supposed to get the head end of Noby Noby Boy scarf, and the other winner was supposed to get the tail end. But I got the tail end, and she got the head end by mistake.
I’d love to write what happened between me and Namco Bandai in detail, but I decided not to. No hard feelings for anyone. Besides, the story has a happy ending, so it’s all good. In the end, I learned how awesome Mr. Keita Takahashi is and I have a new friend.
Behold! The proof of a happy ending!
Three months after getting the wrong prize, it seemed like I was going to have to accept the tail end of the scarf. Namco Bandai was sending me back the package I had shipped, so I asked them to send the Noby Noby Boy plush I originally made for the other winner to Jeff at Penny Arcade because he was always on top of this and he deserved it.
After I emailed my address to Namco Bandai, I gathered up my courage and decided to contact the other winner. It was my last choice because I really didn’t want her to feel like I was coming after her for the prize or anything. I just wanted to make Mr. Takahashi’s dream come true and connect the two scarves. Right after I got the scarf the first time, I emailed Mr. Takahashi to thank him for the scarf. Then he emailed me back, explaining his true intention of the two scarves. He wanted each owner of the scarf to somehow find each other. His email truly moved me. No wonder his games are filled with happiness. 
The head end comes with one plush doll.
I wasn’t expecting a reply from the other winner, so I was very surprised that she wrote me back almost right away. She sounded very sweet, and even offered to give me both scarves! I explained that Mr. Takahashi wants the two pieces of the scarf to remain separated, and we should meet and take a picture of us connecting the scarf and send it to him.
You can put your hand in the head part and move the arms like a puppet, and the buttons on the other end are to connect with the tail end.
A couple of days after that, I got the tail end of Noby Noby Boy scarf back from Namco Bandai. I was glad to see him again, but there were something else in the package. I took them out, and wow. They must’ve felt pretty bad or I must’ve been really annoying. They put whole bunch of promotional stuff in the package. Does the free stuff make me completely forget the ordeal with them? No. But it was a very nice gesture and I really do appreciate their effort.
(clockwise from top left) King cellphone strap, sandwich box, Katamari Damacy OST autographed by Keita Takahashi, Prince PSP case
A very common Japanese sandwich box. It folds flat and has slots for ventilation.
Autographed and drawing by Keita Takahashi
Collaboration promotion with Tales of the Abyss (the head comes off!)
Prince puppet
I made a Noby Noby Boy plush again, and shipped it to her with the scarf. I also threw in some stuff I got from Namco Bandai.
Noby Noby Boy plush #2!
My original plan was to make it shorter... but for some reason, it ended up a lot longer than the first one.
And guess what?? I got the head end of the scarf the day before I left for PAX East! I wore it when I went to see Jeff at a panel. He seemed very relieved to see me with the scarf.
Noby Noby Boy meets Hatty at the Behemoth's booth!
At PAX East, a couple of people asked me if I made the scarf. I told them it was made by Keita Takahashi’s mom, and they looked confused and asked “But how did you…??” And I’d explain I won the Katamari contest on Penny Arcade, and they’d go “OOoh! You’re the winner?”
I can't wait to meet the other winner!
I should’ve just tried to contact her in the first place… but everything happens for a reason, right? I always tell that to myself, it’s a great way to stay positive. In fact, I did get to know awesome people through this!
For more pictures of Noby Noby Boy Scarf and other Katamari Damacy & Noby Noby Boy related stuff, visit We <3 Keita Takahashi! collection on my flickr.
I was born in Japan, lived in New York for a while and now living in San Diego, California. I love creating things with my hands in my free time whether it’s making character bento or stuffing stuff! And now I'm working for 
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O_o
WOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!
Anna that is awesome! You got some really rare stuff from Namco! That Prince puppet is insanely rare and awesome! AFAIK they were only given out to journos and for contests around the time Katamari came out.
Please don’t be mad at Keita. There was probably some miscommunication along the way and he did his best to make everything up to you. It would be really awesome if you and the other winner meet up and take a picture after all!
Hi Onion
My boyfriend loves hitting my head with the tiny hands of Prince Puppet. It actually feels good.
And I’m not mad at Mr. Takahashi at all! He wasn’t handling the prizes, and when he wrote me back, he was absolutely awesome and was very sorry about the whole thing. (even though he hasn’t done anything wrong in this situation.) His emails moved me so much that I love his games even more than ever. He’s currently in London, designing a park there. I promised him that I’d go to the park to eat bento when it’s done.