Anime Girl Saves Cat-Damaged Ancient Treasure!

It’s a story that seems designed to go viral: a cat, a valuable work of art, a YouTuber with an anime avatar, and a crowdsourcing campaign.

In 2024, the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) 東京国立博物館 received a call that sounded, at first, like the opening of a Japanese horror movie. It was from a couple who owned a house in Tokyo that was slated for demolition. In the house stood a pair of old byōbu 屏風, Japanese folding screens, that had been in the family a long time. The couple had contacted an art dealer, but had been told the screens were too damaged to sell, so now they wanted to donate them.

The TNM experts didn’t expect much, but spat out their tea when they saw two Edo era (1603–1868) folding screens painted with scenes from the Tale of Genji. Careful examination revealed that they were signed by Tosa Mitsuzane 土佐光孚 (1780–1852), an artist who had once painted for the imperial family. It also revealed that the hinges were broken, insects had eaten away at the wood, and a cat had scratched the screens. (And this is why dogs are better: drool and pee are easily removed with a wet wipe.)

The TNM experts were humming with excitement at this point, but the museum only has limited funds to restore works that aren’t listed as National Treasures 国宝 or Important Cultural Properties 重要文化財. How to save the screens? Luckily, this is the 21st century, and you can crowdfund overhyped video games, overengineered juicers, scammy cannabis investment schemes, and the restoration of priceless Edo era artifacts!

So the TNM started a crowdfunding campaign to save the screens.

Enter Juufuutei Raden 儒烏風亭らでん, a VTuber best known for this maddeningly adorable mushroom dance meme:

Years ago Raden-chan saw a Nō mask at the TNM, and she’s been interested in all forms of art ever since. She frequently visits museums and discusses Japanese and Western art in her videos.

Raden-chan donated a few million yen, and mentioned the crowdfunding campaign a few times:

The internet did what the internet does when a cute anime girl points at a button. The campaign page exploded and has by now reached more than twice the original goal of 30 million yen. Nearly a third of the supportive comments mention Raden-chan, and there are even comments in English from non-Japanese Raden-chan fans. The TNM staff thanked Raden-chan in a very emotional post (“I’m writing this reply while crying and with trembling hands”).

The campaign ended on December 19, 2025 with 70,190,000 yen, or about 445K USD.

It’s a wholesome story. Somewhere, a cat is still unapologetic.