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Last fall, a most unusual radish was unearthed in Japan. The vegetable walked—no, raced—from that farm and into our hearts. The result was TV appearances, a calendar, toys, and even a photo book. Behold the world's most successful radish.


If you are not familiar with daikon radish, they are rather large and look like this:


So no wonder after a farm in Hyogo Prefecture pulled a radish that looked like a little person running, people online in Japan were quite surprised. Dubbed "Running Away Radish" (逃げる大根 or "nigeru daikon"), the vegetable's initial tweet became an internet sensation and was retweeted over 30,000 times.

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Obviously, the radish's shape is quite surprising; however, sometimes radishes grow what look like legs. What's amazing is that the farmers were able to pull the radish out and not accidentally break off any limbs!


More tweets followed, and the Running Away Radish went viral, even catching the attention of those outside of Japan.


This could get ugly.


Run, radish, run!


Run!




For freedom!

The farm's Twitter also uploaded photos of more radish friends.


Some like jump rope.


Others like hot baths.


This one is glum. So glum.

But none of them have been as popular as the Running Away Radish!


There have been TV appearances.


A calendar.


Coffee art.



This past weekend at Wonder Festival saw some new radish toys (FYI: these are not mass marketed).


There's even a Running Away Radish book.

All of this certainly must make this vegetable the most successful radish that has ever walked—sorry, ran—on this Earth!


逃げる大根 [Facebook]

Photos: Photozou , ロケットニュース , 根菜農家うめまま@Twitter

To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft .

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