2008 April Fools' Event
| April Fools' Day 2008 | ||||
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| Spain (along with a bull) prepares to give a newscast full of fake news. | ||||
| Event Information | ||||
| Holiday | April Fools' Day | |||
| Date | April 5 - 9, 2008 | |||
| Location | Kitayume | |||
| Also known as | 2008 April Fool's with Spain | |||
| Chronology | ||||
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The 2008 April Fools' Event (2008エイプリルフールmatome 2008 Eipuriru fūru matome, lit. "2008 April Fools' Summary") is a site event that ran from April 5 - 9, 2008 in observance of April Fools' Day. The plot of the event follows Spain, as he takes over running the event from France after the latter got too drunk in the days leading up it. In contrast to the 2007 event, Spain creates various fake news stories closer to the classic tradition of the holiday. In addition to Hetalia characters, the event also featured appearances by characters from Hidekaz Himaruya's other works Advance! Kitakou Broadcasting Club Pure and Barjona Bombers.
Contents
Plot Summary
Summary of Events Prior to April Fools
A prologue summary explains that during 2007, France site-jacked Kitayume twice (during April Fools' and Christmas) making it very chaotic. However, in the days leading up to April Fools' Day in 2008, England treated France to drinks and managed to get him to drunk with a two day hangover. As France laments his situation and his ruined plans, Spain shows up and tells France he peeled the skin off some apples perfectly. Frantically, France begs him to site-jack in his place and he cheerfully agrees. Taking on the mantle, Spain wonders what he's going to do, but he doesn't see the point of stripping other characters when letters from readers encourage him to do so.
Main Storyline
Spain decides that he'll improvise, while admitting his concern for France and wondering if he's still alive. However, when he discovers what France did during the last event he is shocked and overwhelmed. Austria shows up and explains that April Fools' is actually a day where one can "lie without sin", and Spain asks if that means that they can attack Madrid with a huge tomato. Austria expresses relief that Spain is in charge of this year's event, and the latter decides to go on a lying spree with a bunch of joke news stories.
The remaining bulk of the event takes the form of a series of "Spain News" articles:
- "A Polander was made a World Heritage Site" (【ポーランド人が世界遺産指定される】 Pōrando hito ga seikaiisan shitei sa reru): UNESCO registers "A Polander" as a World Heritage Site, much to the frustration and confusion of his Lithuanian friend who would now need to contend with UNESCO regulations when interacting with him.
- "An unbelievable scene in Russia" (【ロシアで信じられない光景が】 Roshia de shinjirarenai kōkei ga): Within a span of 70 seconds, rabbits in Russia returned to the snow mountains in what some are calling the "Baltic Miracle". A young man with glasses quoted in the article suggests it is a symptom of global warming and people should visit Estonia to help improve the environment, while his friend is hospitalized due to intense fear.
- "Fukushima students working on an OTAROID!?" (【福島の高校生がオタロイド制作！？】 Fukushima no kōkōsei ga otaroido seisaku!?): High school students in the Kitakou High School Engineering Club invent an android called an "OTAROID", which doesn't appear to do anything useful but rather has a large knowledge of erotica and seiyū. When interviewed, the android's creator Toyama admits that the robot won't contribute anything useful to society.
- "Success in the development of Spain who can read the atmosphere・Japan-America" (【空気を読むスペインの開発に成功・日米】 Kūki o yomu Supein no kaihatsu ni seikō Nichibei): During a joint-development meeting for Japan and America, Spain was present and was very good at reading the atmosphere.
Spain is very pleased with the stories he's come up with so far, unaware that a giant tomato has appeared just like he had brainstormed earlier.
- "Italian festivals start here" (【ここがイタリア祭始まる】 Koko ga Itaria-sai hajimaru): An interest piece showcasing the festivals that begin in Southern Italy, with Romano expressing disappointment that the 365-day festival will be over for a day due to the leap year.
- "Egypt talking in long sentences, witnessed" (【エジプトが長文を喋っているところを目撃される】 Ejiputo ga chōbun o shabette iru tokoro o mokugeki sa reru): Many people report seeing Egypt talking to a Turkish traveler about a precious pot that he wanted to sell him.
- "In Athens, a meeting was held by a union for cats! but… it’s pretty rare!" (【アテネでネコうりゅう会開催！しかし…・希】 Atene de neko u ryū-kai kaisai! Shikashi… Nozomi): In Athens, a meeting for Japan and Greece's cat fellowship was held, but countries' representatives fell asleep for 45 seconds during the opening ceremonies and claimed that the cultural exchange occurred in their dreams.
- "'Sugita Genpaku' is now The Street's Maeno Ryoutaku raー big hit!!" (【「杉田玄白」が今巷の前野良沢ラーに大人気！】 'Sugita genpaku' ga ima chimata no maeno ryōtaku rā ni daininki!): DJ/Singer Honda-san released a CD on The Street's Maeno Ryoutaku ra―, which becomes a massive hit and was out of stock in stores daily.
- "High-school student Aizu's brilliant achievement! He succeeded in cooking・Aizu" (【会津の高校生初の快挙、料理が成功する・会津】 Aidzu no kōkōsei-hatsu no kaikyo, ryōri ga seikō suru Aidzu): A Japanese high school student living in Aizu prefecture, Homare Aizu, cooked successfully for the first time in his life, and someone told him his cooking actually tasted good.
- "A Brit's first brilliant achievement! He succeeded in cooking・England (【イギリス人初の快挙、料理が成功する・英】 Igirisuhito-hatsu no kaikyo, ryōri ga seikō suru Ei): An Englishman living in London, England, cooked successfully for the first time in his life. After 1000 years of bad cooking, someone in the country finally cooked something delicious named "Fish and Chips", which was commemorated with it's own exhibit at the British Museum.
Spain continues to be pleased and encouraged by his progress, while, nearby, England celebrates successfully cooking something for the first time.
- "'Our Matchless Princess, Unimaginable' was a big hit worldwide" (【我姫無双世界中で異例の大ヒット】 Ga hime musō sekaijū de irei no dai hitto): A new adaption of the Chinese historical novel "Sangokushi" is directed by Sweden's film company and becomes a huge hit internationally, possibly because of the casting of famous characters such as Shinatty-chan and Bamtaro in key roles.
- "Year 2008's top breeder has been decided・America" (【２００８年のトップブリーダーが決まる・アメリカ】 2008-nen no toppuburīdā ga kimaru Amerika): A German man, Germany, won first place at the annual dog show. He has become a well-known dog breeder around the world, and it is said he can breed other living things aside from dogs.
- "Canada, found and captured・America" (【カナダを発見捕獲・アメリカ】 Kanada o hakken hokaku Amerika): While having breakfast together, a man from New York City - America - catches Canada.
- "Canada has been reported missing・America" (【捕獲するもカナダ行方不明に・アメリカ】 Hokaku suru mo Kanada yukue fumei ni Amerika): Minutes after being captured, Canada is once again missing, though America still senses his presence nearby.
- "Female student finds 3 naked male students in classroom. They were arrested." (【教室で全裸を女子生徒に見せつけ男３人を逮捕】 Kyōshitsu de zenra o joshi seito ni misetsuke otoko 3-ri o taiho): Three men are arrested on the grounds of World Academy W for being completely naked and exposing themselves in front of a female student, though they say they were playing Antarctic Adventure.
- "The Cafe of Origins is really famous・South Korea" (【起源喫茶が大人気・韓国】 Kigen kissa ga daininki Kankoku): "The Cafe of Origins", where the waitresses claim to be the origin of a lot of things, has become so famous that it's hard to get a reservation.
Spain is overcome with laughter at his own joke headlines as the OTAROID looks on. In the background, Germany reassures Italy next to the giant tomato.
- "The legendary creature, Heidi, found・Switzerland" (【伝説の生き物ハイジ発見か・スイス】 Densetsu no ikimono haiji hakken ka Suisu): Heidi, thought to be a legendary creature, had it's picture taken by a German photographer. The creature was also spotted passing by the cheese store, and it apparently buys blue cheese a lot.
Spain wonders if he should stay by the train station, and comments he didn't whether he should buy two eggs or just one. At this point, he is interrupted by France who tells him to stop the broadcast. France says that his fake news is actually happening, but Spain doesn't believe him until he sees the giant tomato. Spain is shocked and wonders how this could have happened, and France says his lies were so stupid the god of lies got mad. France says he needs to go something to calm him down... while being completely naked. Determined, Spain immediately begins stripping off his clothes to save the town, and says he doesn't want Romano to work even harder because of him. Once completely nude, France assures him that the god's anger will surely dissipate, and Spain - still naked - celebrates and thanks France. Nearby, an exasperated Noto-sama wishes the reader a Happy April Fools'.
April Fools' Sequel
Later, Romano scolds Spain for being tricked during April Fools'. He also becomes flustered about his work ethic in response to the news item featuring him. When he asks for more specific information about what happened, Spain insists he didn't do anything weird and only "stripped for Madrid's peace". An angry Romano headbutts Spain, telling him he was fooled, much to Spain's surprise.
Character Appearances
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Trivia
- The "OTAROID" news item is a callback to the "Wotaemon" subseries of comics from Advance! Kitakou Broadcasting Club Pure.
- The "World Academy W" news item is a direct callback to the plot of the Notosama 5 visual novel game featuring Prussia.
