An-Pan Man is cartoon hero in Japan. Every kid in Japan knows who he is. But he’s a different kind of hero.

An-Pan, a classic pastry in Japan, is a round bread roll filled with sweet red bean paste. An-Pan Man is a character whose head is, you guessed it, an An-Pan. His costume is red and yellow with a brownish cape. As a super hero made of bread, he weakens when his head gets soaked with water.

Although he’s always found fighting his arch rival Baikin-Man (translation: Germ-Man), he is known for this. He finds people who are hungry and starving, and offers them a bite of his bread-head.

To sacrifice a piece of ourselves to help others.

This is the secret lesson hidden behind the cute characters and colorful world of An-Pan Man.

It is a reminder. For us to be generous. To give a piece of ourselves to those we serve. For the change we want to make.

(Note: If you’re worried about An-pan Man’s face, fear not. For An-Pan Man can return to the bread factory where Uncle Jam will bake a new replacement.)