Tokyo DisneySea sold one of the hardest things to buy in the whole resort. Duffy, a soft, hand-sewn teddy bear, had become the parks' most popular plush toy, and it was often sold out.
That night, some cast members took the bears off the shelves and gave them away.
Japanese children practice earthquake drills in padded hoods called bōsai zukin, made to protect their heads. With aftershocks still coming, a plush bear held over the head could do the same job. It was also something soft and warm to hold in the cold.
Many of the bears went to the youngest guests. No one had handed out a script for any of this. In the shelters, cast members looked after guests by their own judgment.