Interest
Gegege's Mizuki Designs Yōkai Totem Pole for Hometown
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
Kitaro and Neko Musume.
The totem pole will cost about 2,000,000 yen (US$26,000) to construct, and it will be funded by contributions from throughout Japan. The Sakaiminato City Sightseeing Association is calling for 40 sponsors of 50,000 yen ($650) each, whose names will be carved into the granite at the base of the yōkai totem pole. The Association began accepting sponsor applications on July 14.
Shigeru Mizuki Road already includes 139 bronze statues and 29 streetlights of Mizuki's characters amongst other Gegege no Kitarō decorations and attractions. Maintenance of the sightseeing attractions in Mizuki's hometown is funded by a collaboration of private groups. Sakaiminato has recently enjoyed a boom in tourism spurred by last year's GeGeGe no Nyōbō television drama, based on the life of Mizuki's wife. In the last year, 3,720,000 tourists visited Shigeru Mizuki Road.
Sources: Nikkei, Sponichi Annex
Image © Sakaiminato Sightseeing Association 2011
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