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SAKAIMINATO, Tottori Prefecture\u2014A banner featuring 43 \u201cyokai\u201d characters created by Shigeru Mizuki is on display in front a museum dedicated to the manga artist to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth on March 8.<\/p>\n
Mizuki, a Sakaiminato native who died in 2015 at the age of 93, was known for \u201cGeGeGe no Kitaro\u201d and other works, many of which feature yokai ghouls and hobgoblins.<\/p>\n
The prefectural government set up the textile banner, measuring 7 meters by 2 meters, in the front yard of the Mizuki Shigeru Museum.<\/p>\n
It features illustrations of Mizuki holding Medama-Oyaji, Kitaro’s eyeball father, and other familiar faces from the horror manga series, as well as Akuma-kun (devil boy) and \u201ckappa\u201d water sprite Sanpei.<\/p>\n
The upper part of the banner says: \u201cCongratulations! The 100th anniversary of the birth of Shigeru Mizuki-sensei.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to Mizuki-sensei, we could create the bustling Manga Kingdom,\u201d Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai said during the banner unveiling ceremony on Jan. 16, referring to a regional promotional program making use of manga and anime titles related to the prefecture.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would be really appreciative if people join the 100th anniversary celebration while paying attention to the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic,\u201d Hirai said.<\/p>\n
At the ceremony, Sakaiminato Mayor Kentaro Date referred to the 800-meter-long walk dotted with bronze statues of yokai characters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to cherish the Mizuki Shigeru Road as a sightseeing attraction while we express our gratitude to the great benefactor of Sakaiminato,\u201d Date said.<\/p>\n
After the ceremony, children and tourists took pictures in front of the banner, which is on display until the end of August.<\/p>\n
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