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Pokemon manhole covers have been slowly but steadily taking over Japan. Starting with just a few featuring Eevee in Kagoshima in 2018, then gradually progressing to taking over streets across the country with lots of different Pokemon, the Pokefuta, as they’re known in Japanese, have begun attracting lots of visitors to lesser known parts of Japan.
Up until now 105 Pokefuta were located throughout ten of Japan’s prefectures, but now we can add five more to that number. Tottori, whose Pokemon ambassadors are both forms of Sandshrew, has added more to their roster, so now they have a Pokefuta in every municipality.
The five new covers were installed in Chizu Town, Yazu Town, Hokuei Town, Hiezu Village, and Kofu Town (in order from left to right, top to bottom in the image above), which are all in different parts of the prefecture. They feature one or both kinds of Sandshrews, and are just as colorful and adorable as always. They also show off something iconic to the municipality they’re placed in — for example, Yazu’s has Alolan Sandshrews snacking on persimmons, which the town prides itself in, and Hiezu’s has a Sandshrew and a Ditto Sandshrew playing among tulips, which are produced by the town.
Actress and model Yumiko Shaku, known as the “manhole actress” since she played a character that uses manhole covers as weapons in "Kamen Rider Zi-O," appeared at the press release and posed with both Sandshrews for a photo after sharing some words about the new covers.
“Thank you for referring to me as the ‘Manhole Actress!’ I’m so happy to see Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew here too. The new manhole covers are cute, aren’t they? I love how there are Pokefuta anywhere you want to go in Tottori. Once the coronavirus pandemic is over and we can all gather together again, I want to visit Tottori with everyone! I’ll be ready to be called the ‘Manhole Actress’ then, too!”
Source: PR Times
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© SoraNews24
4 Comments
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Patricia Yarrow
Those utility covers add something extra special to being out and about in Japan.
starpunk
If you're a gaijin tourist you can take a picture of something that makes Japanese urban culture unique. And there's nothing wrong with sprucing up your cities. It's urban pride. Canada does some of that.
Roseyxxxx
I always did love how cutesy japan can be. Honestly in some ways japanese culture is more open than my own country the usa. In japan there not afraid to use anime and games to make public spaces look cuter and to advertise on tv and help politicians campaigns.