KOCHI -- Global figurine maker Kaiyodo Co., headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, revealed plans on Feb. 19 for a town revitalization initiative using popular characters and local specialties.
In cooperation with a beverage maker and municipal governments, it plans to place vending machines selling figurines at various tourist spots and hold events associated with the release of the newest Evangelion movie. Those involved in the plan hope visitors will "enjoy [our] thrilling devices."
The vending machines were manufactured by Dydo Drinco, Inc., headquartered in Osaka. The machines, in addition to selling drinking water, are designed to function as a capsule-toy vending machine commonly known as a "gachapon." A series of figurines depicting 18 notable people from Kochi Prefecture, such as Sakamoto Ryoma, John Mung and Chosokabe Motochika, have been put into the machines, as well as nine varieties of figures with motifs of tourist spots, such as Kochi Castle and Harimaya Bridge, and specialty dishes, all available at 400 yen per try.
The machines are also equipped with a voice function in a variety of languages, including Chinese, English and Korean, so international visitors can easily enjoy them as well. Two machines were set up near the Hirome Market in Kochi on Feb. 19. There are plans to install a total of 17 machines at roadside stations and other places within the prefecture.
A special exhibition in coordination with the release of the first new Evangelion movie in eight years will be held from March 7 to Sept. 28 at the Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto, which is located in Shimanto, Kochi Prefecture. The movie, which will be released on June 28, is the conclusion of a four-part remake of the hit anime, and is gathering much attention from fans.
In addition to roughly 100 Evangelion figures, 30 dioramas reproducing various scenes from the movies thus far will be displayed at the special exhibition, allowing visitors a closer look into the world of Evangelion. The display will also include a large-scale figure of main character Rei Ayanami and a model of Evangelion Unit 2 that will appear in the film.
Around the same time of the special exhibition, the Shimanto town government in a collaboration involving 72 institutions including the municipal governments of Kochi and Nankoku, will carry out a stamp rally called the Shimanto Completion Program. Making use of augmented reality technology, visitors can interact with and collect Evangelion characters just by holding up their smartphones.
On Feb. 19, Kaiyodo President Shuichi Miyawaki and senior officials from Dydo Drinco and the Shimanto town government visited the prefectural office and introduced the idea for the event to the governor.
"With our vending machines, of which you don't know what is going to come out, you can feel as if you are buying sweets with a prize in mom-and-pop candy shops," Miyawaki explained with great passion. "I want to enliven Kochi through these figurines."
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