A famous manga artist is lending a hand to revitalization efforts for a hot spring resort in Kushiro, Hokkaido, that has seen a coronavirus-related drop in tourists.
Keisuke Itagaki, known for his popular martial art manga series "Baki," has provided original illustrations from the series to be used as gifts for those who participate in the locally organized crowdfunding scheme. Itagaki's illustrations for the campaign use the Ainu god of heroes as a motif and incorporates his wish for an end to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Akanko Onsen hot spring resort is located on the shore of Lake Akan, which is well known as being home to marimo algae balls. The resort is representative of eastern Hokkaido and is home to an Ainu community called a kotan that teaches the Ainu culture and way of life. In a typical year, summer would be the peak season for business. This year, however, the hot spring resort is empty as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Entities including the local chamber of commerce and industry's youth league began the crowdfunding scheme as a way to support restaurants and folk handicraft shops that have been struggling to survive.
They turned to Itagaki to help raise awareness for the fundraising campaign. Itagaki, who had spent a portion of his junior high school days in the former town of Akan (presently Kushiro), readily accepted his "hometown's" request. Itagaki not only provided original illustrations of popular characters, including Grappler Baki, to be used on plastic file folders given as gifts for donating to the crowdfunding scheme, he has also completed an illustration of Aynurakkur, who in Ainu mythology is considered the founder god.
Aynurakkur is known for his great military prowess and is said to have brought order and peace to the land of the Ainu after ridding the land of demons. This drawing is scheduled to be used as a donation gift beginning in September.
"A new Aynurakkur, one that no one has ever seen, has been created. I think it wonderfully depicts the strong image of the kamuy [god]," Shusei Toko, 54, a director of the association that cooperated in providing reference materials to Itagaki.
Haruo Ono, 52, a local chamber of commerce and industry official, believe that Itagaki's cooperation in the revitalization project will "hopefully provide opportunities for tourists to visit Lake Akan's shores."
"I have good memories of spending my junior high school days on Lake Akan's shore," Itagaki said. "So, I used to think to myself that if my manga sold well I would someday return the favor. It's all part of my desire to be praised," he jokingly added.
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