ポケモンさん、過疎の街にたった1枚のマンホールを置いた結果…200万人が殺到して大変なことになってしまうｗｗ

Pokefuta are manhole covers decorated with Pokémon. Just one cover has attracted 2 million visitors to a town of 30,000. Zundamon, a 30-something office worker who learned about Pokémon as a child, visits Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, on a Pokéfuta tour and learns the story of 30 years of infrastructure that began with the earthquake and tsunami. ■Pokéfuta Trivia 〇The First One Was a Pun on "Eevee Lover" The first Pokéfuta, an Eevee design, was installed in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, in December 2018. It was inspired by the play on words between "Ibusuki" (a Japanese word for "suki") and "Eevee Lover." Eight more evolved forms of Eevee have since been added, bringing the total number of Eevee family members to nine across the city. 〇 Pokefuta are hand-painted one by one by artisans in Saga. Pokefuta are manufactured by Hinode Suidokiki, Japan's largest manhole cover manufacturer. At their factory in Miyaki Town, Saga Prefecture, they melt off automobile manufacturing scraps at 1500°C and cast them into a mold. Afterward, artisans hand-paint each and every cover. It can take more than six months from receiving the design drawings to completion. 〇 Official Story Behind "Diglett's Hole" The official Pokefuta website reveals a unique backstory: "There's a rumor that someone paints pictures as a 'sign' on the holes dug by the mole Pokemon Diglett." In other words, the worldview is set in a playful way: Pokefuta are "the work of Diglett." 〇 Japan's Most "Overprotected" Manhole In Pippu Town, Hokkaido, Pokefutas often get buried under snow, so tents are erected to protect them during the winter. A sign was also installed saying, "They may be buried in snow. If that happens, please use a shovel and broom to gently search for them and 'get' them!" This led to the manhole becoming a hot topic on social media as "Japan's most overprotected manhole." ■Reference Materials The following websites were used as reference materials. ・Pokémon Local Acts — The Pokémon Company Official Website (pokemon.co.jp) ・Pokémon Lid Official Website — The Pokémon Company (pokemon.jp) ・Kuji City Pokémon Collaboration Special Page — Kuji City Official Website (kuji.lg.jp) ・Iwate Prefecture x Geodude Partnership Agreement — Iwate Prefecture Official Website (pref.iwate.jp) ・Iwate Kitasanriku Roadside Station Visitor Count — Iwate Nippo ・Pokémon Manhole Covers Overseas Coverage — Kotaku ・Evaluation of the Pokémon Lid Local Economic Support Model — CBR ・Recommended Activities for Traveling in Japan — TimeOut Tokyo ・POKÉMON with YOU Project — The Pokémon Company (pokemon.co.jp) ・Kuji Amber Museum Official Website (kuji.co.jp) ・Hinode Water Equipment Manhole Cover Manufacturing Process (hinode-holdings.co.jp) ■ Viewing Notes/Disclaimer This video is entertainment (fiction) based on real people and records. For narrative purposes, some of the characters' feelings and dialogue may be dramatized. However, there is no intention to slander or libel any specific individuals or organizations. ■ About Related People and Works The statements and actions of local government officials and Pokémon Company staff appearing in this video are based on publicly available news reports, official announcements, and interview articles. ■ Borrowed Materials VOICEBOX (Zundamon): https://voicevox.hiroshiba.jp/ Portrait (Sakamoto Ahiru): https://commons.nicovideo.jp/works/im... Irasutoya: https://www.irasutoya.com/?m=1