THE titular character of the popular Japanese manga “Chiikawa” on Wednesday was named Tokyo Station master for a day as part of a collaboration tied to the release of a film featuring the tiny, animal-like fictional figure. A Chiikawa mascot appeared on a platform at one of the capital’s busiest stations and gave the departure signal for a Tokaido shinkansen train bound for Shin-Osaka Station.
Standing alongside the “one-day station master,” Nobuhide Naganishi, Tokyo Station master for railway operator JR Central, asked Chiikawa whether its friends could ride on the train, prompting the character to jump around. With the Chiikawa-themed film set to open on 24 July, JR Tokai has launched a promotional campaign running from August through October to encourage travel on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line linking Tokyo and Osaka.
During the campaign, passengers aboard bullet trains operated by JR Central can access a dedicated website where they can obtain augmented reality photo frames that overlay images of Chiikawa characters onto real-world scenery.
Kyodo
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