Pokemon lids unveiled in western Japan

SHIMONOSEKI, Yamaguchi Four Maintenance Hole Covers with designs featuring Pokemon characters - dubbed Poke Lids -- have been installed here, the first such move in western Japan's Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The Pokemon Co. based in Tokyo, which produces the popular anime and game series, has sought municipalities throughout Japan that are interested in the Poke Lids, and produces lids featuring both its characters and local specialties. The lids are donated to local governments to be used as a tourism resource. It hopes to increase the number of visitors to each region from within and outside Japan by promoting Pokemon and local attractions.

At the unveiling of the four maintenance hole covers held at Shimonoseki City Hall on Jan. 25, the iconic Pokemon character Pikachu made an appearance. Each of the four lids is located in front of the Kaiyokan municipal aquarium, the sister city plaza, and two places on the Ganryujima island. The one in front of the Kaiyokan depicts the characters Qwilfish and Chinchou, which remind people of the city's representative fish, pufferfish and goosefish.

Shimonoseki Mayor Shintaro Maeda, who was present at the ceremony, said that we would like to make further efforts to promote Shimonoseki tourism so that more people will come to the city in search of Poke Lids. To date, 287 of the covers have been donated, and Yamaguchi is the 28th prefecture in Japan to receive them.