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Lucky Star Town Donates to Kannagi Town's Quake Relief

The Washimiya chamber of commerce donated 1,285,603 yen (about US$16,500) and 360 Lucky Star mobile phone chargers to Miyagi Prefecture's quake-damaged town of Shichigahama. The neighborhood of Washimiya is home to Washinomiya Shrine, the Tokyo area's oldest major shrine and a real-life backdrop for the Lucky Star anime series. Shichigahama is the hometown of Kannagi manga creator Eri Takenashi, and the local Hanabushi shrine inspired the backdrop seen in the anime.

Kagami Yoshimizu, creator of the Lucky Star slice-of-life comedy manga, and the publisher Kadokawa Shoten issued special certificates with the author's illustration to raise funds for the devastated Shichigahama. The partnership donated half of the 2,000,000 yen (US$25,700) collected from the sale of 2,000 certificates, which cost 1,000 yen (US$13) each. The Lucky Star Washimiya Fan Circle contributed 285,603 yen (US$3,700) to combine with the 1,000,000 yen (US$12,800) for the 1,285,603-yen (US$16,500) total.

Kannagi director Yutaka Yamamoto joined anime fans and itasha (decorated car) owners to visit the stricken region and offer relief in May. Fans had already been making almost monthly "pilgrimages" to Shichigahama since the anime aired in 2009. Lucky Star fans have also visited the Washinomiya Shrine, especially for the New Year's holidays, since the anime aired in 2007.

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Images © Kagami Yoshimizu/Lucky Paradise

Update: Images of the mobile phone chargers added.