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Tour de Tohoku Cycling Event Graphic Features Yowamushi Pedal, Figure Skater Yuzuru Hanyu
posted on by Kim Morrissy
The Tour de Tohoku is an annual cycling event since 2013 which aims to support the restoration efforts after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. This year's event is using two of Japan's most popular cultural exports to promote itself: anime and the figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu. The event has nine special graphics in total which show Yuzuru Hanyu and Yowamushi Pedal characters.
The graphics will be used on advertisements displayed at various stations in Tokyo and Sendai from August 26 to September 17. From August 26 to September 15, eight graphics will be shown at the metro promenade inside the Marunouchi line in Shinjuku metro station. From September 9 to 15, five graphics will be shown at the Hanzomon line inside Shibuya station. From September 11 to 17, one graphic will be shown at Sendai's underground station.
Yuzuru Hanyu commented that this would be his first time appearing on a poster with Yowamushi Pedal, describing the series as a favorite work of his due to the hard work and perseverance shown by its characters. Yowamushi Pedal creator Wataru Watanabe commented: "I pray for Tohoku's revitalization to progress, even by just a little."
Famous creators have drawn tribute illustrations of Hanyu since at least 2015. Tokyo Ghoul manga creator Sui Ishida and artist Yoshitaka Amano (Final Fantasy series, Vampire Hunter D) previously contributed likenesses of the skater.
Wataru Watanabe launched the original Yowamushi Pedal manga in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine in 2008. The first season of the television anime premiered in 2013. The second season premiered in Japan in 2014 and ended in March 2015. Yowamushi Pedal New Generation, the series' third season, premiered in January 2017. Yowamushi Pedal Glory Line, the fourth season, premiered in January 2018.
Source: Moca-News
