Interest
Have a Merry Squidmas with Splatoon in Saga Prefecture
posted on by Eric Stimson
Yobuko, a fishing village in Kyushu's Saga Prefecture, is particularly famous for its squid. With this year's Wii U game Splatoon stoking interest in the squishy cephalopods, Saga Prefecture has decided to throw a special Splatoon-themed event centering around squids in Yobuko called "Sagakeen." To promote the event, the prefecture mounted a display at the iconic Tokyo Tower.
The display revolves around this Christmas tree, the "Ikasu Christmas Tree" (ika being Japanese for squid). Like the squid dryers it is modeled after, it spins around as seen below.
The display also has several squid-related items for sale.
Octopus wasabi (mustard) and squid shiokara (salty fermented seafood paste) (702 yen/$5.69)
Three different kinds of manjū (Chinese-style steamed buns): squid cartilage, tomato-olive oil-basil-squid-shrimp-and-cheese, and "spicy Chinese-style" with a squid-ink bun (810 yen/$6.57)
Chopstick rests (1,080 yen/$8.75)
T-shirts (the one at the bottom features another Saga Prefecture icon, the cow) (3,780 yen/$30.60)
Visitors can also pretend that they're Inklings with this photo panel.
Fans can participate in a face-off this weekend in Splatoon between Saga Prefecture's squid and cattle. The main event, however, takes place on December 1 in Yobuko, where Splatoon fans can ride the Spla-maru ferry around the area and celebrate squids by devouring them — as shumai, as tenpura, and sometimes even while they're still alive.
The Sagakeen display will remain until November 24. The squid-themed manga and anime Squid Girl has also teamed up with Splatoon to promote the tentacled creatures.
[Via Famitsū]
