{
  "id": 20132870,
  "title": "Touring statues of Osaka expo mascot draw crowds as popularity continues",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/touring-statues-of-osaka-expo-mascot-draw-crowds-as-popularity",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T07:00:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261115/p2g/00m/0na/018000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Osaka's popularity of the Myaku-Myaku mascot has persisted since last year's World Expo, with three statues sparking crowds in tour stops across the western Japanese prefecture. Despite initial ridicule, fans have made their way to a statue atop a peak over 1,000 meters high to catch a glimpse of the beloved character.\n\nTo capitalize on the mascot's continued charm, the prefectural government has been promoting the popularity of Myaku-Myaku in hopes of boosting tourism and reviving local communities. In mid-November, the statue named Waku-Waku welcomed hikers by extending its arms at a park on Mt. Kongo, straddling Osaka and Nara prefectures. The statue drew an estimated 12,000 visitors in September, increasing to around 17,000 in October – a fivefold increase compared to the same month last year.\n\nAnother statue, dubbed Irasshai, which kneels formally in seiza style, is currently on display outside a train station in Osaka through November. The third statue, called Nesoberi and managed by Osaka city, has been stationed outside the city hall since October and will remain there until December before being moved to a local complex. However, transporting the giant monuments entails significant costs, with the prefecture allocating about 34 million yen in its initial 2026 budget for the statue tour. This includes around 3 million yen for one-way helicopter transport to Chihayaenchi. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura emphasized that the surge in park visitors is clearly attributed to the Myaku-Myaku effect, highlighting that the promotion of Chihayaakasaka village and nature also benefits hikers' health.",
  "summary": "OSAKA (Kyodo) -- The popularity of Myaku-Myaku, the mascot of last year's World Expo in Osaka, has continued even after the event's end, with three st",
  "key_points": [
    "Three Myaku-Myaku statues draw crowds in Osaka prefecture.",
    "Waku-Waku statue welcomed 17,000 visitors in October.",
    "Tour costs include 34 million yen for helicopter transport."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Leveraging a once-ridiculed mascot for regional tourism turns character popularity into a strategic tool for revitalizing local communities and increasing visitor numbers across the prefecture.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}