Interest
Girls & Panzer Helps Ōarai Spring Matsuri Festa Draw 80,000
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The coastal town of Ōarai in Ibaraki Prefecture has seen much economic success since the Girls und Panzer anime merged with its annual Angler Fish Festival in November. Since the merge, the town has seen a steady increase in attendee turnout, starting with 65,000 in its first year in 2012 before jumping to 100,000 in 2013.
This year the anime also joined forces with the Ōarai Spring Matsuri Kairaku Festa. Kairaku is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan and is located in Mito, Ibaraki. Over 80,000 attendees came out for the nice weather on Sunday, an increase of 30,000 compared to last year.
Girls und Panzer voice actresses Kana Ueda, Mai Fuchigami, Mami Ozaki, Mikako Takahashi, and Misato Fukuen participated in a talk show stage event that included a quiz about the show with other staff members. A giant version of Miho's teddy bear also participated. The quiz show was followed by a performance by The Oarai High School marching band with songs ranging from Michael Jackson to the long-running Mito Kōmon period drama.
The PlayStation 4 version of World of Tanks was set up on the second floor of the Ōarai Maiwai Market for a tournament between Ōarai Prefectural Girls High School and rival school St. Gloriana Girls High School. Participants could choose to play on either team. The event drew unprecedented numbers.
The festival was sent off with fireworks that evening and a ceremony designating professional wrestler Masahiro Chōno as an Ōarai ambassador. Chono has actively worked to raise awareness for earthquake reconstruction assistance.
