Interest
Saga Prefecture Collaborates With Gintama in 'Sagaharu' Project
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
After partnering with both Yuri!!! on Ice and Pokémon, Saga Prefecture's regional revitalization project Sagaprise! is teaming up with the Gintama anime for a new collaboration. The "Sagaharu Project" will run from August 10 to September 17.
Gintama's leading man Gintoki is taking on the persona "SakataP" (Producer Sakata) to act as the prefecture's producer for the project. The project's name is a combination of the names of the prefecture and Kagura's pet Sadaharu. The franchise's Yorozuya gang have been officially appointed as local promotional characters for the campaign.
The project's main visual features the group with some of the prefecture's specialties: mudskippers, hot air balloons, Arita ware porcelain, strawberries, and rice balls. Another visual features Katsura in a Yayoi-period costume inspired by Saga's Yoshinogari archeological site and Elizabeth dressed as a squid from Saga's town of Yobuko.
The project's Sagaharu character will appear as a life-size statue near JR Saga Station for a limited time. Saga's prefectural governor and the station's station master will appear at an unveiling ceremony for the statue on August 10. People who attend will be able to receive Sagaharu sun visors. The audience will be limited to 30 people who apply the morning of the event.
The promotion is also offering themed rooms at the Furuyu Kumanokawa Onsenkyō spa resort and the Ryokan Yamatoya traditional hotel. Guests will receive special tenugui towels. Yorozuya will set up a branch office at the Saga-shi Rekishi Minzokukan building, and this "Sagaginya" shop will offer collaboration merchandise. Gintoki and other characters are lending their voices to informational broadcasts that will be available in some areas of Saga. In addition, four restaurants in the city of Saga are offering collaboration menus and giving away special postcards.
The third wave of Sagaprise!'s collaboration with Yuri!!! on Ice is running until August 31.
Sources: Sagaprise!'s website, Comic Natalie via Nijimen (link 2)
