Ultraman lights up Tokyo
Costumed Japanese hero keeps watch over shoppers
Streetlights built in the image of Ultraman Taro, a hero from the Ultraman TV series, have been completed at the Soshigaya Shotengai shopping street in Tokyo, as the latest addition to a number of other Ultraman-series characters including the original Ultraman.
The project was set up by the local business associations of three shopping districts, including the Soshigaya Shotengai. The group has been promoting local revitalisation projects including the latest “Ultraman shopping district”.
The 82 streetlights resembling Ultraman Taro illuminate an approximately one-kilometre stretch of the shopping district. Each light pole is 4.5 metres tall with lights in the shape of Ultraman Taro’s face, including two horns and hexagonal eyes lit with LED lamps. The pillar’s red and silver symbolise the Ultraman series heroes.
Streetlights featuring other heroes glow nearby, as if the superheroes are watching the area to uphold peace and security. Though construction of the new lights was scheduled to begin in 2011, the plans were voluntarily postponed after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Business promotion associations of the Soshigaya, Soshigaya-Minami and Soshigaya Shoshin-kai shopping districts have been promoting economic revitalisation of the area, using heroes from the Ultraman series in various ways since 2005. The main office of Tsuburaya Productions, which has been producing Ultraman TV series and movies, was once located in the same ward.
They set up the streetlights in 2009 featuring images of Ultraman series heroes including the original Ultraman, as well as archrival Alien Baltan, who made regular appearances in the popular television show.
With the debut of Ultraman Taro, all streetlights across the three shopping districts have now been replaced with portrayals of Ultraman series related characters.
An event to celebrate the completion of the Taro lights was held Sunday in front of the station. Five characters from Tsuburaya Productions’ TV series – Ultraman Taro, the original Ultraman, the Father of Ultra, the Mother of Ultra, and Monster Booska, a cute, friendly creature – attended to warm up the ceremony. More than 2,000 fans were in attendance, as they packed the venue to shake hands with the characters and take photos.
