One year ago in Fukusaki, right in front of the train station was installed this “youkai bench", representing the kappa Gajiro playing shogi. Today there are 9 such benches in the town, were you can relax next several Japanese folkloric monsters.

Fukusaki, in Hyogo Prefecture, is the birth town of the folklorist Kunio Yanagita, and the kappa Ganjiro, a character from one of Kunio Yanagita books, is today the mascot of the city.

Gajiro playing shogi, Fukusaki, Hyogo

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Hello Kitty Shinkansen interior