Japanese Town Spends COVID Relief Fund On Giant Squid Statue To Boost Tourism, Internet Asks 'Why?'

A remote Japanese town is facing severe backlash after spending its coronavirus relief funds?on a giant squid statue that cost nearly $250,000 (Rs 1.83 crore) in a bid to boost post-pandemic tourism.?

The construction of the huge pink monument with its tentacles outstretched began?in October 2020, and the finished statue was finally?unveiled in March by the coastal town of Noto in central Japan as a proud nod to its local delicacy, Reuters reported.?

AFP

It cost around 27 million yen ($247,000) and was mostly paid for with a grant awarded from the central government as part of an aid programme aimed at boosting local economies amid the pandemic

“Tourism in our town has been badly damaged by the coronavirus. We wanted to do something to support the local industries," including promoting squid fishing, an official at Noto town hall told AFP on Thursday.

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As well as the impact of Japan’s border restrictions and calls to limit domestic travel in the past year, the town’s economy has also been hurt by recent bad catches, he added.

Many people came to see the 13-metre (43-foot) monument this week during a series of public holidays, the official said, with children playing on it and adults taking quirky pictures for social media.

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Reuters

But not everyone is pleased, with people online calling it an 'non-urgent' and unnecessary item.??“This is too surreal. What is also unclear is why this qualified for the grant," one Twitter user wrote in Japanese.

“It is wrong to spend tax on a non-urgent, unnecessary item. The mayor and local politicians should pay for it," said another.

But others were supportive. “My daughter will go there for a picnic in autumn. I hope they will not take it away," one person tweeted.

Japan is battling a fourth wave of coronavirus infections and the cabinet approved a $708 billion stimulus package in December to help the economy recover from the pandemic-induced slump.??

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