On October 19th, a creative Neputa designed by Mr. Hisashi Shiriagari, a manga artist, appeared at the "Hokusai Festival" venue in Hokusai Dori, Tokyo (Sumida-ku, Tokyo).

The festival is held in the Kamezawa district of Sumida Ward, centered on Hokusai Dori, which connects Ryogoku and Kinshicho. Since the Sumida Hokusai Museum in the same area is located on the site of the Hirosaki clan's Tsugaru family's mansion, it makes a "department" with Hirosaki Neputa every year.

Mr. Shiriagari made his debut as a manga artist in 1985 (Showa 60), and gag with a parody and satire attracted attention, and since 2002 (Heisei), he has serialized "Hitobito of the Earth Defender". The masterpiece "Miyako and Kita in Midnight" was made into a movie.

The creative Neputa designed by Shiriagari is 5.2 meters high, 2.8 meters wide, and 3 meters long. In addition to the three wrestlers of different sizes, the sky tree, the big waves of Katsushika Hokusai, and Hirosaki Castle, cherry blossoms, and apples are drawn in the large pot. The largest wrestler's face is an interactive projection mapping that projects the face of the audience.

It is said that the project was lifted up by the fact that Shiriagari held a plan exhibition at Sumida Hokusai Museum last year. It was Hirosaki Neputa Participating Council that received the request to create the original Neputa. According to Mr. Hiroyuki Shirai of the same association, Mr. Shiriagari's design proposal arrived at the meeting in June.

Mr. Shiriagari also saw the Hirosaki Neputa service of this year held in August. In fact, after seeing Hirosaki Neputa, she realized that the inside of the pot could not be seen by the audience, and the wrestler changed the design so that the pot could be seen inside.

Mr. Shirai said, "I was surprised by the sudden change, but I had decided that the production of the original Neputa would be after the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, so there was no problem. It took more than two months until just before I came out. It does not have to be as designed. I was told that it wasn't, but it was almost as designed," he said.

Mr. Shiriagari said, "Chanko" is a collection of Hokusai in Sumida and Neputa in Hirosaki, with cherry blossoms, apples, sky trees and wrestlers. What kind of taste does a lot of people have never tasted yet? "Appreciate the appreciation.

The original Neputa is currently on display at the YKK60 Building Atrium (Kamezawa, Sumida-ku). Until November 3rd.