The white dog object "A to Z Memorial Dog" exhibited at Yoshinocho Ryokuchi Park in Hirosaki City (Yoshinocho, Hirosaki City) was temporarily removed for repair work on July 16.

This object is a work by Yoshitomo Nara, a contemporary art artist from Hirosaki City. Since it was appointed as a tourist poster, it has become a popular spot for tourists to visit, and it was also loved by Hirosaki citizens as a "touching" object because there was no fence or other enclosure.

Masayuki Yamamoto of the Hirosaki City Hall Park and Greenery Division said that the reason for this restoration was "deterioration of the paint." "Since I didn't prohibit touching the work, some people forcibly climbed the memorial dog, which resulted in scratches from metal fittings on the shoes," he said.

Mr. Nara posted on his Twitter about the damage to the Memorial Dog, saying, "There were several deep scratches and it was in a miserable state." "I am sorry, but the work is important and it should be better!" It's a work that everyone can touch and watch. I want to cherish it. "

Painting work will begin on Memorial Dog this month. "The painting itself will be finished in about 10 days, but it will be exhibited again in the fall," says Yamamoto. "We are currently investigating future exhibition methods, but we will not use the conventional exhibition method that everyone can touch."