Fukushima ‘Superhero’ tells kids the arch-enemy is bad reputation from nuclear crisis — Fights against ‘fools’ & ‘sloppy people’ (PHOTO)

Published: November 29th, 2012 at 10:09 am ET
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(Subscription Only) Title: A local superhero to the rescue
Source: Asahi AJW
Author: TAKEMICHI NISHIBORI
Date: November 29, 2012

Homegrown “superhero” Jangara is used to battling villains, but he now has a new arch-enemy to confront: a perception that it is not safe to visit Iwaki [~50 kilometers from disaster site] because of the earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered meltdowns at the nearby Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year. [...]

Source: Asahi

To a casual passer-by, Jangara bears an uncanny resemblance to another superhero: Ultraman. [...]

Jangara appears at local events for children to confront the masked villains–Deresuke (a sloppy person in the dialect of Iwaki) and Horosuke (a fool)– and discipline them.

“I wasn’t sure whether I should go out because I was thinking how people caught up in the disaster were feeling,” the actor portraying Jangara told The Asahi Shimbun. “But I was glad to make a comeback when I was surrounded by children who were excited to see me.”

[...] Now the masked marvel is making appearances outside Iwaki and Fukushima Prefecture.

[...] Jangara now “spreads the word that Iwaki is a vibrant and fun place” to people outside the area. [...]

“The worst enemy now is Fuhyo (negative reputation),” Jangara says. “It will likely be a long battle, but I won’t lose.”

Recent reports from Iwaki:

Published: November 29th, 2012 at 10:09 am ET
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