Cashing in on its ties to “Evangelion,” the Hakone town office in Kanagawa Prefecture will start issuing motorized bicycle and microcar license plates that feature images from the popular animated series.
The spa town serves as the inspiration for Tokyo-3 city, one of the anime’s main story settings.
Residents can apply for the new license plates at the counter of the town’s Taxation Business Section starting from March 25. Applicants can also request to have their current license plates replaced with the “Evangelion” plates.
According to the local government, 390 themed license plates will be offered. As of Feb. 14, there are 769 motorized bicycles and microcars registered in the city.
Town officials said they intend to use the uniquely designed license plates to encourage tourism.
It’s not the first time Hakone has looked to the anime as a way to boost the local economy. Previously, the town carried out various “Evangelion”-related efforts including distributing a driving map and organizing a stamp print collecting event.
The license plates feature a silhouette of the giant Evangelion Unit 01 humanoid in profile, with Hakone landmarks such as Mt. Fuji, Mount Futagoyama, the “torii” gate of Hakone Shrine, and Lake Ashinoko in the background.
Depending on the type of vehicle, the plates come in four different colors: white, yellow, pink and blue.
For more detailed information, visit the town office’s official website at (http://www.town.hakone.kanagawa.jp/hakone_j/ka/zeimu/page000016.html).
Source:
animeanime
