Hanasaku Iroha Triggers Financial Increase for Local Railroad Line

According to the Hokuriku Chuunichi Newspaper (April 21st), the anime Hanasaku Iroha has triggered a financial increase for the Noto Railroad Line, a local line in Ishikawa Prefecture (northern central Japan). Daisan Sector Tetsudou, the railroad company responsible, claims that they will experience an increase in annual tourist income that has not occured since the railroad line was shortened in 2005. Nishigishi Station, the model of Yunosagi Station from the anime, has become the center of attraction for Hanasaku Iroha fans. Daisan Sector has been taking measures to reproduce the atmosphere of the station in the anime. They have also created train cars with Hanasaku Iroha themes, in which tourists may hear announcements done by the voice actresses in the anime.

Mamiko Noto, the voice actress for Tomoe Wajima, was born in Ishikawa Prefecture, and her family has been accredited for supervising the use of Kanazawa dialect within the anime.

Go Nagai, the mangaka known for Mazinger Z, was also born in Ishikawa Prefecture, and there have also been train cars with Mazinger Z themes as well.

Despite the recent Rinne no Lagrange dilemma, this effect may bring more attention to the use of "anime power" for further augmentation in local transportation systems.

Source: Hokuriku Chuunichi Newspaper (Japanese)