The spring national road safety movement began on the 11th. In Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Watanabe Wataru, the creator of the popular manga "Wimp Pedal" about cycling, served as police chief for one day and urged people to wear helmets while riding bicycles, which has been mandatory since last month.
The event, held at a park in Tsukuba City, was attended by about 300 people, including police officers and city officials.
At the event, Watanabe Wataru, the creator of the popular manga "Wimp Pedal," which depicts the activities of high school cycling club students, served as police chief for a day and said, "I will also be racing, but helmets absorb shocks and protect your body when you fall.
Mr. Watanabe also serves as the coach of a cycling team based in Tsukuba City, and on the 11th, the members rode their bicycles nearby with local elementary school students and police officers while wearing helmets and urging them to wear them.
According to the police, six people had died in bicycle traffic accidents in Ibaraki Prefecture by the end of last month, and none of them were wearing helmets.
Chief Fumio Nakayama of the Tsukuba Police Station said, "Helmets help protect your life, so I would like you to wear them."