A remote fishing town in Japan has used coronavirus-related state aid to erect a giant squid statue that cost more than 200,000 euros, a controversial project believed to revitalize local tourism.

The pink squid, 13 meters long and whose tentacles unfold as if to catch prey, was inaugurated in March by the coastal town of Noto (center of the country), as a symbol of the pride of the village for its fishing catches. .

VIDEO: 🇯🇵 A remote Japanese fishing town has sparked debate after spending coronavirus relief funds on a giant squid statue that cost nearly $ 250,000 in a bid to boost post-pandemic #tourism #Noto pic.twitter.com/s29ZvvpClN

- AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 6, 2021

The monument was funded largely by a national grant intended to help municipalities financially affected by the pandemic, such as tourist destinations.

Despite an online debate on the merits of the public spending, local officials said they hoped the placement of the giant squid at a roadside resting area would spark interest in Japan and elsewhere.

"Support local industries"

“Tourism in our city has been severely affected by the coronavirus.

We wanted to do something to support local industries, ”notably by promoting squid fishing, an official from Noto town hall said on Thursday.

In addition to the closure of Japan's borders to foreign visitors for more than a year and government calls to avoid travel within the country, Noto's economy has also suffered from a drop in fishing catches, a he added.

Many people came to see the giant squid this week, called "Golden Week" in Japan because marked by a series of public holidays, said this local official.

"It's too surreal"

The quirky statue seems to delight children, who can climb on it, and images of the structure have been shared widely on social media.

But the cephalopod is not to everyone's taste.

“It's too surreal.

What is also unclear is why [this project] qualified for the national grant, "wrote a Japanese Twitter user.

“It is not good to spend tax money on something that is not urgent and unnecessary.

The mayor and local politicians should pay for it, ”responded another.

Others disagreed.

“My daughter is going there for a picnic this fall.

I hope they don't take it off, ”one person tweeted.

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