Collaborations include original merchandise, comic exhibitions, digital stamp demonstrations
Hokkaido’s Hokuto City will be teaming up with Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) to celebrate its 40th Anniversary. The city will host a variety of events from August 26 to October 31.
Visitors can head to the Hokuto City Tourist Exchange Center to view images from Tetsuo Hara and Buronson’s manga. The center had a statue of Kenshiro as part of an exhibition on the first floor. Guests can also try menu selections at 21 restaurants in the area and receive an original card.
For the full experience, visitors are advised to download the “Hokuto no City x Hokuto no Ken” app. The app will allow visitors to participate in the digital stamp demonstration and receive the original Fist of the North Star art board. The app also has an AR function that will add Fist of the North Star characters and frames to photos at specific locations within Hokuto.
For truly unique pieces, collectors will want to pick up an acrylic stand featuring the Fist of the North Star. characters of the North Star combined with the official mascot of Hokuto City, Zushihocky. Voted “most unforgettable mascot” of 2020, Zushi Hokki is a piece of sushi that includes Hokuto’s famous Sakhalin Surf Clam and “Fukkurinko” brand rice. The mascot is considered “cute to creepy”. Fans can also pick up brochures, badges and teas clearly tied to the campaign at the Hokuto City Tourist Exchange Center annex building.
Japan Airlines travel agency JALPAK is organizing a campaign-focused Hokuto tour. Tour participants will receive a transparent brochure and a gift of “Yuria’s Sentimental Tea”.
The TV series Fist of the North Star ran for two seasons from 1984 to 1988 and had 152 episodes. The series also had a film in 1986 and an original anime video (OVA) in 2003. The series inspired a live-action film in 1995.
Buronson and Tetsuo Hara ran the original Fist of the North Star manga from 1983 to 1988 in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump magazine.
Source: Comic Natalie