LED castle keep made with $190K virus subsidy draws criticism in west Japan

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LED castle keep made with $190K virus subsidy draws criticism in west Japan
The Mainichi
© The Mainichi
The "virtual Tokushima Castle keep," made of LEDs, is seen in the city of Tokushima on Jan. 22, 2021. (Mainichi/Ayane Matsuyama)
TOKUSHIMA -- The municipal government in this western Japan city is facing criticism from some residents over its use of national coronavirus-related subsidies to recreate a castle keep with LEDs.
The recreated virtual keep of Tokushima Castle, made with scaffolding and LEDs, has been lit up at Aibahama Park in the city every evening since Jan. 21, aiming "to develop an atmosphere that creates momentum for the Awa Odori dance festival and to invigorate the local economy." The entire cost of the 20-million-yen (about $190,000) project was covered by extraordinary regional revitalization grants provided by the central government to counter the coronavirus. However, some citizens have expressed skepticism about the appropriateness of using this money for the project, citing its lack of connection to the coronavirus crisis.

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