Japanese comic book author Mimana Orimoto arrived in Taiwan yesterday on a 10-day trip to travel throughout the nation on a motorcycle and gather inspiration for a Taiwan-based spin-off of his Bakuon!! series.
The visit is a collaboration between Future Digi Ltd, Kwang Yang Motor Co (KYMCO), the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism, and Akita Publishing (Akita Shoten), which handles Bakuon!!, Future Digi manager Han Ching-yueh (韓京岳) said.
Orimoto is to travel to the four “poles” of Taiwan in the north, south, east and west, Han said.
Photo: CNA
The motorcycles or scooters in the spin-off series would be KYMCO models, Han said, adding that Orimoto would ride a KYMCO motorcycle on his trip.
Taiwan has been voted the top location for overseas travel by Japanese and the city government rates the Japanese tourism market highly, Taipei Department of Information and Tourism Director Liu Yi-ting (劉奕霆) said.
This collaboration would hopefully teach more Japanese about Taipei, making them want to visit the city, Liu said.
The original series was a comedy based on a high-school motorcycle club for girls and was popular among motorcycle enthusiasts, Akita Shoten chief editor Takuo Meiji said, adding that the new series would portray a different sense of allure for its readers by incorporating Taiwanese culture.
Over the next 10 days, Orimoto would experience the sights and scenes that are familiar to Taiwanese motorcycle and scooter riders, Meiji said.
These sights include the so-called “scooter waterfall” — referring to the density of scooters on Taipei Bridge; the “longest” and the “straightest” road, referring to Provincial Highway No. 9 on the east coast; and the “loneliest” stretch of road, referring to County Road No. 102 in New Taipei City, Meiji said.
Many readers of Bakuon!! have expressed an interest in visiting Taiwan, Meiji said, adding that Japanese are drawn to Taiwan because of the nation’s railways or after being inspired by comics.
“We hope this spin-off adds to the trend and inspires more people to visit Taiwan,” Meiji added.
The Taiwanese spin-off is expected to be serialized in Young Champion Retsu magazine.
Separately, a Future Digi artist named Hayasi plans to publish a serialized comic based on Taiwanese delicacies and snacks under Akita Shoten, Han said.
Hopefully, the Hayasi comic also entices Japanese to visit Taiwan, Han added.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS