Japanese town installs giant pink squid sculpture using pandemic recovery funds

A 25 million yen (£165,500) sculpture of a pink squid has been installed in Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, as part of post-pandemic economic revitalization efforts. The 13-meter-long, 4-meter-high monument was placed in March on a grassy area near the harbor, opposite a petrol station. Local authorities received government funds without specific spending stipulations, leading to this unconventional investment. Some residents have questioned the allocation, suggesting funds could have supported healthcare workers or those impacted by COVID-19 instead. Nearly 2,000 signatures were gathered on a petition opposing the cephalopod artwork, according to Chunichi Shimbun. Noto town leaders hope the eight-tentacled attraction will draw tourists and selfie-takers once pandemic restrictions ease. The coastal town welcomed 68,500 visitors last year who frequented squid-specialty restaurants, beaches, and fishing villages. Nearby Wajima, a rival destination on the peninsula's west coast, attracts summer crowds with its lacquerware traditions and morning market operated by elderly women. Japan is experiencing rising COVID-19 cases, with a seven-day average of 5,389 infections, and Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto under states of emergency. Nurses recently protested calls for volunteer medical staff at the postponed Tokyo Olympics, now scheduled for July.