I’d been curious about this Amabie every time I biked along Yamate Kansen!
Because it’s absolutely huge!!!
↑Until the other day, it looked like this,
but recently it turned into Santa Claus!!
I couldn’t stop wondering about it, so I went to ask about it!
（We also received a tip from Muraccho. Thank you very much!)
Who made that Amabie?
This Amabie is at a welfare facility in the Yasui area called “地域共生館 ふれぼの,” which is operated by the Nishinomiya City Council of Social Welfare. Apparently, the face was made by people who attend “ふれぼの” together with the facility staff.
Surprisingly, there was another version of the face indoors too↑
The body was made by the Council of Social Welfare in the Hamawaki area, so they called it a “Yasui and Hamawaki collaboration”😂
They even let me sneak a look inside the body, and it’s not cardboard!
Apparently, people in the Hamawaki area who are skilled at carpentry made it. The Yasui team was so surprised by the high quality of the body that they later got serious and made the face😂
（※We moved it with permission. Please don’t try this yourself!）
So the passionate efforts of both districts turned into this giant-sized Amabie!
What is “地域共生館 ふれぼの”?
Apparently, anyone can use this facility if they complete a free user registration.
“ふれぼのCAFE” on the 1st floor
Coffee, tea, orange juice… everything is 100 yen!
And amazingly, the hot coffee uses beans from “ゆげ焙煎所”! So authentic〜☕✨
Right now, the “ふれぼの文化祭,” an exhibition of works by people who use “ふれぼの,” is being held.
On the 2nd floor, there’s a relaxation salon.
Local elementary school students can apparently come here after school and play.
So nice. I wish we had a facility like this in my area too!（from a mom’s point of view）
They also hold study sessions for elementary school students every week. I’d love to send my child too!
On the day I visited for the interview, they were also selling vegetables! Amazingly, everything was 100 yen!!
Here’s the map↓
The address is 1-23 Nakamaeda-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.
Finally
In the future, they’re apparently considering taking the giant Amabie around to elementary schools in the Hamawaki area and other places!
They’re also thinking about whether to turn it into an oni around February👹
If it transforms again, I’ll go take a look📸
If you spot it somewhere other than ふれぼの, please send us a tip🙏
Muraccho, thank you for the tip!!
■■■Tips wanted!■■■
