Japan local authorities warn Ghibli Park visitors against taking obscene poses with character displays
Japan local authorities warn of strict punishment for visitors who will take inappropriate poses with character displays at the Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture.
According to a report by The Straits Times, Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura said in a press conference on March 9 that he will direct Ghibli Park’s operating company to prevent any “improper behaviors” done by the visitors, such as taking photos with lewd poses with character statues.
“It is extremely regrettable. We will take firm action because it (Ghibli Park) is located within the prefectural park,” he said.
“Ghibli Park is a place for adults and children to have fun while experiencing Ghibli films. I don’t want people who do things that many find offensive to come to the park,” he continued.
This comes after male visitors posted photos of them inappropriately posing with female characters, where one man appears sexually assaulting Marnie from the film When Marnie Was There by taking upskirt photos, while another one grabs the breasts of Teru, from the film Tales From Earthsea.
Visitors to #GhibliPark fondled female characters’ breasts & took photos under their skirt. What does the management have to say to this "indecent photos"? Nothing.https://t.co/IB5aL8y7sN
— 💫T.Katsumi🏳️🌈📢 (@tkatsumi06j) March 9, 2023
"We have NO COMMENT on this matter.”
Please. Don’t let THIS👇slide.https://t.co/NtjMPWnBOv pic.twitter.com/zMTdVprGd1
“It is extremely malicious, just like the inappropriate behavior at conveyor belt sushi restaurants,” said Aichi Governor Omura.
“For those who come to the park to do this kind of thing, I would much prefer them not to come at all,” he added, as reported by CNN.
“Of course we need to take harsher measures against this kind of behavior. This is basically destruction of property. It’s just like what people were doing at conveyor belt sushi restaurants.”
In February, a “sushi terrorism” happened in Japan which, accoridng to AFP News, involved teenage customers licking their fingers and touching a piece of sushi as it goes past on the belt. After which, these customers would lick the top of a communal soy sauce bottle and the rim of a teacup then place them back on the shelf.
Ghibli Park first opened to the public in November 2022. It features larger-than-life characters from popular Ghibli films My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, When Marnie Was There, and Castle in the Sky, among others.
Visitors also get to experience being in the iconic setting of films, including the world in Arriety, Philosophy Club Room from the film From Up on Poppy Hill, and the Cat Bus from the film My Neighbor Totoro, among others.