Naruto Train Begins Service as Part of Okayama-wide “Naruto” Event!

The Executive Committee of the 1300th Anniversary Project of the Founding of Mimasaka, which operates in 10 municipalities of Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture, is carrying out a commemoration project in each area to celebrate the 1300th anniversary of the foundation of Mimasaka, a historical turning point that was reached on April 3. Part of that project is the Naruto Train, a train wrapped with the characters of Naruto Shippuuden, the anime adaptation of the popular manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. It will be in service for approximately one year, mostly on the Tsuyama, Kishin, and Inbi lines.

The reason that this collaboration was implemented as a related event to the project “Naruto Foundation Bond of 1300 years” is that the author of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, is from Nagi, one of the districts in Mimasaka. On the first day of the Naruto Train, there was a special commemoration train service, a departure ceremony, and a welcome event. Special tickets commemorating Mimasaka’s 1300 anniversary were also sold.

Fans can also participate in a point rally game by downloading a Naruto AR application for smart phones and looking for Naruto characters hiding in Mimasaka. By collecting points, fans can get Naruto goods and local souvenirs.

Source:
http://animeanime.jp/article/2013/03/12/13273.html (Japanese)