KUANTAN: Popular Japanese animation television series – Jujutsu Kaisen – stole the show in the Pahang state assembly at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
The Pahang government looks set to capitalise on the newfound fame the state capital has been receiving after it was mentioned by the anime and manga character Kento Nanami in episode 42 of the Jujutsu Kaisen series last week.
State Unity, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Leong Yu Man said Kuantan had been trending on social media after it was mentioned in Jujutsu Kaisen.
"Recently, a beach in Kuantan was mentioned in the popular Japanese anime series Jujutsu Kaisen. Kuantan became trending and popular among anime enthusiasts… the state government will take the opportunity to promote the beach," she said in the Pahang state assembly sitting here today.
Leong provided the additional information when replying to a question from Rosli Abdul Jabar (Pas-Tanjung Lumpur) on efforts to turn the beaches in Tanjung Lumpur as top tourist destinations.
Prior to his death in the series, the main character Nanami had expressed his desire to visit and settle down in Malaysia, specifically in Kuantan.
"Malaysia. That's right, Malaysia. I should go to Kuantan," he was quoted saying in the series with English subtitles.
Meanwhile, in a supplementary question by Rosli if the beach was located in Pahang or specifically Kuantan, Leong said fans of the popular anime series had marked the beach mentioned in the series on Google Maps.
"Some followers have proposed to build a memorial for the character Nanami. The state government will contact the Japanese side to obtain the approval from the anime creator to decide (memorial).
"The beach, according to the character in the series, is appropriate for living after retirement, reading books... Perhaps there will be a location for anime lovers to check in, which could be a new attraction for anime fans all over the world," she said.
Meanwhile, Sufian Abdul Jalil (Pas-Luit) stood up to clarify about the beach in the animation series as there were talks it was located in Indonesia but Leong dismissed the claims.
"This is not an issue as it is clearly mentioned in the anime series. The character mentioned the word Malaysia before he went on to mention Kuantan," she explained.
Since the series made headlines, animation fans here have shared images of the beach believed to be located at Pantai Kempadang here on social media with some creating a Kento Nanami Memorial Shrine landmark on Google Maps.