Evangelion statue installed in Japanese city to promote local tourism
A 6 meter tall statue of Evangelion Unit 01 has been unveiled in Japan as part of a local tourism campaign.
Hamamatsu City announced an Evangelion themed tourism initiative titled the “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” in late March, with the city seeking to leverage its connection to the popular anime franchise.
The city is uniquely linked to the Evangelion franchise, as Tenryu-Futamata Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway, a local private railway line traversing the city, served as a model for “Village-3”, a location in the final “Rebuild of Evangelion” film.
In a nod to Tenryu Ward, a 30th anniversary emblem crafted from Tenryu wood, sourced from the local forests, can be seen installed adjacent to the Unit-01 statue.
The “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” is set to run from Saturday, April 20th 2025, until the end of February 2026, and to commemorate the start of the project, a new statue was unveiled at the Hamamatsu City Hall.
The 6 meter tall statue of Evangelion Unit 01, piloted in the series by Shinji Ikari, was revealed in a ceremony that saw eager fans queue up to be the first to see the huge new statue.
As part of the event, the Hamamatsu City Fire Department band performed the iconic theme song “Cruel Angel’s Thesis”, as well as other Evangelion themed music, in a special performance for those in attendance.
Hamamatsu Mayor Yusuke Nakano and Yoshimasa Matsui from Tenryu Hamanako Railway Co. were also on hand to perform ribbon cutting duties, as the statue was officially opened to the public.
Fans hoping to get a glimpse of the statue can visit Hamamatsu City Hall between 8:30am to 5:15pm on weekdays, and 10am to 4pm on weekends and holidays.
The statue is currently scheduled to remain on display until January 25th, 2026, with the exception of the New Year holiday period.
Visitors to the statue will also have the opportunity to participate in a survey and receive limited-edition “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” stickers.
Mayor Nakano Yusuke of Hamamatsu City emphasized the dual goals of the “Shin-Hamamatsu Project”, stating at the initial announcement of the project:
“We want domestic and international fans to create special memories, and we also aim to revitalize the local tourism industry, which has been affected by rising prices”.
Another key component of the tourism initiative is a stamp rally titled “Humanity Ride Project”.
This interactive activity will guide participants to 21 designated locations situated along the routes of the Tenryu Hamanako Railway and the Enshu Railway, another private railway operating within the city.
Participants who collect 10 stamps from specified stations, including the Hamamatsu City Tourist Information Center (Chuo Ward), Ryugasando Cave (Hamana Ward), Entetsu’s Shin-Hamamatsu Station (Chuo Ward), and Tenryu-Futamata Station (Tenryu Ward) on the Tenhama Line, will be rewarded with a limited-edition sticker featuring “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” artwork.
In addition to the stamp rally, a newly designed version of the one-day pass for both the Enshu Railway and the Tenryu Hamanako Railway will be issued.
This special pass will feature Shinji Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa making it a collectible item for fans and a convenient way to explore the city’s Evangelion related locations.
Looking ahead to the second half of the project, Hamamatsu City intends to collaborate with local restaurants and retail stores to offer “Shin-Hamamatsu Project” themed collaborative menus and merchandise.
Source: Hamamatsu City
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