(NOAH) Listening to Naomichi Marufuji's tourism spots of his hometown of Konosu Cuty, Saitama

Netallica Yahoo.co.jp

3rd October 2018

Naomichi Marufuji (39) belonging to Pro-Wrestling Noah, took office on October 1st 2018 as the "Konosu Tourism Ambassador" in Konosu City, Saitama Prefecture.
He will serve as the PR chairman of the city and promote tourism there for two years. Speaking of Konosu, there is the powerful image that the Drivers License Centre, but are there any other remarkable sightseeing spots? The J-Town.net editorial department, went to interview Marufuji.

RETURNING TO SERVE THE CITY WITH ONLY THE LICENSE CENTER

Marufuji was born in 1979. In 1998 he made his debut as a professional wrestler and has recently celebrated his 20th anniversary in 2018. Ths year in All Japan's Champion Carnival he had his first victory, which became a topic of the pro-wrestling world.

Konosu City, where Marufuji is from, is known as the location of "The Saitama Police Drivers Licence Centre". This image is so prevailing that it has made it difficult for me to find places and specialities other than the "Licensing Centre". On October 1st 2016, the chainstores "Yamada Udon" and "Avail" were ranked in a TV Tokyo program "Appearing! AD Street Heaven", and the temple and other characteristic spots like the flower centre were broadcast at the local eateries, cinemas etc, it did not go as far as to completely wipe out the image.

On Twitter, when Marufuji tells of his inauguration, a tweet said "Speaking of Konosu, nothing comes to mind except the License Centre. Please tell me if there is a tourist spot in Konosu".
An ironic reponse was given, The Konosu Tourism Ambassador says that "many celebrities are taking office to go to charming Konosu. Mr. Shōei, the actor who appeared in "Ad Street", and Mr. Chō, a voice actor known for his role as the Prinicipal in the anime "Hidamari Sketch" and "Inuyasha", who are familar to the local people and the people related to the city, have been selected".
Nine celebrities and one character (Hina-chan, the city's mascot) have been elected, Marufuji is the first athlete.

What is Mr. Marufuji's favorite?

On October 2nd the J Town Editional Department interviewed Marufuji.
First of all I cited the "Fukiage Cosmos Field" as a tourism spot I had heard about. According to Marufuji, "The Fukiage Cosmos Field is in bloom with ten million poppy and cosmos colors from spring until the Fall. It is a beautiful sight that is framed against the backdrop of Japan's longest water pipe bridge and Mount Fuji".
The cosmos field lies in the Arakawa riverbed and in the spring the poppy and the barley bloom, with the cosmos flowering in the autumn. The "Mugi Nadeshiko/Poppy Festival" is held in the spring, taking advantage of the time these flowers bloom, with the "Cosmos Festival" in the fall. In addition to watching the event with Japan's longest water pipe bridge in the background, you can enjoy viewing the cosmos from the top of the bridge as a tour.
The 2018 "Cosmos Festival" will be held on the 27th and 28th October.
Finally, I heard the enthusiasm for his role from the "Konosu Tourist Ambassador"; "since I travel all over the country as a professional wrestler, I think that I can convey the wonderfulness of Konosu while studying the magnificent places I visit. In addition, I hope to tell them the splendor of it."

Link to original article from Netallica Yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese)