Statue of Liberty replica removed for ruining view in Hakodate
Saturday 21st August, 03:00 PM JST
HAKODATE —
An about six-meter-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty in Hakodate, Hokkaido, a popular tourist destination known for its historical sites, has recently been removed at the request of the city government, which found the statue damaged the cityscape. The statue, which was set up in front of a store run by a local seafood firm in Hakodate's Motomachi district in early June, was lifted by crane Thursday to the rooftop of the building and placed under a cover as spectators looked on.
Yoichi Kitamura, president of the seafood firm, who agreed to the statue's removal, said he had purchased the replica in an Internet auction because he thought it would become a landmark after he opened a new karaoke lounge in the building.
The district, home to several historic monuments including an Orthodox church, is designated a historic townscape preservation area by the city, and local residents had complained about the statue seeking its removal.