Osaka couple donates 400 million yen for giant Myaku-Myaku statue

An elderly couple living in Osaka has donated 400 million yen to the city to fund the creation of a giant statue of Myaku-Myaku, the mascot of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The donors, Keihachi Fukunishi and Akiyo Fukunishi, are both 85-year-old dentists and business owners.

Keihachi Fukunishi, a pioneer in implant surgery in the Kansai region, expressed his desire to leave a lasting legacy, stating, “The 1970 Expo had the Tower of the Sun, and the Osaka-Kansai Expo has Myaku-Myaku.” The funds are intended for the development of a memorial park at the former Expo site.

Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama presented the couple with a letter of appreciation, noting that the city intends to respect their wishes in how the donation is utilized. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura also expressed support for the idea via social media.