This Year’s Heroes Become Dolls in Fukuoka

Apr 04, 2026 | News On Japan

Apr 04, 2026 (News On Japan) - Dolls modeled after individuals expected to shine this year, including Shohei Ohtani and other prominent figures, have gone on display at a doll shop in Kasuga, Fukuoka Prefecture.

The display, titled "This Year’s Expected Heroes," opened on April 3rd at the Kyugetsu Fukuoka store in Kasuga and features seven figures anticipated to play active roles across various fields.

From the political sphere, the lineup includes Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, while the remaining five figures are professional baseball players such as Shohei Ohtani and Kazuma Okamoto, each depicted standing gallantly in traditional armor with a composed expression.

The dolls were crafted by artisans with the hope that these individuals will succeed in their respective fields and help bring brightness to Japan, and they are not available for sale.

Kawamata Yasunori of Kyugetsu’s Fukuoka branch said, "I’ve heard that it was very difficult to create likenesses of real people, so I hope visitors will take a close look, including how well the faces resemble them."

The display will run through April 5th.

Source: FBS

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