Legendary 'anime' Galaxy Express 999 mural put up at Tokyo station

Monday 23rd March, 03:09 AM JST
TOKYO —

Tokyo’s Nerima Ward, dubbed the birthplace of Japanese animated films, has a new monument promoting the history of the community dotted with ateliers—a mural of the legendary ‘‘anime’’ film ‘‘Galaxy Express 999.’’

The 12.7-meter-wide, 2.8-meter-high mural featuring the steam locomotive-type space train and main characters of the story was unveiled recently at Oizumi Gakuen Station of Seibu Railway Co. Local cartoonist Reiji Matsumoto who penned the popular manga comic voiced hope his work will be remembered, especially by young people, during an unveiling ceremony.

‘‘The Express 999 is a train embodying the youth of everybody. I created this (mural) showing a train that keeps traveling, instead of arriving at a terminal,’’ said Matsumoto, who lives in the ward.