A bronze statue of Capt. Levi from "Attack on Titan" is erected in the author's hometown of Hita, Oita Prefecture. (Satoshi Juyanagi)

Photo/Illutration Fans gather around a statue of Capt. Levi erected in front of JR Hita Station in Hita, Oita Prefecture, on March 6. (Satoshi Juyanagi)

HITA, Oita Prefecture--Although the "Attack on Titan" manga series is nearing the end of an 11-year run in April, its legion of fans has another valiant figure here to keep the memories alive. 

A bronze statue of Capt. Levi Ackerman, a leading character from Hajime Isayama's massively popular series, was unveiled during a ceremony on March 6 in front of JR Hita Station in the author's hometown.

The Levi figure is wearing gear to battle the giant Titans. It is 142 centimeters tall and measures 216 cm tall including the stand.

When visitors hold up their smartphones installed with an exclusive augmented-reality app in front of the station, Levi's archenemy, the Beast Titan, appears on the screen.

The statue joined other main characters previously set up in a different location in the city.

The unveiling ceremony was reported by The Asahi Shimbun's Oita General Bureau via its Twitter account, attracting responses from fans around the world in various languages including English, Thai, Indonesian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish and Arabic.

The statues were produced as part of a crowdfunding campaign to erect statues of the protagonist Eren Yeager and his childhood friends Mikasa and Armin looking up at towering Oyama Dam as if it is the massive wall from the manga story.

The campaign conducted by local volunteers raised more than its goal of 14 million yen ($128,400) on the day it was launched on Aug. 7, 2019.

The statues of the trio were placed in November last year, making Oyama Dam a sightseeing spot.

After receiving more responses than expected, the project initiator came up with an idea to add a statue of Levi, a fan favorite known as "humanity's strongest soldier."

The campaign eventually raised 29.68 million yen, more than twice the initial goal, from 754 people.

Sotaro Oda, head of a local volunteer association who has been committed to the crowdfunding project, said: "I am relieved that I fulfilled my promise. I felt how influential a manga can be."

He also said that there is a plan to establish a museum devoted to "Attack on Titan" in Hita.

In a statement, Isayama praised the placing of a statue dedicated to Levi in his hometown.

"Levi is someone who has supported 'Attack on Titan' and whom I feel so indebted to," he said. "I'd be happy if everyone who has supported the campaign can enjoy the statue. I only have one more month to continue with the series, and I'm determined to make it count and do my best."

"Attack on Titan" is a dark fantasy about humans who live in a world surrounded by walls and their survival against man-eating giants.

Running in Kodansha Ltd.'s Bessatsu Shonen Magazine since September 2009, the series is set to conclude its 11-and-a-half-year run with the 139th episode, which will be published in the manga anthology, to be released on April 9.

Related News