Photo/Illutration Moped license plates feature characters from the “Street Fighter” video game series. (Kenji Shimizu)

KASHIHARA, Nara Prefecture--“Street Fighter” may soon be shaking up this community, after the city government summoned personalities from the series to lift local pride and draw visitors.

Popular characters from Capcom Co.’s video and arcade fighting games will appear on some vehicle license plates and will stand as statues around the city after officials agreed to a partnership with the game developer in August last year.

“The ‘Street Fighter’ series has a fan base around the world,” said Kashihara Mayor Tadahiko Kameda. “We want to (use it to) promote the charms of the city.”

Kameda confesses that he, too, is someone who became hooked on the game when he was young.

Although Capcom is based in Osaka, Kashihara is where Chairman Kenzo Tsujimoto grew up.

The first installation was in May this year. A bronze statue of Ryu was placed at Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station to welcome fans and tourists.

Ryu will also appear on the license plates of mopeds registered in the city. A total of 260 plates will be issued from Aug. 23.

Capcom designed the plates. There will be two options: One shows Ryu alone, while the other has him making his signature Hadoken move, which delivers a blast of spiritual energy, to his rival Ken.

Further plans are afoot. The city government has started a crowdfunding campaign to set up a bronze statue of Chun-Li, who is about as popular as Ryu. It aims to raise 5.5 million yen ($38,500) for the project.

Another crowdfunding drive is also under way to raise 1 million yen to produce manhole covers that show Ryu and other fighters.

It aims to have them installed by the end of March 2024 at the earliest.

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