Manga character guide panels in Tottori Pref.

TOTTORI, Japan - Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (C) poses for photos with characters of the comic series "Gegege no Kitaro" holding guide panels at the Tottori prefectural office in Tottori City on June 23, 2014. The panels are set to be installed along a road connecting Yonago and Sakaiminato.

Kitaro hangs New Year decoration on bronze statue

YONAGO, Japan - A person in a costume of Kitaro, the main character in the "GeGeGe no Kitaro" comic series, helps put a New Year ornament on the bronze statue of another character on Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2014. The western Japan city is the birthplace of comic author Shigeru Mizuki.

Comic character effigy gets New Year sacred rope

YONAGO, Japan - Workers put a sacred Shinto rope of rice straw around the neck of a huge stone figure of the "GeGeGe no Kitaro" comic character as a customary New Year decoration in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Dec. 25, 2014. The western Japan city is the birthplace of comic author Shigeru Mizuki.

Competition held for piling 'geta' wooden clogs

YONAGO, Japan - Participants pile up "geta" wooden clogs in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Nov. 9, 2014, during a competition to heap up the signature footwear of a main character in the popular comic series "GeGeGe no Kitaro" authored by Shigeru Mizuki, a native of the western Japanese city.

Comic lovers sit for exam on monster knowledge

YONAGO, Japan - Characters from the popular comic series "GeGeGe no Kitaro" cheer on participants in a quiz on the ghostly monsters drawn by Shigeru Mizuki on Oct. 26, 2014, in the author's hometown of Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan.

'GeGeGe no Kitaro' mascots parade for traffic safety

YONAGO, Japan - Mascot characters from the popular comic series "GeGeGe no Kitaro" parade through the streets of Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Sept. 23, 2014, with kindergarten students during an autumn campaign for road safety. The series' author, Shigeru Mizuki, grew up in the western Japanese city.

Comic character costume contest held in western Japan

YONAGO, Japan - Participants dressed up as characters from "GeGeGe no Kitaro," a popular comic series, pose in Sakaiminato, Shimane Prefecture, for a costume contest on Sept. 20, 2014. Its author, Shigeru Mizuki, hails from the western Japan city.

Bus with comic characters runs in author's hometown

YONAGO, Japan - A bus decorated with the paintings of comic characters is shown together with the family of "Gegege no Kitaro," a phantom boy created by comic artist Shigeru Mizuki, in his hometown of Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Sept. 4, 2014. The "Hama Loop Bus" is operated by the western Japan city.

Girl competes in "geta" sandal toss competition

YONAGO, Japan - A girl tosses a Japanese "geta" sandal at a competition in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on Aug. 30, 2014. The "Gegege no Kitaro Geta Toss Competition" features "Gegege no Kitaro," a phantom boy created by comic artist Shigeru Mizuki born in the city on the Sea of Japan in 1922.

Sign for Mizuki Shigeru Road in Tottori Pref.

YONAGO, Japan - A road sign to Mizuki Shigeru Road is seen in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, on July 15, 2014. Shigeru Mizuki, a Japanese manga writer known for "Gegege no Kitaro," grew up in Sakaiminato in the prefecture.

Manga character serves as police chief

YONAGO, Japan - Kitaro (R), the main character of Japanese comic book series "Gegege no Kitaro," holds a letter appointing him chief for one day of Sakaiminato police station in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on July 8, 2014. The comic's author Shigeru Mizuki grew up in Sakaiminato.

Tourists get picture taken with 'GeGeGe no Kitaro'

YONAGO, Japan - Passengers of Diamond Princess cruise ship get a picture taken with popular specter character "GeGeGe no Kitaro" in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on June 16, 2014. Sakaiminato is the hometown of well-known cartoonist Shigeru Mizuki, who has written many cartoons on "yokai" or specters.

Mizuki Shigeru Road celebrates 25 mil. visitors

YONAGO, Japan - Visitors pose with "yokai" monsters featured in the popular comic series "Gegege no Kitaro" at Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture in western Japan, on March 8, 2014. The sightseeing spot named after prominent cartoonist Shigeru Mizuki, the comic series' author, has attracted over 25 million visitors since opening in 1993.

New attraction opens on Mizuki Shigeru Road

YONAGO, Japan - "Yokai" monsters featured in the popular comic series "Gegege no Kitaro" pose in front of a new attraction, "Yokai oyasumidokoro - Sunakakeya," along Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture in western Japan, on March 8, 2014. The facility opened on the occasion of the 92nd birthday of prominent cartoonist Shigeru Mizuki, author of the comic series.

'Gegege no Kitaro' monsters march in Tottori Pref.

YONAGO, Japan - Characters from the "Gegege no Kitaro" comics featuring "yokai" monsters march in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Feb. 16, 2014, to commemorate the achievement on Feb. 11 of 25 million visitors to a street in the western Japan city named after Shigeru Mizuki, creator of the cartoon. Mizuki Shigeru Road, where 153 bronze statues of his yokai characters are displayed, opened in 1993.

Ghost comic train

YONAGO, Japan - Photo shows a train decorated with pictures of characters from the ghost comic series "Gegege no Kitaro" in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, on March 12, 2013. The new version of the "ghost train" will begin running on JR's Sakai Line in the prefecture later in the month.

Ghost comic inn

YONAGO, Japan - Kaike Saichoraku inn at a spa resort in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, shows reporters its refurbished rooms featuring ghost characters from the popular comic series ''Gegege no Kitaro'' on March 6, 2012. The cartoonist of the series, Shigeru Mizuki, hails from the prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast.

Ghost comic inn

YONAGO, Japan - Kaike Saichoraku inn at a spa resort in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, shows reporters its refurbished rooms featuring ghost characters from the popular comic series ''Gegege no Kitaro'' on March 6, 2012. The cartoonist of the series, Shigeru Mizuki, hails from the prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast.

Kitaro room at spa resort inn

YONAGO, Japan - Operator of an inn at the Kaike spa resort in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, on Oct. 12, 2011, shows reporters a guest room featuring characters from the ghost comic series ''GeGeGe no Kitaro.'' The Kaike Saichoraku inn plans to open two such rooms on Oct. 14 in cooperation with the production office of the comic's creator Shigeru Mizuki, who hails from the western Japanese prefecture.

Police box named Kitaro booth

YONAGO, Japan - Kazuaki Matsukawa (R), chief of a local police station, raises a new sign for a police patrol booth at Yonago airport in Tottori Prefecture with characters from the popular cartoon series ''Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro'' by Shigeru Mizuki, a native of the prefecture, on Sept. 24, 2010, as the booth was named as Yonago Kitaro airport security outpost.

Shigeru Mizuki museum marks 1st anniversary YONAGO, Japan - Japanese cartoonist Shigeru Mizuki draws his ghost and monster characters ''Kitaro'' and ''Nezumi Otoko'' on the wall of the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum in Tottori Prefecture. The photo was taken on March 7, 2004. (Kyodo)

Comic character Kitaro named "1-day CEO" at west Japan airport

Kitaro, the lead character in the famous "GeGeGe no Kitaro" comic series, salutes to reporters on Oct. 17, 2015, after being appointed airport chief for the day at Yonago airport in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, western Japan. Sakaiminato is the hometown of the comic's author Shigeru Mizuki. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Kitaro room at spa resort inn

YONAGO, Japan - Operator of an inn at the Kaike spa resort in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, on Oct. 12, 2011, shows reporters a guest room featuring characters from the ghost comic series ''GeGeGe no Kitaro.'' The Kaike Saichoraku inn plans to open two such rooms on Oct. 14 in cooperation with the production office of the comic's creator Shigeru Mizuki, who hails from the western Japanese prefecture. (Kyodo)

Police box named Kitaro booth

YONAGO, Japan - Kazuaki Matsukawa (R), chief of a local police station, raises a new sign for a police patrol booth at Yonago airport in Tottori Prefecture with characters from the popular cartoon series ''Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro'' by Shigeru Mizuki, a native of the prefecture, on Sept. 24, 2010, as the booth was named as Yonago Kitaro airport security outpost. (Kyodo)

Ghost comic inn

YONAGO, Japan - Kaike Saichoraku inn at a spa resort in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, shows reporters its refurbished rooms featuring ghost characters from the popular comic series ''Gegege no Kitaro'' on March 6, 2012. The cartoonist of the series, Shigeru Mizuki, hails from the prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast. (Kyodo)

Ghost comic inn

YONAGO, Japan - Kaike Saichoraku inn at a spa resort in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, shows reporters its refurbished rooms featuring ghost characters from the popular comic series ''Gegege no Kitaro'' on March 6, 2012. The cartoonist of the series, Shigeru Mizuki, hails from the prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast. (Kyodo)

Kitaro hangs New Year decoration on bronze statue

YONAGO, Japan - A person in a costume of Kitaro, the main character in the "GeGeGe no Kitaro" comic series, helps put a New Year ornament on the bronze statue of another character on Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Dec. 26, 2014. The western Japan city is the birthplace of comic author Shigeru Mizuki. (Kyodo)

Comic character effigy gets New Year sacred rope

YONAGO, Japan - Workers put a sacred Shinto rope of rice straw around the neck of a huge stone figure of the "GeGeGe no Kitaro" comic character as a customary New Year decoration in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Dec. 25, 2014. The western Japan city is the birthplace of comic author Shigeru Mizuki. (Kyodo)

Competition held for piling 'geta' wooden clogs

YONAGO, Japan - Participants pile up "geta" wooden clogs in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Nov. 9, 2014, during a competition to heap up the signature footwear of a main character in the popular comic series "GeGeGe no Kitaro" authored by Shigeru Mizuki, a native of the western Japanese city. (Kyodo)

'GeGeGe no Kitaro' mascots parade for traffic safety

YONAGO, Japan - Mascot characters from the popular comic series "GeGeGe no Kitaro" parade through the streets of Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Sept. 23, 2014, with kindergarten students during an autumn campaign for road safety. The series' author, Shigeru Mizuki, grew up in the western Japanese city. (Kyodo)

Comic character costume contest held in western Japan

YONAGO, Japan - Participants dressed up as characters from "GeGeGe no Kitaro," a popular comic series, pose in Sakaiminato, Shimane Prefecture, for a costume contest on Sept. 20, 2014. Its author, Shigeru Mizuki, hails from the western Japan city. (Kyodo)

Girl competes in "geta" sandal toss competition

YONAGO, Japan - A girl tosses a Japanese "geta" sandal at a competition in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, on Aug. 30, 2014. The "Gegege no Kitaro Geta Toss Competition" features "Gegege no Kitaro," a phantom boy created by comic artist Shigeru Mizuki born in the city on the Sea of Japan in 1922. (Kyodo)

Manga character guide panels in Tottori Pref.

TOTTORI, Japan - Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (C) poses for photos with characters of the comic series "Gegege no Kitaro" holding guide panels at the Tottori prefectural office in Tottori City on June 23, 2014. The panels are set to be installed along a road connecting Yonago and Sakaiminato. (Kyodo)