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The Japanese port city of Kobe was devastated in 1995's Great Hanshin Earthquake. Now locals plan to use comics and animation to drive a revival downtown. Areas like Nagata Ward have new buildings, but not much new business; the municipal government says that the number of businesses in the area has dropped from 2,500 to 1,600 in the past twelve years.
New buildings replaced the ruins, but residents and businesses dispersed by the quake didn't come back. Many of the new offices and shopping arcades stand vacant.
Gigantor to the Rescue
Last year, local businessmen seeking a way to encourage business and visitors back to the area enlisted the help of one of Kobe's best-loved sons: Gigantor, aka Tetsujin 28-go, the giant robot created by local manga artist Mitsuteru Yokoyama. The Kobe Tetsujin Project was set up as a non-profit organisation to co-ordinate the revival of Nagata.

