The "Assignment from K" manga panel is seen at a large-scale coronavirus vaccination center in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Mainichi/Kazuhiko Hori)

       TOKYO -- Duke Togo, protagonist of Takao Saito's long-running manga series "Golgo 13" and Japan's most famous fictional assassin, is being "deployed" by the government to vaccination centers as a way to encourage people to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

       As part of the scheme, panels featuring manga story frames titled "Assignment from K" have been set up at large-scale vaccination centers operated by the Japan Self-Defense Forces in Tokyo and Osaka on July 26, with a hope that vaccinated individuals will photograph themselves next to the panels and spread the word on inoculation via social media.

       In the panels, crack sniper Togo is seen sitting shirtless on a bed in a medical examination room. He asks the doctor present, "I heard the Japanese government has a pressing assignment ... What is it?" The doctor answers, "They want you to spread vaccine uptake to beat the coronavirus," then produces a syringe. The dialogue has been created by adapting existing panels from the manga.

       The new scheme came about thanks to connections between the manga's creators and the government forged in the 2018 production of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs video that used "Golgo 13" to advise Japanese nationals abroad on safety measures they should take. Vaccine tsar and current Minister in charge of Administrative Reform Taro Kono was minister of foreign affairs at the time.

       The panel aims to urge young, middle-aged and older people to get inoculated while vaccinations among elderly people are progressing. It stresses the importance of the shots by highlighting the risks of death and long-term complications from severe COVID-19 symptoms.

       On a July 26 visit to a Tokyo large-scale vaccination center, vaccination minister Kono said, "We want people vaccinated here to take photos (with the cartoon panel) and by tweeting, spread vaccinations among individuals of the same generation."

       Though reporters asked details about the panel's title, "Assignment from K," Kono only said, "I'll be made to disappear if I speak carelessly."

       But despite their wishes to, many young, middle-aged and older people still can't get vaccinated. Perhaps Togo should be tasked with procuring vaccines?

       (Japanese original by Kazuhiko Hori, Political News Department)

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