A trash can modeled on a titan from manga and anime series "Attack on Titan" is seen in front of JR Oita Station in the city of Oita on Sept. 14, 2021. (Mainichi/Tomohiro Tsujimoto)

       OITA -- An openmouthed trash can modeled on a titan -- a giant-like creature -- from popular manga and anime series "Attack on Titan" has been installed near JR Oita Station in this southwest Japan city on Sept. 14.

       The garbage can has been put up in part of a bid to increase people's awareness of issues around illegal garbage dumping and marine debris, and is part of the Nippon Foundation's "Ocean and Japan Project." It will stay up until Nov. 22.

       The trash can is based on the titan who devours the protagonist's mother, Carla Yeager, and measures 1 meter high and 0.5-meters wide. Trash can be thrown in via the titan's gaping mouth.

       By placing the trash can next to recycling ones for empty plastic bottles and cans that stand beside a vending machine in a station plaza, it is reportedly hoped that it will make people more conscious about sorting trash.

       A trash can for bottle- and can-recycling styled on another titan was installed in the Oita Prefecture city of Hita -- manga creator Hajime Isayama's hometown -- in June. It reportedly affected people's awareness when sorting garbage.

       The project organizer's executive committee head Takayuki Adachi said, "We want people across the generations to take interest in issues relating to waste disposal."

       (Japanese original by Tomohiro Tsujimoto, Oita Bureau)

       In Photos: 'Attack on Titan' trash can installed to devour southwest Japan city's garbage

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