By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, translated and reported by Zhang Yingying
After the fifth-generation Glico sign, a famous Osaka landmark, was switched off on August 17, and before the sixth-generation sign makes its debut in October, an unexpected “substitute runner” emerged — Ayase Haruka (Ayase Haruka), the current endorser of Glico’s GIANT ice cream cone series. The new sign went up on August 25 and has attracted large crowds of locals and tourists eager to take photos.
The fifth-generation Glico sign, an Osaka icon that had been in use for 16 years, has retired gracefully, making way for Ayase Haruka as the “substitute runner” during the construction period of the sixth-generation sign. (Image source / THE PAGE)
The sign, which stands approximately 20 meters tall and 10 meters wide, features Ayase Haruka wearing a cheerleader-style tracksuit with the large Glico Japanese logo on it. She strikes the same running pose with her left leg raised and both arms extended, instantly becoming the most eye-catching stand-in. The sign also reads “Thank you for your continued support,” showcasing top-tier brand image crafting and generating major buzz. It’s a “limited-time only” attraction before the sixth-generation sign officially launches.
The 20-meter-tall, 10-meter-wide sign makes Ayase Haruka stand out even more. (Image source / THE PAGE)
Locals have also been imitating Ayase Haruka’s pose in front of the sign to take commemorative photos. Visitors planning to go to Osaka soon — even if they’ve already been to Dotonbori — should make a special trip to the Dotonbori Ebisu Bridge area just to see this one-of-a-kind sight and experience the unique charm of the Glico sign and Osaka’s iconic “Dotonbori advertising billboards”!