I spent my day rotting at home for the New Year. And well, it’s not like that for the folks in Japan. Over the first 3 days of the New Year, a total of 450,000 people visited Washinomiya Shrine – the Tokyo area’s oldest shrine and a real-life backdrop for the anime series Lucky Star. Otakus have been flocking to the shrine since the anime aired in 2007.

This year’s attendance is 150,000 more, as compared to 2008.

Since the anime premiered, attendance during the New Year’s holiday season has grown five times bigger — from 90,000 in 2007 and 300,000 in 2008 to 420,000 in 2009 and 450,000 this year.

Besides many folks flocking to the shrine, 2,077 fans bought Satte City’s official certificate of registration for the family of the Lucky Star character, Konata Izumi. Lucky Star manga creator, Kagami Yoshimizu who is also from Satte himself, drew the illustration on a special certificate of residence for the fictional family.

The first 643 fans, who waited in line since at least early morning, received numbered certificates. Yoshimizu signed the first 53 certificates. The certificates will continue to be sold at the city’s department that promotes economic growth.

Source, Image