A company in Hakodate, Hokkaido, that developed the squid character Ikaaru Seijin (Man from Planet Ikaaru) has opened an official shop selling related goods, including mobile phone straps and hats in the city.
Hakodate-based Simpleway Co. opened its first shop in the Hakodate Meijikan shopping mall on July 1. The company had been selling Ikaaru Seijin goods via the Internet.
Simpleway came up with the character — based on the idea of an alien squid that came to Earth to conquer it — in 2008, company President Akiko Sakaguchi said.