Locals Rejoice Over Photo of Frieren and a "Giant Natto Statue": "Why is she in Mito!?" "I just drove past there!?" | Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

On the official X account for "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End," a surreal two-shot photo titled "Natto Frieren," featuring Frieren alongside a giant natto monument, was released and has become a hot topic among fans.

In the published photo, a plush doll of Frieren sporting her familiar squinting expression is captured in the foreground, set against a giant monument modeled after straw-wrapped natto. The center of the monument is densely packed with gold and black decorations representing natto beans, and the base is engraved with "In Commemoration of Mito Natto." In the background, a commercial facility displaying signs for a movie theater and other businesses can be seen, making it a truly surreal shot of a plush doll standing all alone in an everyday landscape.

"Frieren: Beyond Journey's End" is a smash-hit fantasy manga series written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe. Set in a world "after" the Demon King has been defeated by the Hero's party, the story follows Frieren, an elven mage who has lived for over a thousand years and helped overthrow the Demon King alongside the Hero. Following the death of one of her former companions, she embarks on a "journey to learn about humans." The bittersweet yet heartwarming human drama, woven through her perspective as someone who lives through eons, has captivated many readers.

In response to the official post suggesting a sudden visit to Ibaraki Prefecture, comments from surprised fans flooded in, such as "That’s the south exit of Mito Station," "Why is she in Mito?!", "Welcome to Ibaraki," and "I just drove past there!?" Furthermore, witty joke comments emerged, playing on the name of the demon Aura who appears in the series, with suggestions like "Maybe 'Aura of the Natto Guillotine' would have worked too." Others expressed anticipation for a visit to the famous Mito Komon statue, commenting, "Next, will she head to the north exit to see those famous three?"

(C)Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe/Shogakukan/ "Frieren"Project