Nikotan is in the district of Shibata, Niigata Prefecture and is a huge gas storage tank with a smiley face painted on it. The name is NIKOTAN! The Japanese word “Niko Niko” means smiley. Currently, there are five in Shibata. There are a lot of this spherical gas tank in Japan, but Smiley Face is just here! Simple and cute design is very popular with the locals people.
ニコタンは、新潟県の新発田地区にあるニコニコ笑ってるスマイルマークを描いた、巨大なガスホルダー(貯蔵タンク)です。名前は”ニコタン”!現在、新発田に5匹います。絵柄入りの球形ガスホルダーは日本にもたくさんありますが、スマイルマークはここだけ!シンプルなのにかわいいデザインが地元の人にも人気なようです。
I see Nikotan from the car, and there are different types: Nikotan + Momotan (Pink gas tank), Nikotan Brothers, Stray Nikotan. The big Niko Niko smiley face just appeared suddenly, I also start smiling involuntarily! Smile make the people happy, and this gas tank do it in the right way! Everybody start smiling?
私は車でニコタンを見て回ってきました。ニコタン+モモタン(ピンクのガスタンク)、ニコタン兄弟、はぐれニコタンの種類があります。突如現れるニコニコ笑顔には、思わず自分もニコニコしてしまいます。笑顔はみんなを幸せにするって話がありますが、まさにこのガスタンクがそんな感じ。みんなニコニコできましたか?
Nikotan + Momotan ニコタン+モモタン
Nikotan Brothers ニコタン兄弟
Stray Nikotan はぐれニコタン
Links
ニコタンどっとこむ, nikotan.com
freeidefix says
Oh a wonderful idea to make such tanks beautiful. Here in Germany they are often only gray and looks boaring and ugly. Very cute. Nice pix Ikumi.
ikumi says
Japanese love cute design. but I want to see Germany’s gas tanks!
RobotJim says
かわいい…Cute!…did I get that right or should I not trust Google translate! ? 🙂 So much friendlier than tanks around me! Thanks for the photos Ikumi
ikumi says
かわいい is Okay 🙂 Japan gas tanks very friendlier 🙂 Thaks for your comment!
tong says
kawaii desu!
ikumi says
Nikotan ha Kawaiiyo