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
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.
Japanese love cute design. but I want to see Germany’s gas tanks!
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
かわいい is Okay 🙂 Japan gas tanks very friendlier 🙂 Thaks for your comment!
kawaii desu!
Nikotan ha Kawaiiyo