Photo/Illutration From left: Hachiware, Chiikawa and Usagi figures are seen at an intersection in central Shanghai on Sept. 12. (Nen Satomi)

SHANGHAI—Scores of fans lined up for mainland China’s first exhibition dedicated to “Chiikawa,” the polular manga and anime series, at a luxury shopping district here on Sept. 12.

The exhibition is scheduled to run for 51 days.

“Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island” has remained a big hit in Japan since its release in July.

However, Japanese films, including “Chiikawa the Movie,” have not been shown in theaters in mainland China since last November, when relations between the two countries deteriorated.

Many of the fans who rushed to the exhibition on opening day were sporting Chiikawa merchandise hanging from their bags.

The “Chiikawa Days” exhibition is being held near West Nanjing Road, a major shopping street lined with luxury brand stores and department stores.

More than 100 life-sized figures were on display, re-creating the world of the series.

Three giant 9-meter-tall figues were also installed at the intersection near the venue, where passersby stopped to take photos with their smartphones.

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Long lines form outside the venue for the “Chiikawa Days” exhibition in Shanghai on Sept. 12. (Nen Satomi)

A 23-year-old corporate worker living in Shanghai said she is a big fan of Chiikawa and bought her ticket in advance.

Saying Chiikawa relieves her stress, the woman said the exhibition was heartwarming, and the re-creations of famous scenes from the anime were very well executed.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the first Chiikawa movie (in China), though,” the woman said.

China has seen a rise in the “guzi,” or “goods,” economy, a consumer trend of collecting character merchandise. Chiikawa products have become quite popular in the trend.

The first permanent Chiikawa store outside Japan opened in Shanghai in September last year before successive openings in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, and Nanjing in Jiangsu province.

More outlets are scheduled to open later this month in Sanya, Hainan province, as well as in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, according to the official account on Weibo, a major Chinese social media platform.

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