Yep, you read the title correctly.
The town of Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture was given $7.3 million in aid to combat COVID-19 and opted to spend $274,000 on constructing a massive statue of a giant squid. The sculpture measures out to be approx.13 feet high and 29.5 feet long.
So now the big question...WHY?! Especially when the country is currently combatting a fourth wave of coronavirus contagions?
Apparently it was part of a "long term strategy," CNN reported. Squid is considered a delicacy in the town and the statue's purpose is to "to raise awareness about [Noto]'s fishing industry and increase tourism," a local government official said, according to domestic media as reported by CNN.
Ishikawa Prefecture's COVID-19 numbers are low in comparison to the rest of the country and there was no designation that the money had to be spent specifically on pandemic relief.
Read more here.