The Veggie’s Farm Girls in Nangoku-city, Kochi
Five third-year girl students of Kochi Prefectural Agricultural High School transformed into magical girls are actively campaigning to liven up the local Gotenmachi shopping area of Nangoku, Kochi Prefecture.
Veggie’s Farm Girls, dressed in cute outfits and blond wigs resembling characters in a popular anime “Pretty Cure,” are becoming popular among girls in the area.
The pioneer local hero in the Gomenmachi shopping area is a super hero group named “Gomenger,” who enjoy overwhelming popularity among children. Meanwhile, the students came up with the idea of performing as magical girls to offer something which appeals to young girls.
As students of an agricultural high school, they say they hope to give the message that vegetables are good for the body and they want people to love vegetables, so they used fruits and vegetables as part of their character names, such as “Happy Peach” and “Sunny Carrot.” Their friend from Gomenmachi created costumes for them.
They made their first performance in February with a high school band. They say that while boy students gave them the cold shoulder, they were very popular among students’ mothers and young girls who crowded around them to take pictures. They currently perform at various events including school concerts and light truck farmers markets. They also performed at the Gomennasai Festival held in Nangoku on Sunday, May 12.
“We thought it’s not cool to do something halfway, so we went all the way,” said Hana Nancy MacRawley, the leader of the group. “We want as many people as possible to come to this area.” They are now thinking about making a cold an enemy character in their new performance.
(May 17, 2013)