Japan's Saga prefecture has appointed a popular business manga character as a mock vice governor to help draw attention to some of its policies.

Shima Kosaku is the protagonist of a 40-year-old comic series with over 47 million copies in circulation.

Saga got the idea of using Shima, a Waseda University graduate in the series, because the university's founder is from the southwestern prefecture.

In a scenario written by the prefecture, Shima took the vice governor after leaving the major appliance maker he had worked at for many years. His new mission is to advertise the prefecture's policies on sports and the semiconductor industry.

His mock office is in the old prefecture building and was opened for public viewing on Monday.

In an animation shown on the monitor in the office, Shima talks about attractive features of the prefecture and how he will apply his business experience to the government.

Reproductions of 11 original drawings are included in the display. Also shown is a chronological career chart of Shima, who turns 76 this year, along with a chart that depicts the history of Saga.

Visitors can see his office through December 19.