The sculpted figures that advertise restaurants and other businesses in the bustling Dotombori shopping and entertainment district in central Osaka are a magnet for tourists.
Among these so-called "3-D ads" are a green dragon above a ramen shop, a huge hand holding a piece of tuna sushi to attract customers to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, and giant "gyoza" dumplings luring trade for a Chinese restaurant.
These and many others are the work of Masahide Nakamura, 65, president of Pop Kougei Co.