An elite central government bureaucrat on loan to the municipal government of Yuzawa, Akita Prefecture, is generating a buzz by appearing in the city's PR video dressed like a rapper.

In it, Nobuyuki Fujii, 34, an internal affairs ministry official who has served as deputy mayor of Yuzawa since April 2015, raps about the city's products and tourist attractions. The clip has gone viral, attracting 40,000 views on YouTube (jtim.es/yR9A303jcLB) so far.

The idea for an unconventional video came from local event promoter Ippei Fujita, 32. Fujita visited Fujii's office in City Hall in May 2015 and to ask for help in promoting a musical festival. Fujii was amused by the idea of a rap video and agreed immediately. Fujii said he also wanted to become better known among the local residents.

In one of the videos, Fujii and three local artists dance to rap music and sing. The original song, featuring a local dialect, asks young people to visit the city. The deputy mayor also performed in a live concert held in the city on July 22.

In the latest clip, Mayor Mitsuyoshi Saito, 70, makes a "special appearance," sporting a scarf and dancing to the twist in his mayoral office.