Buses featuring popular hololive virtual YouTuber Shirogane Noel have been deployed in Oita City to help boost local tourism.

The design is based on the music video for "VAVAVA! Virtual Oita", produced by Objective Cord in cooperation with Oita Prefecture. In it, Noel invades Shibuya's famous Scramble Crossing with a host of local delicacies before defeating a giant kaiju with the help of Kiichiro Sato, the prefecture's governor. Kenmochi Hidefumi, of Wednesday Campanella fame, produced the song.

Despite being a virtual talent, Noel has never been shy about the fact that she grew up in the real Oita. Speaking to local news in January, she claimed that her love for the prefecture was "second to none" and even provided a donation to help with disaster relief efforts following a massive fire in the Saganoseki area. "VAVAVA! Virtual Oita" was also always intended to serve as local promotion.

Now, Noel's efforts are having a material impact. Ever since the buses with the Virtual Oita design were deployed earlier this month, a representative from the Oita Bus company remarked that "The response has been overwhelming. I think fans feel very lucky when they see the buses out and about, with lots of them posting about it on social media."

If you've ever wanted to check Oita City out, now's your chance. The buses are running throughout the downtown and eastern areas until the end of August.