Japan shrine displays giant mouse for New Year

Members of a volunteer group and local children put the three-meter-tall mouse at the entrance of the Tatsumizu Shrine in Misato town. The group makes a giant zodiac sign every year to pray for people's happiness and an abundant harvest.

Tokyo: A shrine in Japan is displaying a giant sculpture of a mouse, the zodiac animal for the year 2020.

On Sunday, members of a volunteer group and local children put the three-meter-tall mouse at the entrance of the Tatsumizu Shrine in Misato town.

The group makes a giant zodiac sign every year to pray for people's happiness and an abundant harvest.

It took about a month to create the polystyrene sculpture.

The golden mouse is holding a torch as the members hope that many Japanese athletes will win gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The jumbo zodiac sign will be on display at the shrine until the end of February.