April 18, 1998 (TOKYO, AP) -- Give me your tourists, your pleasure-seekers, your hugging couples yearning for a peek. Tokyo Bay has a new landmark -- its very own Statue of Liberty. Made in France, like her famous older sister in New York Harbor, this smaller version stands about 36 feet tall and is only on loan to Japan. But no matter -- it's already drawing huge crowds. "It's a lot smaller than I had expected," said Akira Minami, who was among the throngs of curious visitors to catch a glimpse of the statue this week. "I guess if you want to see the real thing you still have to go to New York," he said. Actually, the 14-ton statue is more than a tawdry imitation. It was shipped to Japan from its home near the foot of the Grenelle Bridge on the Seine River to commemorate "France Year." It originally was donated by a group of Americans living in Paris and erected in November 1889 to mark the centennial year of the French Revolution. The statue was cut up into six sections and sent to Tokyo in January. French President Jacques Chirac will visit Tokyo later this month and is scheduled to unveil the statue. The Japanese should not become too attached to their Lady, however; she will return to her beloved Paris after a year. The Statue of Liberty has long been a favorite decoration on rooftops of what the Japanese call "Love Hotels," the copious numbers of gaudy motels and hotels offering rooms by the hour. Copyright 1998 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
