Kirk here with a headline form the Kumanichi (the local rag): First steps taken to turn Kumamoto into “Kumamon Land”
This sounds like an April Fool’s prank but it seems legit. Of course, I don’t think we need to worry about changing our addresses from “Kumamoto-ken” to “Kumamon Land” anytime soon, but it does seem that “Kumamon Land” will be a major promotional campaign. The article says that it will have a place in the prefectural budget (for implementation and/or promotion) but I don’t see an exact amount.