Two sacred places for anime and drama related to Kumamoto Prefecture
2023-02-01
Works with a storyline, such as animations, movies, and dramas, are sometimes set in a particular region or city. In some cases, this is because the original author's hometown is in that area, or because the characteristics of that area are important to the story, so it was set there. Fans of the work can recall memorable scenes and experience the background of the story firsthand by visiting "sacred places "as the original location of the scene. Here, we introduce "sacred sites "in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Author of this article
Table of Contents
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Natsume's Book of Friends (anime)
"Natsume's Book of Friends "is a manga serialized in "LaLa "since the July 2003 issue. An anime version was then broadcast for six seasons from 2008 to 2017.
"Natsume's Book of Friends "is a work that makes us think about the relationship between people, yokai, and nature, focusing on the main character Natsume Takashi, who has been able to see yokai since he was a small child, and the yokai "Nyanko sensei "who becomes his bouncer, and the "friend book "that Takashi's grandmother Reiko left behind. We are gradually drawn in by the naturalistic drawings, the charm of each character, and the heartwarming storyline.
"One of the reasons why Natsume's Book of Friends "is so popular is because of the character of Nyanko-sensei. The other reason is that the story takes place in a place far removed from our current lives, and perhaps in the nostalgic pictures we are made aware that there is something we have lost.
Sacred sites scattered in the author's hometown Hitoyoshi
The original author, Yuki Midorikawa, is a native of Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and although it is not explicitly stated that this work is set in Hitoyoshi City, there are various "sacred "points in Hitoyoshi City, with scenes that bear a striking resemblance to the actual scenery of Hitoyoshi.
The motif of the work is "ayakashi," or demons, and the scenery that appears in the work is truly rural, with a climate and a sense of life that affirms the existence of such beings.
JR Hitoyoshi Station, a base for visiting sacred places
As the center of Hitoyoshi City, it has frequently appeared in artworks.
Hitoyoshi Station also has a pilgrimage map of the sacred sites, which you should definitely stop by first to check out.
It is the main station on the Hisatsu Line, which leads west down the Kuma River to Yatsushiro and south to Yoshimatsu and Hayato in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Since the railroad line passes through mountainous areas, there are several switchback stations south of Hitoyoshi Station, making the area a favorite for railroad enthusiasts. "Attractive JR Kyushu trains such as Isaburo/Shinpei ""SL Hitoyoshi "also operate in this area.
Tengu Bridge, familiar in the work
The Tengu Bridge, which appears frequently in the work. The name is already a part of the world view itself, isn't it?
The location is a 15 minute walk from West Hitoyoshi Station, so it is a challenge to get to, but worth aiming for.
Amamiya Shrine, which appeared in the 2nd season OP
Next is the Amamiya Shrine, which appeared in the opening of the second season of the anime.
This shrine has long been used for rain-making rituals. Water has always been important.
There are also 112 steps from the torii gate of this shrine to the shrine grounds, which is a surprising test of stamina.
Further back in the temple is a tunnel-like area, which is famous for "the three-birth (shanshan) circling ".
This also makes it a powerhouse for "giving birth to happiness ""giving birth to peace ""giving birth to gold "
If you bring a red seal to this shrine, you can get it from Nyanko-sensei.
Disaster and the Holy Land
Although these sacred sites are highly cherished by fans, some of them were damaged by the torrential rains in 2020. Some of them are still being restored, but please check them when you make a pilgrimage to the sacred sites. And we hope for the earliest possible restoration of the area.
The hometown of that Olympic athlete... Idaten - Tokyo Olimpic Story (Drama)
NHK's annual historical dramas are always a hot topic of interest, and the 2019 drama will tell the story of Shizo Kanaguri and Seiji Tabata, two men who made significant contributions to sports. The following year was the year of the Tokyo Olympics (although in reality, the Olympics were held a year later), and the drama was aired at a time of great interest in the sport. The script was written by Kudo Kankuro. He denies, however, that he did not choose the subject of the Olympics as a calculation for the following year's Olympics.
However, since it was unusual for a Taiga drama to deal with modern times and the story was somewhat complex in structure, the audience was more likely to be enlivened by the segment of the population that makes good use of the Internet rather than the elderly, and many may have had the opportunity to get to know the characters.
An indefatigable runner who put his marathon on the line.
The first half of the 2019 NHK Taiga Drama "Idaten "starred Shizo Kanaguri, also known as "the father of the Japanese marathon "who was the first Japanese marathoner to run in the Olympic Games.
Since his birthplace is Nagomi-cho, Tamana-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture, there are several spots associated with him there.
This is a bronze statue of Shizo Kanaguri in front of Shin-Tamana Station on the JR Kyushu Shinkansen Line. Now then...here you go~ (sorry)
By the way, the reading of his name is confusing to some people because it varies from document to document and from person to person. "Is it Kanakuri "or "Kanaguri ", and is it "Shiso "or "Shizo "? At this point, there are four possible readings. It's to the point where I'm not sure whether Hitonari Tsuji is "Hitonari "or "Jinsei "(in his case, he uses it differently depending on whether he's a writer or a singer). On various certificates and on the Tamana City website, it is "Kanakuri-Shizo ", but public organizations seem to use "Kanakuri-Shizo "for unification.
He was selected as an Olympian in 1911 after setting a world record in the qualifying round for the Stockholm Olympics to be held the following year, shaving 27 minutes off the world record.
Needless to say, there were high expectations for him. In particular, the pressure of competing with his country on his shoulders must have been tremendous at the time.
As a result, he suffered from sunstroke in the marathon race at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and had to abandon the race midway through, a humiliating result in general terms. The effects of the 20-day journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the difference in food culture, the effects of sleep control due to the high latitude, the lack of a car to pick him up from his accommodation and take him to the stadium, the unusually high temperature (40°C) on the day, and Japan's lagging scientific technology related to sports, all contributed to the event's disastrous outcome.
After that, the Olympic Games were not held due to World War I, and the Antwerp Olympics in 1920 and the Paris Olympics in 1924 were finally held, but again, the results were unsatisfactory, with the athletes placing 16th and abstaining during each of these events.
But he was undeterred. He learned what Japan needed in sports and worked hard to improve it in Japan, starting the Tokyo-Hakone round-trip collegiate ekiden race in 1920 and improving the tabi socks worn in competition (he even wore them to the Olympics).
After working at the Tokyo Prefectural Women's Normal School from 1921, she organized various competitions for women and helped form the Kanto Women's Athletic Federation.
After the war, he established various additional institutions and played an active role in the promotion of sports.
He spent the last years of his life in his hometown of Tamana, Kumamoto Prefecture, where he died in 1983 at the age of 92.
Incidentally, he was invited to the 55th anniversary of the Stockholm Olympics in 1967. So, in response to his failure to finish that long ago, the Olympic Committee arranged to have him cut the finishing tape in the stadium at the commemorative ceremony. This is how the "record "of 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 20 seconds3 was born, and is in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest marathon completion time.
Birthplace of Shizo Kanaguri
This is the house where Shizo grew up for 14 years before entering Tamana Junior High School. Shizo's family ran a sake brewery, and the 200-year-old house still retains the atmosphere of those days.
Highlights include the original view of the countryside he would have seen from his house, the study room he used, the cinnamon tree and well in the back of the house.
"Spot Information "
Spot Name: Birthplace of Shizo Kanaguri
Address: 546 Nakabayashi, Wasui-cho, Tamana-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture
Telephone number: 0968-34-3047 (Wakamizu-cho Education Committee Social Education Division)
Hours of Operation: (Open) 10:00 - 16:00
Closed: Tuesday
Budget: (Admission) Basically free. Some paid services available.
URL： http://www.kanakurishiso.jp/
His birthplace is in the mountains. He even used to run 6 km to and from school.
By car, exit at the Nanseki IC or Kikusui IC of the Kyushu Expressway.
By the way, my favorite hot spring in Kumamoto Prefecture "Hirayama Onsen "is located nearby.
Motto and monument of Shizo Kanaguri
Near Shisan's birthplace, there is a stone monument inscribed with his motto: "physical strength, energy, hard work ".
This also shows his dedication and ambition. I also feel his core strength that he was not corrupted by the disappointing Olympic results and the heartless slander caused by them.
summary
In this article, I introduced "Natsume's Book of Friends "and "Idaten "about sacred places related to Kumamoto Prefecture. The great nature unique to Kumamoto Prefecture had a lot to do with it. There are many more works, so why don't you look for them?
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