The short story of Kanji pictures
Yagawa Benzaiten originated from an ancient roadside shrine by the Yagawa River, said to have once been the guardian deity of the nearby historical Minowa Castle. The shrine grounds feature white snakes—messengers of Benzaiten—perched on bridge railings and carved as rare guardian snakes (koma-hebi). Visitors can also view carp swimming peacefully in the sacred Dragon God Pond.
Along the old Kōshū Kaidō highway and around the grounds of Yaho Tenmangu Shrine, several stone structures and survey markers used for road surveying and leveling benchmarks of that era can still be found; they stand as valuable historical relics that convey the time when the present-day city of Kunitachi was once part of Kitatama District in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Where the Yagawa River crosses the Koshu-kaido Highway once stood Yagawa Bridge, a beloved local landmark during the Edo period. Nearby stands this small temple, known as ‘Gochi Nyorai,’ which was built by people who migrated here from Hachioji. Even today, local residents gather once a year in October to hold a small ceremony to honor and pray at this temple.
This bridge spans the Negawa River, which flows along the border between Kunitachi and Tachikawa. It is called the Shell Bridge because many shells from the Edo period were discovered in this area. It is said that in ancient times, the surrounding area was submerged beneath the Tama River.
Even today, only a few people know that there used to be a movie theater on Asahi Street in Kunitachi City.
It first opened in 1956 under the name “Kunitachi Koni Theater” (国立コニー劇場). The theater showed domestic films and gained popularity among local residents. However, around the time of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, television grew in popularity, leading to a decline in movie theater attendance. As a result, the theater closed in 1965. For a while after its closure, the abandoned building was rumored to be a haunted house.
In 1967, the theater was renovated and reopened as “Kunitachi Sukara-za” (国立スカラ座). It regained its popularity, drawing around 1,000 visitors every day by 1975. However, as home video and video rentals later became mainstream, attendance dropped again, and the theater permanently closed in 1987.
Since then, there have been no movie theaters in Kunitachi City. However, citizen groups frequently host pop-up movie events here in Kunitachi.
The movie” And, Live (Soshite, Ikiru)” is a 10-year story that follows three university students who randomly meet while volunteering after the Great East Japan Earthquake. As they enter society and face the turns of fate, they struggle and mature while trying to find their own paths in life.
The lead actress, Kasumi Arimura, plays a character who steps off at Kunitachi Station and walks through the town in search of her missing lover. The newly renovated Kunitachi Station building and Daigaku-dori (University Avenue) are symbolically captured on screen.
Originally broadcast in 2019 as a 6-episode drama series on WOWOW, it was later re-edited and released as a feature film.
Yaho Park No. 4 is locally known as “Gorilla Park” because of its popular gorilla-shaped play monument. It is always bustling with children enjoying the various playground equipment. Thanks to its beautiful scenery, the park, along with the nearby Kunitachi City Hall, is frequently used as a filming location for movies and TV dramas.
Although Yoko Tawada’s novel “The Bridegroom Was a Dog “does not explicitly name Kunitachi City, its setting is modeled after the Fujimidai Housing Complex. In the story, the area around Kunitachi Station is depicted as “Kita Ward” (North Ward), while the Yaho area is portrayed as “Minami Ward” (South Ward).
Highly acclaimed for offering a fresh perspective on folk tales hidden within modern urban life, the novel was awarded the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 1993.
An Ex-Con is a compelling drama about a female volunteer probation officer who struggles to guide and rehabilitate people with criminal records. Kasumi Arimura delivers an extraordinary, award-winning performance as the lead character, taking home the Hochi Film Award for Best Actress in 2022. The film brings its story to life with authentic backdrops filmed throughout Kunitachi City, including Kunitachi City Hall and Yaho Park No. 4.
The movie Sidecar to the Dog (2007)tells the story of a strange summer friendship between a fourth-grade girl and Yoko—a woman who suddenly arrives as her father’s mistress after her mother runs away. Played by Yuko Takeuchi (1980–2020), Yoko brings a fresh wave of energy to the girl’s life.
Set right here in Kunitachi City, the film features Yoko riding her bicycle past local landmarks like the triangular-roofed Kunitachi Station, Daigaku-dori Avenue, and Aoyagi Inari Shrine. The dialogue is also peppered with references to famous figures connected to Kunitachi, such as Momoe Yamaguchi and Kiyoshiro Imawano.
| 映画コム「サイドカーに犬」 | https://eiga.com/movie/34026/ |