カテゴリー: culture

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.

映画コム	https://eiga.com/movie/91750/

Where is Yaho？

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

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.

Where is Yaho？

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

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.

映画「前科者」公式サイト

https://www.tvu.co.jp/movie/zenkamono_movie_2022/

Where is Yaho？

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

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/

Where is Yaho？

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

Like Asura (Ashura no Gotoku) is widely considered a masterpiece of domestic drama. Written by acclaimed screenwriter Kuniko Mukoda (1929–1981), the story follows four sisters whose brutally honest interactions reveal the Asura-like ego and obsession lurking deep within the human heart. The story is originally set right here in Kunitachi City.

Originally broadcast as an NHK television drama in 1979, the classic has been adapted multiple times over the decades:

1979: Original NHK TV Drama

2003: Feature Film (directed by Yoshimitsu Morita)

2004: Stage Play

2025: Netflix Series (directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda)

Netflix Homepage

https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/asura-streams-january-9

Where is Yaho?

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

“Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai” (Moeyo Ken)

Written by Ryotaro Shiba, this famous historical novel follows Toshizo Hijikata, vice-commander of the Shinsengumi. The story actually begins right around here, as a young Toshizo travels from Ishida Village through Yaho to a night festival in Fuchu, looking to meet girls!

Where is Yaho？

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

Written by Haruki Murakami in 1999, this romantic fantasy story begins right here in Kunitachi City, travels all the way to Greece in Europe, and suddenly leaves readers with an unforgettable mystery. It is such a page-turner that you will completely lose track of time.

Where is Yaho?

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda in 2012, this animated film received numerous domestic and international awards in countries such as Belgium, Spain, and China.

The movie is a heartwarming fantasy about the love between a human woman and a werewolf, as well as the growth of their children—their independence and the journeys they take to find their own paths in life.

This unforgettable story begins right here in Kunitachi City, with a fateful encounter between a young woman and a wolf-man!

Homepage

http://www.ookamikodomo.jp/index.html

Where is Yaho？

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

Fudeko Ishii (1861–1944) was a pioneering female educator and the co-founder of Takinogawa Gakuen, Japan’s first school for children with intellectual disabilities, located right here in Yaho.

Born into a samurai family in Kyushu, she grew up to become one of Japan’s first female study-abroad students to Europe, alongside Umeko Tsuda.

After returning to Japan, fluent in three languages and versed in European social etiquette, she was celebrated as “the flower of Rokumeikan society.”

However, tragedy struck her personal life: she lost her husband and two of her three children to illness, while her surviving child had an intellectual disability. Driven by these experiences, she developed a deep devotion to special education.

She went on to found Takinogawa Gakuen, dedicating the rest of her life to educating children with intellectual disabilities.

Her dramatic life was adapted into the 2007 feature film “Fudeko’s Love” (Fudeko no Uta), starring Takako Tokiwa.

滝乃川学園 Homepage	https://www.takinogawagakuen.jp/
映画「筆子その愛 天使のピアノ」Homepage	https://www.gendaipro.jp/fudeko/index1.html

Where is Yaho?

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---

This stone statue was made by Seki Bin at Shikenzaike Park in 2003. The title of this statue, “Shigetsu” (Pointing at the Moon), describes the foolishness of looking only at the finger pointing to the moon, rather than at the moon itself. It cautions us against getting so caught up in the means—such as words or written letters—that we lose sight of the ultimate truth and essential meaning behind them.

名称	四軒在家公園
所在地	〒186-0015 東京都国立市矢川３丁目１０

Where is Yaho？

Where is Yaho？

Town

Town

Culture

Culture

Nature

Nature

Yabo Tenmangu

Yabo Tenmangu

History

History

---