[Tokyo] Let's travel to the stage of Chika Umino's "March Comes in Like a Lion"!

Chika Umino's popular comic ``March Comes in Like a Lion'' stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, and the first part was released on March 18, 2017, and the second part was released on April 22, 2017, as a live-action movie. It was also made into a TV anime last year. The main setting of the work is around the Sumida River in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. Would you like to pretend to be the main character, Rei Kiriyama, and travel to "Rokugatsu Town" and "Mikazuki Town", the setting of the story of "March Comes in Like a Lion"?

Let's go to Rokugatsu Town, where Rei Kiriyama lives.

The main character of ``March Comes in Like a Lion'' is Rei Kiriyama, a high school student and professional shogi player.
For various reasons, Rei has kept his heart closed to those around him, but through a certain opportunity, he meets the three Kawamoto sisters who live in Sangatsuki Town. As they interact with their eldest daughter Akari, second daughter Hinata, and third daughter Momo, they learn that the three Kawamoto sisters also have deep wounds in their hearts. Eventually, the main character, Rei Kiriyama, uses his encounters with these girls as an opportunity to grow both as a professional shogi player and as a person. The apartment where Rei Kiriyama lives alone is located in Rokugatsu-cho.
This town is modeled after the area where the Sumida River and the Kameshima River intersect in Shinkawa 2-chome, Chuo Ward. Let's travel to Takahashi, Reiganjima Water Level Observatory, Chuo Bridge, and Sumida River, among the familiar scenery in "March Comes in Like a Lion." Now, let's depart from Hatchobori Station! (Nearest stations: JR Keiyo Line Hatchobori Station, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Hatchobori Station)

1. Takahashi

Takahashi is located at the end of the walk from Hatchobori Station towards Kameshima River. This is the bridge that Rei Kiriyama crosses when going back and forth between his apartment and the Shogi Hall in Shinanomachi. The handrail in the photo is Takahashi, and the river flowing below is Kameshima River. Zero's apartment is located to the left of the Kameshima River Water Gate, which can be seen small in the background of the photo. Now, although you can't see it in the photo, let's walk along the road that runs to the left of the Kameshima River and head to the spot where it collides with the Sumida River.

2.Reiganjima Water Level Observatory

Located at the intersection of the Sumida River and the Kameshima River is the Reigakujima Water Level Observatory, which is famous for being featured on the cover of the March Comes in Like a Lion comic. The design looks like a work of art, but it is actually an observatory for measuring the tide levels in Tokyo Bay. Not currently used. This is a location that often appears in the story of "March Comes in Like a Lion." It seems that Zero's apartment is behind this observatory.

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3. Chuo Bridge

The location is right next to Zero's apartment. At the top of the stairs is the pedestrian section of the Chuo Bridge. The road next to it leads to a promenade called Sumida River Terrace. The Reigonjima Water Level Observatory mentioned earlier is located on the right-hand side across this road.

The Chuo Bridge is a bridge that connects Mutsukatsu-cho, where Rei's apartment is located, to Mikazuki-cho, where the three Kawamoto sisters live.
In comics and TV anime, the Chuo Bridge is depicted at various times of day. You can see many boats such as water buses and houseboats passing under this bridge. Additionally, Chuo Ohashi Bridge is beautifully illuminated from dusk until 10 p.m. Even in the movie, the scenery around the Chuo Bridge was beautifully depicted. By the way, if you cross the Chuo Bridge and walk straight for about 3 minutes, you will see Super Maruetsu on your left. In the comics and anime, it is a model of the supermarket ``Maruei'' where Zero shops, and its appearance is strikingly similar. To reach Mikazuki-cho, where the three Kawamoto sisters live, cross the bridge and walk along the promenade on the right.

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4. Sumida River

The Sumida River is the river that the water bus "Hotaruna" runs through. This is the view looking towards Tsukiji from Chuo Ohashi Bridge. The bank on the left is Ishikawajima, and this riverbank appears in the scene where Rei returns to the apartment where he lives, and the scene where Rei and Hinata, the second daughter of the three Kawamoto sisters, converse. Mikazuki Town is modeled after this place, which is now connected to Ishikawa Island by land. Now, let's walk along the river to Mikazuki Town.

There was “Mikazuki Town” in Tsukudashima.

The location that served as the model for the setting of "Mikazukicho" is Tsukudajima, Chuo Ward, Tokyo.
The island was created by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate, by inviting fishermen from Tsukuda Village in Osaka, who had advanced fishing techniques, and reclaimed the sea for them. It used to be a small island, but due to the progress of land reclamation in Tokyo Bay, it is now connected to the surrounding islands of Ishikawa Island and Tsukishima. Let's take a walk along Tsukuda Kobashi Bridge, seeing the familiar scenery from ``March Comes in Like a Lion.'' (Nearest stations: Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Tsukishima Station, Toei Oedo Line Tsukishima Station)

Tsukuda Kobashi

The home of the three Kawamoto sisters is the Japanese sweets shop ``Mikazukido'' near Tsukuda Kobashi. This is the bridge that Rei Kiriyama always crosses when he goes to visit the girls and when he returns to his apartment in Rokugatsu-cho. Tsukuda Kobashi is the key visual for ``March Comes in Like a Lion'' and also appears as a daily scene in the manga, TV anime, and live-action movie. The river flowing under the bridge is connected to the Sumida River. By the way, the building of ``Mikazukido'' is modeled after ``Tenan,'' a long-established tsukudani restaurant that has been around since the Edo period. The area is also home to Sumiyoshi Shrine, famous for ``March Comes in Like a Lion,'' Tsukuda Park, and the water gate, making this a true Mikazuki Town. If you come here, you can fully immerse yourself in the world of ``March Comes in Like a Lion''.

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If you're feeling hungry after walking from Takahashi to Tsukudashima, why not try ``Monjayaki'' at Tsukishima to end your trip?

At the end of your trip, try “Monjayaki” in Tsukishima!

A 5 minute walk from Tsukuda Kobashi is a shopping street called ``Monja Street.'' This is the shopping street where the three Kawamoto sisters from March Comes in Like a Lion come to buy daily necessities. There are many shops with a Showa atmosphere, and there are also many ``Monjayaki'' shops. Tsukishima is famous for ``Monjayaki.'' In ``March Comes in Like a Lion,'' a restaurant called ``Monja Jiro'' appears, and Rei Kiriyama and the three Kawamoto sisters eat ``Monjayaki.'' The restaurant that served as the model for the restaurant is ``Monja Taro.'' That's it. let's go.

``Monja Taro'' is a popular restaurant among fans, as its exterior, interior, and menu are all depicted as ``Monja Jiro'' in ``March Comes in Like a Lion''. "Monjayaki" is a dish that existed in 1819 during the Edo period. To make it, first coat a hot iron plate with oil. Next, grill ingredients such as seafood. Once the ingredients are cooked, form a circle with them and create a cavity in the center. Pour the flour dissolved in water into the cavity. After that, mix them well and use a spatula to press the mixed ingredients onto the iron plate while grilling. The main ingredients are meat, fish, and vegetables, but recently there is also Monjayaki with strawberries as an ingredient.

By the way, the most popular dish at Monja Taro is the Salmon Mayo Monja.
Monjayaki is a salmon fillet seasoned with butter and mayonnaise and topped with toppings such as cabbage. It's self-service, so you make it yourself, but if you don't have the confidence to make it well, the staff at the store will cook it for you. Would you like some lunch for your trip to “March Comes in Like a Lion”? Access:
“Monja Taro” (Address: 1-24-10 Tsukishima, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Access: Walk from Exit 7 of Tsukishima Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line/Toei Oedo Line 3 minutes)

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The March Comes in Like a Lion trip started from Hatchobori Station, but this time the goal will be Tsukishima. The most convenient way to return from Monja Street is from Tsukishima Station. Even if you're not a fan of "March Comes in Like a Lion," you'll definitely enjoy watching the water buses and houseboats passing by the Sumida and Kameshima Rivers, as well as the retro atmosphere of Tsukudashima and Tsukishima.