Go Tokyo Your Experience
Serialized from 1976 to 2016, ‘Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo’ has long since become a classic national manga in Japan and has been certified by the Guinness World Records as the manga with the most serialized volumes. In the work, the streets set against the backdrop of the Kameari area in Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, have become a point of pride for the local residents.
However, recently some Japanese netizens discovered that when ‘Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo’ first started serialization, people’s views on this manga were not as positive as they are now. Due to the main character, Arakawa, being a police officer who often engages in silly antics, even led to complaints and protests from the local police chief by the sixth episode. Now, let’s explore this anecdote together.
An article from an old newspaper dated 1976, uncovered by Japanese netizens, shows that Akimoto Osamu, a newcomer manga artist at the time, faced criticism from the real head of the Kameari Police Station when his character, Kankichi Ryotsu, a police officer, engaged in various outrageous pranks. This dissatisfaction was increased by the fact that the manga explicitly stated that Ryotsu’s precinct was under the jurisdiction of the Kameari Police Station.
He believed that such a character depiction could damage the reputation of the police station, so he specially sent a letter to “Weekly Shōnen Jump” to protest.
Nevertheless, Akihonji responded to the letter of protest. He stated that he grew up in the Kameyama area and that the depiction in the manga is merely an expression of the charm of the old streets that he loves.
Perhaps the director did not anticipate at that time that this work would be serialized for as long as 40 years!
The “Turtle Station North Police Station” has become a local scenic spot today.
Once this piece of history was disclosed, it quickly sparked heated discussions among netizens. Some felt that the director’s reaction was excessive and that there was no need to argue with a comic character. Others expressed that the early serialized version of Ryo-san was indeed aggressive, unhesitatingly pulling out guns, so the director’s anger could also be understood.
In the early days of manga, Kankichi Ryotsu’s behavior and words were very radical.
Japanese netizens commented on this event:
The serialization has just begun, and the director already has such a reaction, but… this manga has actually been serialized for 40 years, huh.
The director’s words actually hold some truth.
The situation with Ryo-san back then was truly shocking. The art style at that time wasn’t as likable as it is now; they would randomly start shooting.
It’s said to have warmth, but Ryo-san fired a gun in the very first episode… (Nandakawa did too…)
By the standards of the current ‘Ulong Police Station,’ the director is indeed making a big deal out of nothing. However, the content back then was quite exaggerated…
Now, there are already two bronze statues of Rokusuke in front of the station.
The play did consider this issue, and later changed ‘Turtle Station’ in the play to ‘Katsushika Station.’ However, in reality, ‘Honda Station’ was renamed ‘Katsushika Station,’ so the name in the play had to be changed to ‘New Katsushika Station.’ At that time, this work was not widely known, but now statues of them can be seen all over Kameari Station and the city, earning it the same fame as ‘Men Are Tough.’
‘Kochikame’ initially sparked a bit of intrigue due to its controversial content, but over the years, this manga has indeed become a classic, and the Kameari area has also become famous because of it.
