Tetsuko no Tabi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese non-fiction manga
series authored by Hirohiko Yokomi and illustrated by Naoe Kikuchi. The manga was serialized in the Japanese seinen manga magazine Ikki
between 2002 and 2006. An anime
version was adapted by the animation studio Group TAC
and contained 13 episodes.
They are accompanied by their editor, Masahiko Ishikawa, who is a fan of trains himself as they seem to endlessly "ride the rails". Yokomi's story was later adapted into a 13-part anime.
Kikuchi is offered the job of accompanying a "travel writer" and she accepts the job without knowing who the writer is. When she finds out that it is Yokomi, she regrets her impulsive decision because she is familiar with his story, but Kikuchi goes along because she needs the work, and because she still hopes that she will have the opportunity to see new places and try out new local delicacies.
However, Kikuchi quickly finds out that Yokomi's idea of "fun and adventure" consists of riding trains all day long, getting off at obscure stops for a few minutes, and then continuing right along, with no breaks for food, sight-seeing or rest. And since Ishikawa is as enthusiastic about this as Yokomi there is no way out for Kikuchi.
Afterwards, Yokomi and Ishikawa drag Kikuchi along on their attempt to travel through the six rural regions that surround Tokyo on a single 130 Yen ticket, a detail that Yokomi dug out of the fine print in a Japan Rail schedule book. But this time Kikuchi is better prepared and she has a guidebook of her own with her - one covering where to find food in JR stations.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series authored by Hirohiko Yokomi and illustrated by Naoe Kikuchi. The manga was serialized in the Japanese seinen manga magazine Ikki
Ikki (magazine)
is a monthly seinen manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It tends to specialize in underground or alternative manga, but has had its share of major hits as well. Notably, both Bokurano and Ride Back have received anime adaptations....
between 2002 and 2006. An anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
version was adapted by the animation studio Group TAC
Group TAC
Group TAC was a Japanese animation and computer graphics studio located in Shibuya, Tokyo, and founded in 1968. They have worked on movies, videos, TV shows, and commercials, and have contributed to all stages of the process, including planning, production, sound effects, and so on...
and contained 13 episodes.
Overview
Tetsuko no Tabi is an anime based upon the real life hobby of Hirohiko Yokomi, a travel writer in Japan who has visited every train station in Japan over the past 15 or so years. He has visited almost 10,000 train stations, including big city stations, suburban commuter stops, and even rural platforms in the middle of nowhere. Several years ago, Yokomi arranged to have a manga artist, Naoe Kikuchi, travel along with him so that she could illustrate a manga based upon his travels and writings.They are accompanied by their editor, Masahiko Ishikawa, who is a fan of trains himself as they seem to endlessly "ride the rails". Yokomi's story was later adapted into a 13-part anime.
Kikuchi is offered the job of accompanying a "travel writer" and she accepts the job without knowing who the writer is. When she finds out that it is Yokomi, she regrets her impulsive decision because she is familiar with his story, but Kikuchi goes along because she needs the work, and because she still hopes that she will have the opportunity to see new places and try out new local delicacies.
However, Kikuchi quickly finds out that Yokomi's idea of "fun and adventure" consists of riding trains all day long, getting off at obscure stops for a few minutes, and then continuing right along, with no breaks for food, sight-seeing or rest. And since Ishikawa is as enthusiastic about this as Yokomi there is no way out for Kikuchi.
Afterwards, Yokomi and Ishikawa drag Kikuchi along on their attempt to travel through the six rural regions that surround Tokyo on a single 130 Yen ticket, a detail that Yokomi dug out of the fine print in a Japan Rail schedule book. But this time Kikuchi is better prepared and she has a guidebook of her own with her - one covering where to find food in JR stations.
Main characters
- Hirohiko Yokomi (voiced by: Nobuyuki HiyamaNobuyuki Hiyamais a Japanese voice actor currently affiliated with Arts Vision.-Profile:* Sometimes credited as: Shuji Hiyama , Osamuyuki Hiyama * Year Enrolled into the Voice-Acting Industry: 1987...
) is the travel-writer, who turns out to be a huge train-fan. He has a lot of energy and passion for trains, and sometimes girls, but also micro-manages all their trips, planning every detail down to the second. He cares mostly about following the schedule and successfully achieving his planned goals (e.g. visiting all stations on a line in a completely bizarre order to accommodate infrequent trains).
- Naoe Kikuchi (voiced by: Akira Tomisaka) is a manga artist, she has no interest in trains whatsoever, and she keeps getting freaked out by Yokomi’s antics. She's also cynical, sarcastic, and rather lazy, mainly looking forward to the next eki-ben.
- Masahiko Ishikawa (voiced by: Tokuyoshi KawashimaTokuyoshi Kawashimais a Japanese voice actor affiliated with 81 Produce.- Roles :* Ah! My Goddess: The Movie as Miwa* Ayakashi Ayashi as Houzaburo Ogasawara* D.Gray-man as Mark * Emma - A Victorian Romance as Willam Jones* Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as Riddle...
) is Kikuchi's editor, another train geek.
- Masaki Kamimura (voiced by: Tetsuharu Ohta) is Kikuchi's second editor.
Other characters
- Kinako (voiced by: Masumi Toyooka) is a candidate for train-fan. She came to the solicitation by Yokomi.
- Asako Yamada
- Narrator (voiced by: Yoshio HaradaYoshio Haradawas a Japanese actor best known for playing rebels in a career that spanned six decades.-Career:Born in Tokyo, Harada joined the Haiyūza theater troupe in 1966 and made his television debut in 1967 with "Tenka no seinen" and his film debut in 1968 with Fukushū no uta ga kikoeru. He came to fame...
)
External links
- Official anime website
- http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/for-fans-of-locomotives-it%E2%80%99s-full-steam-ahead