“There is always only one truth!” shouts Conan Edogawa, the main character of today’s escapade.
About a five-hour trip via bullet train from the capital Tokyo, Hokuei-cho is the hometown of prolific Gosho Aoyama, the author of the manga Case Closed, which chronicles the sleuthing adventures of the widely-renowned boy detective and which has sold over 250 million copies worldwide.
We found ourselves at the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory, a museum that is dedicated to the creations of the mangaka, with huge sections focused on the lasting legacy of the young investigator. There were various displays which took an innovative approaches: interactive inventions from the series’ pages, initial drafts and more easter eggs — let’s not forget the mementos — for fans and the curious alike!
Here are our five favorite spots in the manga haven:
Conan Station
Believe it or not, the town has its very own dedicated rail station, based on the fictional character! And yes, it is a regular train stop that is part of the national train system. Just a step from the platform, one transforms into an instant child once more, lost in the midst of this world of welcoming posters, colorful tarps, familiar figures and images which excite visitors to explore further.
Junior Detective League Statue
This sculpture is the first to greet you by the entrance of the depository. It features the protagonist Conan Edogawa along with his pre-adolescent friends with whom he unravels mysteries and solves crimes. The team includes sole female member Ayumi Yoshida, science and logic expert Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya, self-proclaimed leader Genta Kojima and a shrunken scientist Ai Haibara.
Gosho Aoyama’s Workroom
This little room appears underrated compared to the magnitude of its impact to pop culture and the world. The table is a faithful reproduction of his workstation on a hectic day. So much so that it seemed he just slipped out for a breather and would still come back at any moment. Whispers circulated that the writer-illustrator would only sleep for three to four hours daily as he toiled with passion on the volumes upon volumes of his creations. This dedication can be seen in the meticulous illustrations, exhilarating scripts and a plethora of drawing materials strewn around his desk.
Gosho Aoyama Theater
In front of our very own eyes, realistic standees of the cast almost came to life on this orange stage setup! The surrounding area is filled with the contraptions that are featured in the comics and anime, such as the magical voice-changing bow tie, or the rocket skateboard in pursuit of criminals.
Conan Tanteisha
This shop sells everything and anything Detective Conan. In fact, they have limited-edition exclusive merchandise here! The selection includes shirts, sweaters, beanies, hats, towels, tableware, figurines, hand creams, storage boxes, clear files, notepads and even food — from ramen all the way to sweets and pastries. We noticed a ritual of the recent past came back to life here: Visitors take precious time off to purchase a themed postcard, write down a dedication to a friend or to the future selves, attach commemorative stamps, request for a postmark and subsequently mail them out.
These are my five magical postcards. What’s yours?