Amagasaki, a city located in Hyogo prefecture, has attracted fans of the long-running famous ninja series Nintama Rantarou, being the hometown of author Ms. Sōbe Amako. The Nintama Rantarou manga began serialization in 1986, receiving a hit-anime series adaptation in 1993, which continues to air weekly to this day. Let's go visit an exhibit of Nintama Rantarou!
The Nintama Rantarou Gallery
The city of Amagasaki collaborates with the Nintama Rantarou series to produce various programs. In 2024 from June to November, the Amago Saubei Manga Gallery hosted a Nintama Rantarou exhibit with dioramas and original artwork from the manga.
The gallery displays the original artworks from the manga author. Each picture is framed in a traditional Japanese style, which fits the ninja-era setting of the series. One of Ms. Sōbe’s defining features is her vibrant use of color, and the contrast of each painting really draws you into every work. In the middle of the exhibit is a recreation of her desk.
I think one of my favorite parts of the exhibit are the rough drafts of the final artworks on display. It is always inspiring seeing the work process of professional artworks, as they provide behind-the-scenes insight which can help you in your own creations as well.
Outside of the exhibit, you can find some limited edition merchandise, which are extremely popular among fans. It seems that there is even a collaboration car plastered with Nintama Rantarou characters that is available for a tour around the city!
The exhibit also has a guest book where you can get your own ninja license and stickers of your favorite character. It is a great way to commemorate your visit and become a part of Amagasaki’s history. There were many names in the book, and fans old and new are excited for the release of a new Nintama Rantaro movie in Fall 2024.
The exhibit itself definitely represents the history of the town, as it is featured in a remodeled elementary school, now acting as a cultural center for such events.
The Giant Tetsujin 28 Statue
Not far from the Nintama Rantarou gallery is the town of Kobe Nagata, which has greatly attracted anime and manga enthusiasts since 2007, all flocking to see…
Also known as Gigantor abroad, Tetsujin 28 sits in Wakamatsu Park, his protective presence greatly felt across the area. The project was first launched in 2007 with the mission of recreating a lifesize statue of the character, and has since become a popular tourist spot attracting worldwide fans.
Completely made of steel (living up to the name “Tetsu”, which means steel in Japanese!), the statue stands at an astounding 18m tall, with a massive weight of 50 tons!
Closing Thoughts
Hyogo Prefecture offers so many spots of fans of both classic and modern anime, from Nintama Rantarou and Tetsujin 28 to the Fate series and more, there is definitely something in store for you to explore!
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