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There's a certain panda that features prominently in the manga Jashin-chan Dropkick. It was also adapted into the anime once. There's a whole ordeal about who gets to ride it... well, it doesn't really matter. Just look up "Lierre panda" on youtube to see what I'm talking about. Actually, here, I'll embed a clip.
The important thing is: that panda exists in real life. Less than a mile south of Jinbocho, there is a place called Kinkin Plaza that looks almost exactly as it's depicted in the manga. It's become somewhat of a tourist attraction for the Japanese fans of the show.
The sense of alienation can't be understated. The panda is a lot smaller than it is depicted as in the show, about 20 inches or knee height. There's literally nothing else there. There's barely any foot traffic in the nearby streets. The panda is all alone in a plaza surrounded by hostile anti-homeless benches and a dirty wall covered in pipes n the heart of the Tokyo metropolitan area. It really makes you wonder what they were thinking when they put a toy for children in a place like this.
But that's all been said before. However, there's something that no one seems to pay attention to. That sign a few feet away from the panda. What does it say? That's the question I traveled 6500 miles to answer. (The other signs were just unrelated flyers.)
Here's a basic translation which I received from google translate.
Kanda Mishikicho "Kin-Kin Park"
Kin-Kin Park
Close to your daily life. A neighborhood plaza in Mishikicho that connects you to the town.
Open from 7:00 to 19:00
Kanda Mishikicho 3-chome Kin-Kin Plaza is a plaza and playground open to the public by the Urban Renaissance Agency, with the hope of connecting people with each other and expanding the circle of local activities and community.
REQUESTS TO ALL USERS OF THE PLAZA:
- Please take your trash with you.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please be do not to run out into the street.
- Please share the space with others.
- Please do not make loud noises.
- Do not use fire.
- Do not smoke cigarettes (including heated and electronic cigarettes).
- Please do not sleep in the area.
- Please do not enter vehicles.
- Do not play with balls.
- Please do not swing golf clubs or bats.
- Please do not use skateboards, etc.
- Please refrain from parking bicycles and motorcycles.
Please do not engage in any other activities that may be a nuisance to users or neighbors.
Warning: We are not responsible for any accidents caused by users. If you wish to post a notice on event bulletin board, please contact us in advance.
So there you have it. Mystery solved. It just a massive list of rules and regulations for using the plaza. Totally normal. NOT! I mean, most of these seem reasonable, though, such considerations apply to all of Tokyo, so why did they need to write them down? Are people going to assume that just because there's a panda, it's suddenly okay to litter and... (checks notes) commit arson?
"Children must be accompanied by adults" Really? It's a panda ride for children? They sit on it and rock it back and forth. Do they really need adult supervision for that? Children are very independent in Japan. Try to picture in your mind's eye: a young mother, sitting on one of those anti-homeless benches and watching her daughter rock the panda back and forth amongst the rusty pipes and astroturf. And she's crying.
"Open from 7:00 to 19:00" So what? It's closed the rest of the time? How do you close a plaza? There's no fences or anything; it's literally just a panda in a square on the side of the street. What are you gonna do if you catch a kid there at 20:00? Throw him out? Arrest him for the crime of riding a panda after hours?
"We are not responsible for any accidents caused by users" This is the most perplexing one of all. It's a rocking panda. It's two feet tall. What kind of accidents are you anticipating?
Such a prominent list of oppressive rules and regulations only further drives in the feeling of alienation and isolation, yet it proudly boasts that the plaza will "connect you to the town"! It almost feels intentional, doesn't it? Like the whole area is an abstract art piece. We empathize with the panda. It's locked in place, bound to rock back and forth on its stand forever. We, too, are locked in place, moving back and forth from home, school, work, the store, ect., surrounded by ugly buildings, artificial grass and oppressive nonsensical rules. The plaza name itself is cartoonishly upbeat. I believe "Kin-kin" is the Japanese word for the sound of happiness. Perhaps a parody of the forced positivity in Japan's workforce?
I don't know. I'm tired.
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