The popular manga series by Ryoko Nagarari, "Hokukoku Yurayura Kikou" (A Leisurely Journey Through the North Country), serialized in the monthly manga magazine "Gessan," is now the focus of a replica art exhibition. The event is being held in Yakumo Town at "kodamado," a shop for wood-carved bears and books, and the "Yakumo Town Wood-Carved Bear Museum." Come experience the charm of the scenes set in Yakumo and the wood-carved bears featured in the story.

Experience the world of the manga "Hokukoku Yurayura Kikou" in its setting, Yakumo Town

"Hokukoku Yurayura Kikou," a lifestyle manga currently serialized in Shogakukan's monthly magazine "Gessan," is a story about the protagonist, Tsukiko, who re-examines her life through travel and daily experiences with her friend Chitose and their share house companions. In the latest second volume, the characters discover a "wood-carved bear" hidden away in their share house and visit Yakumo Town to trace its roots.

Exhibition view at "kodamado," a shop for wood-carved bears and books

At the replica art exhibition currently held at "kodamado" and the "Yakumo Town Wood-Carved Bear Museum" (*), you can see replica art pages alongside production comments and the actual wood-carved bears that appeared in the manga.

Exhibition view at the "Yakumo Town Wood-Carved Bear Museum"

By visiting both venues, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the charm of the wood-carved bears and Yakumo Town, which form the backdrop for each scene.

*Replica art is also on display at "Bōyō Nakayama Roadside Station" (Nakayama Pass) and "Tōya Mizu no Eki" (Lake Toya Town), where the protagonists stopped on their way from Sapporo to Yakumo by car.

At "kodamado," replica art is displayed with comments from the author

At "kodamado," in addition to the author's comments on each scene, there is an interview titled "Tell Us! Ms. Ryoko Nagarari." She talks about her experiences while researching in Yakumo and how her perception of wood-carved bears changed after her visit.

The author's greeting and interview displayed at the back of the venue

For example, regarding her wood-carving experience at Yūyū Kōbō, which also appears in the manga, she says, "(After the experience) I realized that it takes a great deal of skill as an artist to create a bear with a 'fine presence.'" This conveys Ryoko Nagarari's deep respect for wood-carved bears.

A specially drawn illustration. Due to the exhibition's popularity, the period has been extended to August 30th

Chizuru Aonuma, who runs kodamado, says, "(From the manga scenes and interview) I felt that Ms. Nagarari was deeply moved by the profoundness of the wood-carved bears' forms and the process of the pioneers who pursued them as a form of peasant art. I felt a sense of validation, thinking, 'Yes, that's the core of it,' and I was very happy that she took an interest in how these wood-carved bears are a natural part of the town's scenery."

The Kumabori Goshukuma-in stamps are modeled after the wood-carved bears found in each shop

At the venue, a map called "Yakumo and Bear Carving" is distributed. If you make a purchase at one of the listed shops, you can get a "Kumabori Goshukuma-in" stamp.

The kodamado Kumabori Goshukuma-in is modeled after a sitting bear by Kiyotaka Masuda (nicknamed "Madonna")

The Kumabori Goshukuma-in stamps are so adorable that I managed to get four during my few-hour stay. "The map has no expiration date, so we hope people will collect them over many years," says Ms. Aonuma. After collecting stamps with the map in hand, why not savor delicious yakiniku at the Furuya Yakiniku-sha butcher shop featured in the manga, or enjoy a day trip to the hot springs at Oboko-sō? Be sure to fully enjoy Yakumo Town and its wood-carved bears, the setting of the story!