Yi Piao, known for the original idea for the popular manga "Tonkatsu DJ Agetaro" (Shueisha), which has been adapted into an anime and a movie, published his first novel, "Mystery Solving!? Team Fukutoshin (1) Search for the hidden treasure that disappeared in Shinjuku... Are you going to find it!?" (JTB Publishing) on February 16th. While it has the appearance of a junior novel featuring a trio of fifth-grade boys and girls, the characters and plot are filled with outlandish individuality, making it a work that adults can also enjoy. We spoke to Yi Piao about it.
The story is set in Shinjuku and is a mystery about elementary school students trying to solve a mystery while being manipulated by eccentric adults. However, Yipiao says, "There is an element of mystery-solving, but it's not really a mystery..." He continues, "The adults who unintentionally create a mystery, and the protagonists who enthusiastically try to solve the mystery and cause a big commotion. I hope you enjoy the humanity of these adults, their quirks and silliness."
The strong personalities of the characters are a major feature of this work. For example, the three main characters are Taito, a resident of Ikebukuro whose brother is a famous baseball player at a powerhouse school, but who quietly keeps a low profile; Arare, the daughter of an ice shop owner in Shinjuku who has a shallow sense of humor and loves ice and dancing; and Shunya, who lives in an upscale Shibuya neighborhood and is so determined to reach the pinnacle of quiz-making that even his everyday conversations tend to sound like quizzes. Adding to the mix are the owner of a shady bar who likes to disguise himself, the family of the founder of a long-established confectionery manufacturer who relies on fortune-telling, and a mysterious long-haired office worker who sings well, further twisting the story. Yipiao, currently a writer in charge of the composition and planning of the "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) end-of-issue column "End of Volume Liberation Zone! WEEKLY Shu-chan," reflects, "I think this work was possible thanks to my exposure to so many unique personalities, including serialized works and reader submissions."
Another thing that is essential to talking about this work is Yi-Piao's extraordinary love for the city. The history and characteristics of Shinjuku, the setting of the story, are the key to solving the mystery.
"The high-rise buildings at the west exit, which still retain the remnants of the former water purification plant, and the chaotic atmosphere at the east exit, which represents the so-called 'Shinjuku culture', are the setting for the story. Since I was setting it in Shinjuku, I wanted to make the charm of the city the central focus of the story," explains Yipiao. "When I was pressed for a deadline, I holed myself up in a co-working space in Nishi-Shinjuku and wrote the manuscript. I was struggling to think of how to make the ending exciting, and by writing it in Nishi-Shinjuku, I was able to come up with a development that was unique to Shinjuku."
As the protagonists pursue the mystery, they are shown what becomes of the "summer spectacle of Shinjuku" that they visit, and the "things typical of Shinjuku" that turn into a big commotion. The story is designed to be enjoyable for readers who live in Tokyo as well as those who do not.
"The story is set in Shinjuku, but every town has its own history and its own unique charm. Nothing would make me happier than if even one more reader were to become interested in a town."
The title "Fukutoshin" (Suburban Center) refers to the fact that the protagonists' homes in Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, and Shibuya are connected by the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line. The second volume has already been announced, set in Shibuya. Shibuya was a center of youth culture and a hub for IT companies from the 1990s to the early 2000s, and is currently undergoing a major construction project said to be "once in a century." Yipiao expressed his enthusiasm for his next work, saying, "Against the backdrop of the construction project, there are the bustling Center Street, the towering skyscrapers, the underground drainage systems at the base, the hills that surround it on all sides...there are so many elements to the story that it's hard to choose. I just want to create an entertaining and fun portrayal of the Reiwa era's quirky elementary school students as they run through the city and through the times."
