Kameari

In short

Kameari is a town known as the setting of the manga Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo, commonly known as Kochikame. Around the North and South Exits of Kameari Station, a total of 15 bronze statues of characters are placed, starting with the protagonist Ryotsu Kankichi, also known as Ryo-san.

• ​The First Ryo-san Statue​​: Located right outside the North Exit, the first "Ryotsu Kankichi Statue" was erected in 2006.
• ​The Park in the Title​​: In Kameari Park near the North Exit, there are two statues of Ryo-san, and visitors can sit on the bench next to Ryo-san to take photos.
• ​Kochikame Memorial Museum​​: On the South Exit side, there is a memorial museum opened in March 2025 where visitors can enjoy experiencing the world of the work.

History and Highlights

Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo is a long-running manga that began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1976 (Showa 51) and concluded in September 2016. Centered on Ryotsu Kankichi, a police officer working at the police box in front of Kameari Park, the series depicted lively comedies as well as heartwarming, emotional human stories. Kameari is the setting of the work and is also the hometown of its creator, Akimoto Osamu.

In the early Heisei era, as redevelopment was progressing in Kameari, the shopping streets on the north and south sides of the station united to establish the Kameari Area Shopping District Council. Noting that the town was the setting for the work, the council joined forces with Katsushika City to place bronze statues of the characters. Statues have been installed since 2006 (Heisei 18), reaching a total of 15 statues featuring Ryo-san, Nakagawa, Reiko, and others.

Through these initiatives, Kameari has become a town visited by tourists from both within Japan and abroad. On March 22, 2025, the Kochikame Memorial Museum opened on the South Exit side. Based on the concept that Ryo-san took it upon himself to build a memorial museum on top of the police box without permission, the facility allows visitors to enjoy experiencing the world of the work and the charms of Kameari.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Ryo-san and the Police Box at the North Exit​​: Right after leaving the North Exit, the very first "Ryotsu Kankichi Statue" welcomes visitors. It is roughly life-sized. The Kameari Station North Exit Police Box at the North Exit is said to closely resemble the police box that appears in the anime.
• ​Two Ryo-san Statues in Kameari Park​​: Kameari Park, which is included in the title of the work, is located close to the North Exit, about a 1-minute walk from the station. Inside the park are the "Double Peace Sign Ryo-san Statue" and the "Resting Ryo-san Statue" seated on a bench. You can sit on either side of Ryo-san on the bench and take a photo together.
• ​The Color Statue of Three Characters at the South Exit​​: Directly in front of the South Exit stands a statue featuring Ryotsu Kankichi, Nakagawa Keiichi, and Akimoto Reiko side by side. It is the first color statue, and visitors can step between the three characters to take photos.

Tips for Exploring

At the Kameari Information Center, located about a 2-minute walk from the South Exit, you can pick up a "Bronze Statue Tour Map" showing the locations of the bronze statues and manholes. It is convenient to drop by before starting your walk. There are seven shopping streets in front of the station, and following the 15 statues allows you to walk through almost all areas around the station. Along the streets around the station, there are also manhole covers featuring Kochikame illustrations in six locations, so be sure to look at your feet as well. If you walk along the Kameari Ginza Shopping Street "Yu-road" at the South Exit and extend your walk a bit further to Kameari Katori-jinja Shrine, there is also a statue of Ryo-san on the shrine grounds.