Yokohama Shopping Trip: The appeal of a unique world view and deep story

Yokohama Shopping Trip - A Story of Everyday Life and Robots in Silence

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

comics

■ Release date

May 25, 1998, May 25, 1998 (Volume 1), December 25, 1998 (Volume 2) 30 minutes per episode, 3 episodes per volume

■Release and sales

・Publisher: Sony Music Entertainment

■Frequencies

29 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 3

■Original Story

Hitoshi Ashinano

■ Director

Takashi Ano

■ Production

Asia Hall

■ Story

As a result of rising sea levels due to global warming, modern scientific civilization has sunk beneath the sea in Yokohama, Japan. This is a heartwarming story about Alpha, a humanoid robot who runs a coffee shop there and lives a peaceful daily life with the people around her. Alpha has been working at Cafe Alpha, a small coffee shop on the western cape, for years, waiting for the owner to return home. She accepts her fate as a robot as a "unique part of her personality" and lives her life with the customers at the coffee shop and the people around her...

■Explanation

This OVA is based on the manga of the same name by Hitoshi Ashinano, which was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine. It contains six chapters in two volumes. The story is set in a near-future Japan where sea levels have risen. In addition to this OVA, there are also drama CDs and a second season of the OVA. The second season, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou - Quiet Country Cafe -, was produced with a completely new staff.

■Cast

・Alpha/Hekiru Shiina ・Kokone/Akiko Nakagawa ・Uncle/Mikio Terashima ・Takahiro/Akio Suyama ・Teacher/Ikuko Sugita ・Driver/Kazuo Oka

■ Main staff

・Director, storyboard, and direction: Takashi Ano ・Character design and character supervision: Atsushi Yamagata ・Scene setting and animation director: Masayuki Sekine ・Art director: Shunichiro Yoshihara ・Art setting: Hiroshi Kato, Akihiro Hirasawa ・Color setting: Yuko Kobari ・Director of photography: Seiichi Morishita, Akio Saito ・Editor: Masaki Sakamoto ・Sound director: Aya Mizoguchi ・Music producer: GONTITI
Producers: Ryuji Kato, Seiji Suzuki, Masahiro Okamura Animation: Asiado Production: Sony Music Entertainment OP
・"Cafe Alpha"
・Composition: GONTITI

・ED
・"Closing time"
・Composition: GONTITI

・IN1
・"Distant Town"
・Lyrics and composition: GONTITI
・Song: Alpha

・IN2
・"The wind was blowing"
・Lyrics and composition: GONTITI
・Song: Alpha

■ Main Characters

The Uncle is a regular customer at Cafe Alpha and runs a gas station nearby. In exchange for not paying for the gas for Alpha's favorite scooter, he gets free coffee at the cafe.

Takahiro: A boy who often comes to Cafe Alpha. He lives with his uncle.

・Teacher The owner of Cafe Alpha. He left the cafe in Alpha's care and hasn't returned for years. His whereabouts are still unknown.

■ Main robot items

・Hatsuseno Alpha The main character is a female robot with a green ponytail. Her model name is A7M2 (mass production prototype). She never ages and runs a coffee shop while waiting for the owner, who goes out and doesn't come back for years.

Takatsu Kokone: Like Alpha, she is a female robot. Her model name is A7M3 (mass-produced). She works at Musashino Transport as a "handbag delivery" clerk. While she is finding her way as a robot, she is also searching for her roots.

■Subtitle

Episode 1 / 2/2 AM
Episode 2 / 1:00 PM
・Episode 3/Navi・Episode 4/Rain and After・Episode 5/The Wind Was Blowing・Episode 6/Yokosuka Cruise

■ Related works

・OVA "Yokohama Shopping Trip -Quiet Country Cafe-"

■ Theme songs and music

・OP
・"Cafe Alpha"
・Composition: GONTITI

・ED
・"Closing time"
・Composition: GONTITI

・IN1
・"Distant Town"
・Lyrics and composition: GONTITI
・Song: Alpha

・IN2
・"The wind was blowing"
・Lyrics and composition: GONTITI
・Song: Alpha

Yokohama Shopping Trip - A Story of Everyday Life and Robots in Silence

"Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" is set in a near-future Japan where sea levels have risen due to global warming. This work is particularly loved by many fans for its depiction of the tranquility and peace after the city of Yokohama sinks underwater. The main character, Alpha, is a female robot who runs a coffee shop called "Cafe Alpha," and the story depicts human emotions and the beauty of life through her daily life.

The appeal of the story

The story of "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" revolves around Alpha's daily life as she runs a coffee shop. While she waits for the owner to return home, she spends quiet time interacting with regular customers and locals. The appeal of this work lies above all in its silence and peace. It depicts a life away from the hustle and bustle of modern society, coexisting with nature, giving viewers a sense of peace of mind. It is also moving to see Alpha, despite being a robot, have emotions, worries, and grow just like a human.

Character Appeal

Alpha is a female robot with a distinctive green ponytail. Her kindness and strength resonate with many viewers. In particular, her constant wait for her owner's return is portrayed as a symbol of loyalty and love. Alpha's friend Kokone is also a fascinating character. It is impressive to see her searching for her roots while also finding her way as a robot. Furthermore, unique characters such as the regular customer, the boy Takahiro, and the missing owner "Sensei" enrich the story.

Beautiful images and music

The visual beauty of "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" skillfully expresses the silence and natural beauty of the near future. Director Takashi Yasuno's delicate direction, combined with Asiado's careful animation, creates a world view that draws the viewer in. Music also plays an important role. GONTITI's beautiful melodies further enhance the atmosphere of the story and move the viewer's heart. In particular, "Toi Machi" (Distant Town) and "Kaze ga Fuite Ita" (The Wind Was Blow) sung by Alpha are beautiful songs that symbolize the theme of the work.

Related Works and Developments

"Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" was not only made into an OVA, but also a drama CD and a sequel OVA "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou -Quiet Country Cafe-". In particular, the sequel had a new staff and the story was told from a new perspective. Through these related works, you can enjoy the world of the work even more deeply. In addition, the original manga was serialized in "Monthly Afternoon" and contains many episodes that were not depicted in the OVA. For fans, reading the original manga will allow you to feel the charm of the work even more.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" is a beautiful work that depicts silence and peace. This work, which depicts the coexistence of robots and humans, harmony with nature, and the beauty of everyday life, has touched many viewers. It is especially recommended for those who seek peace of mind and who want to enjoy quiet time. It is also a perfect work for those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music. Please try to feel the silence and peace of Yokohama in the near future through this work.

Further information and recommendations

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou was released as an OVA in 1998. It contains 6 episodes divided into 2 volumes, each consisting of a short episode of about 29 minutes. It is based on the manga of the same name by Ashinano Hitoshi, which was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon. The OVA was produced by Asiado and directed by Anno Takashi. The music was composed by GONTITI, and the beautiful melodies enhance the atmosphere of the work.

The story is set in a near-future Japan where sea levels have risen due to global warming. It is particularly notable for its depiction of the tranquility and peace after the city of Yokohama has been submerged under the sea. The main character, Alpha, is a female robot who runs a coffee shop called "Cafe Alpha," and the story depicts the beauty of human emotions and life through her daily life. The story is enriched by a variety of unique characters, including Alpha's friend Kokone, a regular customer, the boy Takahiro, and the missing owner "Sensei."

The appeal of "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" lies above all in its silence and peace. It depicts a life of coexistence with nature, away from the hustle and bustle of modern society, giving viewers a sense of peace of mind. It is also moving to see Alpha, a robot, have emotions, worries, and grow just like a human. The visual beauty is also stunning, and the delicate direction of director Takashi Ano combined with the careful drawings by Asiado creates a world view that draws the viewer in. Furthermore, the beautiful melodies by GONTITI further enhance the atmosphere of the story and move the viewer's heart.

"Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" was not only made into an OVA, but also a drama CD and a sequel OVA "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou -Quiet Country Cafe-". In particular, the sequel had a new staff and the story was told from a new perspective. Through these related works, you can enjoy the world of the work even more deeply. In addition, the original manga was serialized in "Monthly Afternoon" and contains many episodes that were not depicted in the OVA. For fans, reading the original manga will allow you to feel the charm of the work even more.

"Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou" is a beautiful work that depicts silence and peace. This work, which depicts the coexistence of robots and humans, harmony with nature, and the beauty of everyday life, has touched many viewers. It is especially recommended for those who seek peace of mind and want to enjoy quiet time. It is also a perfect work for those who want to enjoy beautiful images and music. Please try to feel the silence and peace of Yokohama in the near future through this work.