Interest
Old Japanese Military Ruins Draw Castle in the Sky Cosplayers
posted on by Bamboo Dong
Cosplayers have been gravitating towards an old, long-abandoned military fortress on the Tomogashima islands, a group of four uninhabited islands in the southern part of Osaka Bay. Some have been using it as a backdrop for Laputa: Castle in the Sky photoshoots, inspired by its lush vegetation and quiet corridors.
The Meiji Era fortress didn't serve as direct inspiration for any of the scenes in Laputa, per se, but it evokes memories of a scene in which the film's two main characters find a large abandoned building overrun with tree roots. As cosplayer Shino Nakagawa told the Asahi Shimbum, "I feel as though I strayed into the world of the anime... I feel that time stops here."
The islands were a military post for the imperial Japanese military in the Meiji Era, allowing soldiers to bombard ships entering Osaka Bay. The islands were opened to civilians after World War II, but it wasn't until the past few years that tourism has become popular. Last year, 31,000 tourists visited the islands. The ruins still feature standing stairs, military facilities, and original gun mounts.
Travelers who can't make it to the ruins can also find their little slice of Laputa paradise in Tokyo at the Laputa Asagaya theater, located in a building inspired by the Ghibli film. In addition to a 50-seat cinema, it also boasts plenty of aesthetic features, like a winding wooden staircase, a fish tank, a small pond, and plenty of greenery.
While the theater originally specialized in anime films, it has since branched out to also include older Japanese films. Those hungry after an afternoon at the movies can stop by the restaurant or change things up with a stage show.
Source: Asahi Shimbum, Rocketnews24; images from Haikyo.org, Wakayama City Tourist Association, Cosp.jp, Golden Sharehouse, Asagaya Navi, MAST
