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Aomori Prefecture Celebrates Bungo Stray Dogs
posted on by Eric Stimson
Osamu Dazai, a central character in Bungo Stray Dogs, originally hailed from northern Honshu's Aomori Prefecture, and to celebrate its native son and encourage more literary enthusiasts to visit the area, the prefecture is promoting Bungo Stray Dogs — with an emphasis on Dazai, naturally.
First, the local Tsugaru Railway's Run, Melos! train (named after another Dazai work) will change its name to No Longer Human (Dazai's most famous work). It will run through the rest of the year for nine days a month and will contain valuable materials related to the anime.
Aomori Prefecture's convenience and souvenir stores will also stock Bungo Stray Dogs merchandise. Dazai will grace these appetizing-looking coal cookies, which honor the old-fashioned fuel source of the Tsugaru Railway. They cost 1,080 yen ($10.67).
Akiko Yosano features on the bottle of Yume Himeko apple juice, which has the sour taste and distinctive red color of the local apples. It sells for 540 yen ($5.34).
Railway cafes will also sell these "coffee stamps" featuring the Bungo Stray Dogs for 1,000 yen ($9.88). They allow you to get two free cups of coffee. Only 100 exist.
Finally, life-size panels of Bungo Stray Dogs' version of Osamu Dazai will be set up at 15 different locations related to the author, including the Osamu Dazai Memorial Museum.
The promotion will last from October 17 to December 28. If you're curious about the real-life Dazai and Yosano, Rebecca Silverman can fill you in.
