Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is a Japanese manga by Hitoshi Ashinano. The title is usually translated as "Record of a Yokohama Shopping Trip" or "A Yokohama Shopping Log"; it's often shortened to YKK by fans outside of Japan. The series ran in the monthly manga anthology, Afternoon (published by Kodansha) from 1994 to 2006.
Although it has yet to be officially translated and published in an English language version, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is often praised as a masterpiece of both art and storytelling. It's usually classified as science fiction or as a seinen series (aimed at older male audiences), but it also falls into the iyashikei (roughly translated as "healing") category; iyashikei is a label for slice-of-life stories with a cathartic or soothing quality.
Background of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Manga
The series opens with Alpha Hatsuseno, an android, setting out on one of her periodic trips to Yokohama to buy coffee beans to use in her isolated cafe, Cafe Alpha, in rural Japan. Her creator (who gave her his surname, and whom she calls "Owner") left on a trip some time ago, perhaps indefinitely; Alpha chose to stay behind to run the cafe, and to experience life in and around her home. The cafe is actually a part of her house, and, being far off the beaten track, receives very little business.
Through Alpha's rather naive but perceptive eyes, the reader learns about the world in which she lives. The earth has apparently survived a cataclysmic event, resulting in changes in geography and nature (e.g. hugely altered shorelines, giant vegetables, and strange new plants), and a slow dwindling of the human race.
However, these dramatic events occurred long before the start of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou; Alpha's life is a peaceful one, full of quiet discovery, cherished friendships, and inevitable change. While Alpha is essentially immortal (barring catastrophic mechanical failure, which happily never happens), the manga follows her emotional growth and maturity even as her few close friends change in ways she never can. Her journeys touch on several reoccurring themes throughout the series.
The Passing of Time and Mono no aware
As the manga progresses from volumes 1 to 14, characters also change and grow. The passing of time within the story almost matches the time it took to publish the entire series. Through it all, Alpha remains the only constant, and she patiently waits in her secluded cafe for her occasional customers (no matter how sporadic their visits, they remain her "regulars") to visit.
In fact, it seems that Alpha herself is the visitor; her life and influence are temporary fixtures in the constantly shifting lives of human neighbours Takahiro, Makki, and Ojisan. Yet throughout the series, Alpha learns that even she, indefinite and static as her life may seem, has the potential to change. Her creativity in dance, music, and art, as well as her spontaneous personality are evidence of this. And, upon returning from a year-long journey, she remarks that for the first time since she was "born", she feels as if she has grown older.
The concept of mono no aware, or sensitivity to ephemeral things, is often used to describe this manga. Alpha's tranquil acceptance of her friends' aging, and of the memories they've given her are key to Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou's appeal.
The Balance Between Humanity and Nature
As more of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou's version of Japan is revealed in the manga, it becomes obvious that humankind is fading away and that nature is reasserting itself in a gentle and (pardon the pun) organic way. Comically large sunflowers, chestnuts, and persimmons show up in unexpected places. A more bizarre example is that some other plants appear to be growing in the shape of old buildings; a beautiful example in volumer 8, chapter 71, has living streetlamps that have sprouted along the route of a long unused footpath. Finally, the "water god" in chapter 21 has a childlike form and brain waves, although it grew from the earth and never changes. These can be also be considered memorials to humans and their passing.
The Connection Between Humans and Robots
The origin of androids like Alpha are never fully explained, although the lives of other side characters hint at the history of the A7 robot model: there are clues that Director Alpha and the Misago are early prototypes, and Koumi'ishi Sensei's involvement in their development is referred to very briefly on several occasions.
On a more general level, machines and robots to remind Alpha (and therefore the reader) of the ephemeral nature and emotional richness of human life. Alpha's encounters with forgotten but still functioning machines (a vending machine in a country field, an old abandoned engine, even her handgun) contrast her longevity with the relatively brief lives of her human neighbours.
At the same time, the extreme reaction of Alpha and Kokone to certain tastes, sounds or sights suggests that A7 androids were designed to be especially attuned to sensation and to feel emotion. So, though it's never explicitly explained or mentioned, it appears that Alpha and her kindred were meant to somehow be a testimony or legacy of human emotion and experience.
Conclusion: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Manga, Anime, and More
Unfortunately, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou isn't available in English (at least, in any official printed versions). The original Japanese version is for sale through various online retailers, and there have been two animated versions with accompanying soundtracks, three drama CDs, and a companion/sequel novel of the series...all untranslated. Nevertheless, it's worth the effort to track down this beautiful manga, with its breathtaking art, engaging characters, and painstakingly detailed story.
Manga Series Similar to Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou
- Aria by Kozue Amano
- Aqua by Kozue Amano
- Kino no Tabi (Kino's Journey) by Keiichi Sigsawa & illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi
- Emma by Kaoru Mori
- Shirley by Kaoru Mori
- Click here for more manga for mature readers
Liane Tsui - Liane Tsui is a publishing professional in Toronto, Ontario. As a graduate of the publishing program at Centennial College, people often ...
