Station Idol Latch! Turns the Yamanote Train Line Into 30 Male Tokyo-Inspired Anime Idols

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Ever taken the Yamanote Line? Tokyo’s most beloved train has now become Tokyo’s most beloved idol project. See the stations sing and dance!



If you’ve ever been to Tokyo, chances are you've spent some time on the JR Yamanote Line, the train line that circles central Tokyo and brings endless waves of passengers to their jobs, schools, and other destinations of all kinds, each and every day. But while riding that busy Tokyo train, with its bright green signage and humdrum interiors, did you ever think of turning it into a team of male idols? A group of train-themed pretty boy pop singers and entertainers?

You probably thought nothing of the sort, but the people at AAO Project, made of three Japanese production companies, well they sure did. Officially partnering with JR East—the eastern section of Japan Railways—the AAO Project has created the Yamanote-Line-themed idol project “Station Idol Latch!,” a group of 30 fictional, animated idols, here to steal your heart with plans for an anime, manga, games, novelizations, music releases, concerts, idol events, and much more. All of this starting with a weekly voice drama, which will start streaming (along with its new theme song) on their YouTube channel on June 3rd, featuring a handful of popular voice actors (with many more to come). It’s a lot!



So, who are these animated male idols? The Station Idol Latch! group is made of 30 characters, one for each of the 30 stations on the Yamanote Line. Not only is each of the idols designed to reflect his own particular train station, but in the fiction of the project, the characters also have day jobs as train station attendants, spending their working ours in their plain old station uniforms before transforming into a flamboyant group of singing, dancing idols after hours. Because the Yamanote Line travels through a wide variety of Tokyo neighborhoods, the characters are also made to reflect that with a diversity of styles, hobbies, and backgrounds. So, who are these beautiful boys? Let me introduce you to a few of the idols representing some of Tokyo’s most famous train stations, along with a couple unique characters who hail from stations you might have never stepped foot in!



Tokyo Station ・ Rion Shoji (東海林鈴音)
Voice Actor: Kensho Ono (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Kuroko's Basketball)

Rion Shoji looks awfully blond-hair/blue-eyed to represent Tokyo Station, but his profile says he’s the “Face of Latch!,” and the official “leader of the group.” As an idol, the character's personality and performances are so overwhelmingly majestic and impressive that people think of him as the “emperor” of the group, but keeping up that image apparently gives Rion terrible anxiety and stomach pains. Surprisingly dark for a fictional idol. On the other hand, his hobby is apparently going to different supermarkets, so Rion sounds like a complicated guy.



Harajuku Station ・ Kyuto Takeshita (竹下宮斗)
Voice Actor: TBA

Kyuto’s colorful Harajuku-style idol outfit might be the first thing you notice, but like many of the members, his name is a not-so-subtle reference to his own part of Tokyo as well. "Kyuto" is, well, definitely supposed to sound like the English word “cute,” which is all too appropriate for the kawaii-obsessed Harajuku neighborhood, and the idol’s last name “Takeshita” is also the name of the popular, crowded Harajuku shopping street that many people associate closely with the unique culture of the area. The character has a charming backstory too: coming from a family connected to Shinto shrines, Kyuto respects those Japanese traditions despite being a total Harajuku kid, and hopes to build bridges between Tokyo and his hometown to help to bring traditional Japanese culture back to the people of the big city. You can actually see that while the character's colorful jacket totally works with the Harajuku theme, the print looks like it could be traditional Japanese hanafuda cards. 

Big dreams!



Akihabara Station ・ Yusei Raiden (雷電遊生)
Voice Actor: TBA

In his uniform, he kind of just looks like any real-life station attendant, but in “idol mode” Yusei’s got that otaku vibe, complete with the uchiwa fan and glowing stick lights you’d expect from any idol otaku. The hobbies and likes in his profile appear to reflect his Akihabara theming—retro games, VR experiences, sleep, food—but he turns out to be a bit of an oddball. I guess that’s appropriate for Akihabara, too. In fact, because the character is said to get sleepy even in the lively Akihabara neighborhood, his profile describes him as being “like a bear,” and they add that at first glance Yusei only seems to be interested in pursuing basic desires: food, sleep, and “love.” Interesting choice for an idol.



Ueno Station ・ Yo Ameya (飴屋楊)
Voice Actor: TBA

This character is described as “an eccentric oddball from a family connected to the arts,” which makes sense when you consider that many people get off the train in Ueno to visit the museums scattered in and around Ueno Park. Yo apparently spends his free time in the Ueno museums and at Ueno Zoo, animal watching and people watching, but really, I’m most entertained by this character’s name. Another obvious reference, the name (particularly when called “Ameya Yo” as you would in Japan) sounds all too similar to “Ameya Yokocho,” a popular shopping street running south of Ueno Station.



Shinjuku Station ・ Yuki Shindo (神堂唯姫)

Voice Actor: Atsushi Tamaru (Silver Spoon, Haikyu)

Shinjuku Station is a sprawling, maze-like complex under and overground, connecting what seems like a million train lines and a million little corners of the busy, lively Shinjuku neighborhood. The Shinjuku Station idol Yuki Shindo is a conceited, "doll-faced," cold-hearted pretty boy who apparently likes his alone time, doesn't like mistakes, and can’t hold his liquor. Probably not what I would have guessed for Shinjuku, a lively center for business, shopping, culture, food, and just about everything else… But maybe this ruthless perfectionist is how Tokyoites really see Shinjuku?



Okachimachi Station ・ Mario Takara (高良摩利央)
Voice Actor: TBA

Moving on to a less famous station: nestled between Ueno and Akihabara, Okachimachi Station doesn’t draw a lot of travelers, but in the universe of Latch!, it is where you’ll find this flashy young train station employee with inexplicable Rum Tim Tugger vibes. The character's profile says that Mario was born into a family of new money, giving him a love of flashy extravagance and a naive, pure heart. Basically, he acts like a kid and really loves cash, plus his name “Takara” sounds like the word for “treasure.” What can I say, clearly he was born this way.



Komagome Station ・ Satsuki Hanabusa (英皐月)
Voice Actor: TBA

You may have passed through Komagome Station if you love Japanese gardens enough to visit Rikugien, famous for its different landscapes and one big weeping cherry blossom tree. And chances are, Rikugien Gardens played a big part in designing this character. Despite the pretense that his full-time job is as a station attendant, Satsuki is described as a florist who knows all about plants and the language of flowers, with a mysterious atmosphere and lots of secret admirers. Apparently, he doesn’t particularly like people though. As he often forgets names and faces, he has a habit of connecting people to flowers they remind him of, and then calling them by that flower’s name instead. Is that what people want in an idol? Apparently, that is what some people want in an idol. He does have great style.



As a Tokyo resident, there’s something so incredibly entertaining in seeing all the stations I walk through and ride past so frequently, each as a unique character, and it’s been too much fun looking through how the project’s creators have imagined each of these 30 characters’ backgrounds, personalities, and unique idol styles. We can only guess at some of the connections that seem to be drawn between each neighborhood and its idol, leaving us searching through the profiles for easter eggs. While nobody on the Japankuru team is usually much of an idol fan, the unusual theme of this project has us all interested to see where Station Idol Latch! goes from here, and how it will continue to connect with the JR Yamanote Line as it grows.

▶︎ Images and information from the official Station Idol Latch! website.

For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!

Details

NAME:Station Idol Latch!

ACCESS:Yamanote Line (山手線)

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

https://latch.jp/

PROFILE

I came to Japan for a semester abroad, and I've been here ever since, so I guess I just can't get enough of the place. Tell me all the cool Japan-related things you know on instagram or twitter @japankuru !

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      Yamagata Prefecture is up against the Sea of Japan, in the southern part of the Tohoku region, and it's especially popular in winter, when travelers soak in the onsen (hot springs) and ski down snowy slopes. International skiiers are especially fond of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and Gassan Ski Resort, and in recent years visitors have been drawn to the area to see the mystical sight of local frost-covered trees. Some destinations are popular regardless of the season, like Risshakuji Temple, AKA Yamadera, Ginzan Onsen's nostalgic old-fashioned streets, and Zao's Okama Lake, all great for taking pictures. Yamagata is also the place to try Yonezawa beef, one of the top 3 varieties of wagyu beef.

    • Japan's most densely populated area, the Kanto Region (関東地方) includes 7 prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa, which means it also contains the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. In modern-day Japan, Kanto is the cultural, political, and economic heartland of the country, and each prefecture offers something a little different from its neighbors.

    • Gunma Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and in addition to the area's popular natural attractions like Oze Marshland and Fukiware Falls, Gunma also has a number of popular hot springs (Kusatsu, Ikaho, Minakami, Shima)―it's even called an Onsen Kingdom. The prefecture is popular with history buffs and train lovers, thanks to spots like world heritage site Tomioka Silk Mill, the historic Megane-bashi Bridge, and the Watarase Keikoku Sightseeing Railway.

    • TOCHIGI

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      Tochigi Prefecture's capital is Utsunomiya, known for famous gyoza, and just an hour from Tokyo. The prefecture is full of nature-related sightseeing opportunities year-round, from the blooming of spring flowers to color fall foliage. Tochigi also has plenty of extremely well-known sightseeing destinations, like World Heritage Site Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji, and Ashikaga Flower Park―famous for expansive wisteria trellises. In recent years the mountain resort town of Nasu has also become a popular excursion, thanks in part to the local imperial villa. Tochigi is a beautiful place to enjoy the world around you.

    • Tokyo (東京) is Japan's busy capital, and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. While the city as a whole is quite modern, crowded with skyscrapers and bustling crowds, Tokyo also holds onto its traditional side in places like the Imperial Palace and Asakusa neighborhood. It's one of the world's top cities when it comes to culture, the arts, fashion, games, high-tech industries, transportation, and more.

    • The Chubu Region (中部地方) is located right in the center of Japan's main island, and consists of 9 prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. It's primarily famous for its mountains, as the region contains both Mt. Fuji and the Japanese Alps. The ski resorts in Niigata and Nagano also draw visitors from around the world, making it a popular winter destination.

    • Nagano Prefecture's popularity starts with a wealth of historic treasures, like Matsumoto Castle, Zenkoji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine, but the highlight might just be the prefecture's natural vistas surrounded by the "Japanese Alps." Nagano's fruit is famous, and there are plenty of places to pick it fresh, and the area is full of hot springs, including Jigokudani Monkey Park―where monkeys take baths as well! Thanks to the construction of the Hokuriku shinkansen line, Nagano is easily reachable from the Tokyo area, adding it to plenty of travel itineraries. And after the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, ski resorts like Hakuba and Shiga Kogen are known around the world.

    • Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.

    • NIIGATA

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      Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.

    • SHIZUOKA

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      Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.

    • Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.

    • Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.

    • Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.

    • Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.

    • CHUGOKU

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      The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.

    • HIROSHIMA

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      Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.

    • SHIKOKU

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      On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).

    • Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.

    • Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!

    • FUKUOKA

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      Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.

    • KAGOSHIMA

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

    • OKINAWA

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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