I kind of grew up with the original Captain Tsubasa show and its video game adaptations. Can’t say I’m a big fan but like my Anime location tours, it gave me a rough guide of somewhere different to explore, namely Katsushika City.

Actually didn’t know about the statue tour until I watched a walking tour of the city appeared on my YouTube suggestions. It didn’t actually go about hunting down the statues. Instead I looked up the station and discovered it.

You can pick up a map at Yotsugi Station or just download a PDF copy. You might also want to appreciate the statues from the back too because they’re quite detailed.

I was originally aiming to start at Yotsugi Station but ended up on an express train heading to Aoto Station instead. Fortunately that was fairly much at the end of the statues trail.

Even Aoto Station already had some Captain Tsubasa art as soon as you got off the train. Quite a lot of foreign tourists as this was one of the stops from Haneda Airport.

Sustainability is all the range these days.

Or at least was until AI happened which requires a lot more power than your conventional computing device...

Outside of the station, there really wasn't anything else pointing you to the statues.

33C, clear skies meant burning hot sun... I hardly passed by any chain stores or even conbinis.

There are your familiar Torii gates and shrines though like Shouyou Shrine here.

And maybe a window stuffed with plushies of Winnie the Pooh.

First and closest statue was the Twin Shoot statue outside the gates of Minami-Katsushika High School.

I think you’re supposed to go up and pose with it…

It was after school time when I arrived so there were quite a lot of students making their way home.

Pretty cool waterfall with calm vibes.

As with every country, there is always a political group that aren't so ethnic friendly. Funnily enough, you don't see these rallying posters around the mainstream tourist spots of course.

Don’t get tobacco vending machines in the UK.

Next up was goalie, Genzo Wakabayashi who was at Tateishi Plaza. Fav goalie to use whenever I’m playing the games, lol.

There was also a manhole with a Licca doll on it… What a combo. Something for boys and girls in the traditional sense.

Area had its fair share of indie stores. Many hair salon places.

I find even the smallest remote areas of Japan has their own night life venues.

Few chain conbinis, restaurants and no big shopping centres but plenty of shopping arcades like this.

Daiso's been quite a lot of help after choosing to stay in a flat this time round. I could stock up on cheap items I don't mind getting rid of when I don't have the luggage space for it.

Just to the side of the shopping arcade was a secluded area where Tateishi Park was.

Tsubasa shows off his heel lift.

Right outside in front of Lawsons you’re greeted by more of the art.

Japan likes to make everything cute.

Next spot was a much larger, Shibue Park. Had quite a lot of flowers and greenery compared to the last spot.

There you'll find Misaki Taro.

Rail crossings are pretty common around Japan but not often you encounter one with two railways.

Our cheerleader girl Sanae Nakazawa was outside the local post office.

This Yotsugi Academy building must be quite old. Probably Taisho Era judging by its aesthetics.

So many small local parks with toilets as you walk around the neighbourhoods. Not something common in the UK. There might be parks but they don't have toilets.

Coach Roberto with Tsubasa was next to an interesting little path.

A lot of places you can see Skytree from but definitely a lot more quiet than walking along Sumida River in Asakusa.

Someone added these little puzzles on the pillars by the side.

The next spot, Yotsugi Tsubasa Park put some more effort into promoting the statue trail.

This particular statue of Tsubasa at Yotsugi Tsubasa Park was surrounded by flowers and had a camera stand for people travelling solo like me.

Last stop was at a similarly named, Yotsugi Park.

Tsubasa’s early rival Kojiro Hyuga who worked as a paper boy was here. His shots sent goal keepers flying and broke the legs of anyone who attempted to tackle him (I think).

At this point I realised the sculptor actually paid attention to details on the back of the statues but too late too work back now.

It was off to Yotsugi Station to take the train back to base.

Whole station was decorated with Captain Tsubasa character art. It's mostly from the recent remake instead of the Manga unlike the rest of the area.

Must be one of Hyuga’s shots that embedded the football above Family Mart. Nice touch from whoever thought of it though.

I think Captain Tsubasa fans might spend a lot of time at the station because there were art everywhere; on the ceiling, the floor, walls, stairs…

And as mentioned earlier, you can pick up a map to tour the statues at the station. Was a nice 5K walk through Katsushika City.

This art while passing through Asakusa reminded me of Sailormoon.

Thought I'd re-visit the Senso Temple area while rush hour was kicking.

“Dismount (No Cars)”… Very Edo vibes.

Passing through the Senso Temple area during sunset with everything closed just gives off different vibes.