This manga was inspired by my experience at the Funaichi (fermented crucian carp market) in Kashima, Saga Prefecture, as I wanted to depict a local custom that could be linked to the Hifuu series. The original plan was for the RenMerry duo to be repaid with a favor from a carp they released and be invited to a place resembling the Dragon Palace.
The construction of the "Underwater City" in the story had an image of asceticism, similar to the stone-piling at Sai no Kawara, but to soften that, I considered how to make it a more humorous and Touhou-esque development.
Other inspirations came from Hoshino Yukinobu's *The City of Suiten (Professor Munakata's Legendary Studies)* and Morohoshi Daijiro's *The Night of the Sea Dragon Festival (the famous "Please forgive me, Lord Antoku!" story)*.
After that, I didn't make much progress in finding ideas, and the structure became vague, so I decided to gloss over it with a story about drunkards.
"The Night of the Sea Dragon Festival" is a short story from the Youkai Hunter series. The image of Emperor Antoku as a sea snake originates from this, and although it's a horror story, it was such an impactful scene that I've always wanted to depict it.
"Suiten no Miyako" (The City of Suiten) is set in the Chikugo River basin, specifically in Suiten-gu Shrine and Tanushimaru. It tells the story of the relationship between kappa legends and the Heike fugitives. Kurume's Suiten-gu Shrine is the head shrine of all Suiten-gu shrines nationwide and has a history of being built to enshrine Emperor Antoku, who died at a young age.
The story begins with the theory that the Heike, who controlled the Seto Inland Sea and Kyushu with their powerful navy, were associated with kappa by later generations due to their water connection. However, the entire story is not about kappa legends, but rather ends as a memorial service for the children of the Heike clan who died young.●Colophon●
"Carptown"
Publication Date: 2023/06/11
Publisher: Tataragawa Daini
Contact Information: fukunosuka09164@gmail.com
Printing: Graphic Co., Ltd.
The way drunk Merry (casually) confronts the supernatural and races to the conclusion through a forceful method other than a danmaku battle seems like a format that could be applied again in the future.
I'm having trouble finding the right material, but I'd like to draw it again if I get the chance.
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