Home > TOKYO 東京都 > Katsushika-ku 葛飾区 > Monchicchi Town in Shin-Koiwa モンチッチin新小岩

mo200-20220409_8153.jpg
Shin-Koiwa has been transformed into a Moncchichi town. Go to JR Shin-Koiwa Station (JR Sobu Line) and see Moncchichi most everywhere. Outdoor sculptures, manholes, clock tower, escalator handrails, and bus station signs.モンチッチモニュメント
mo201-20220409_8169.jpg
Bronze Monchicchi statue in front of JR Shin-Koiwa Station's north side (kitaguchi). Plaque reads "To all Monchicchi fans: With love and appreciation, Sekiguchi Koichi" These Moncchichi monuments were unveiled here on January 26, 2022.
mo202-20220409_8199.jpg
Back of the Monchicchi statue. Shin-Koiwa is where Sekiguchi Corporation, the toy company which invented Moncchichi, is based. モンチッチ像
mo203-20220409_8180.jpg
Another Monchicchi monument with seven smaller Monchicchi. These Monchicchi monuments are a good spot to meetup with friends at Shin-Koiwa Station. モンチッチ この指とまれ像
mo204-20220409_8213.jpg
Katsushika Ward/City appointed Moncchichi as Katsushika's "PR Manager" on Dec. 2, 2012. A de facto official mascot.
mo205-20220409_8210.jpg
These Monchicchi monuments were donated by Sekiguchi Koichi, chairman of Sekiguchi Co., Ltd. which created Monchicchi.
mo206-20220409_8419.jpg
Monchicchi Clock Tower was installed in Oct. 2020 in front of JR Shin-Koiwa Station's north entrance. Tower has stained glass Monchicchi artwork. モンチッチ時計塔
mo207-20220409_8422.jpg
Monchicchi Clock Tower in front of JR Shin-Koiwa Station's north entrance. Lights up in the evenings. Good place to meetup in Shin-Koiwa. モンチッチ時計塔
mo208-20220409_8157.jpg
Also at JR Shin-Koiwa Station's north entrance, a large signboard and map including directions to Monchicchi Park.
mo209-20220409_8158.jpg
Map to Monchicchi Park, about a 15-min. walk or short bus ride.
mo210-20220409_8216.jpg
QR code for the Monchicchi web page.
mo211-20220409_8207.jpg
Back of the Moncchichi monuments in front of Shin-Koiwa Station, not to be confused with Koiwa Station. Shin-Koiwa Station is in Katsushika Ward while adjacent Koiwa Station is in Edogawa Ward. They are two different stations easy to mix up.
mo212-20220409_8202.jpg
There's a boy and girl Monchicchi usually depicted as infants sucking their thumbs.
mo213-20220409_8244.jpg
Monchicchi manhole cover near JR Shin-Koiwa Station. Moncchichi manhole covers were installed on both sides of the station in June 2017.
mo214-20220409_8428.jpg
JR Shin-Koiwa Station's North Entrance (JR Sobu Line). The stairs/escalator going up to the Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway to bus stops can be seen on the left.
mo215-20220409_8220.jpg
Escalator handrail decorated with Monchicchi. Way to the Skydeck Tatsumi walkway to the Tohoku Open Space Area (Tohoku Hiroba) bus stops near the train station.
mo216-20220409_8223.jpg
Escalator handrail decorated with Monchicchi.
mo217-20220409_8240.jpg
Escalator handrail decorated with Monchicchi.
mo218-20220409_8418.jpg
Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway to the Tohoku Open Space Area (Tohoku Hiroba) bus stops is decorated with Monchicchi. スカイデッキたつみ
mo219-20220409_8417.jpg
mo220-20220409_8414.jpg
About Monchicchi and Katsushika Ward/City.
mo221-20220409_8226.jpg
Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway to the bus stops is decorated with Monchicchi. スカイデッキたつみ
mo222-20220409_8230.jpg
Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway floor tiles decorated with Monchicchi.
mo223-20220409_8232.jpg
Skydeck Tatsumi pedestrian walkway floor tiles decorated with Monchicchi.
mo224-20220409_8246.jpg
Shin-Koiwa Station's Tohoku Open Space Area (Tohoku Hiroba) bus stop map near Shin-Koiwa Station. Go to bus stop 12 to take the bus to Monchicchi Park. This is on the north side of the station. Other bus stops are elsewhere.
mo225-20220409_8248.jpg
Floral decoration at Shin-Koiwa Station and bus stops.
mo226-20220409_8249.jpg
Shin-Koiwa Station's northeast Tohoku Open Space Area (Tohoku Hiroba) bus stops. Go to bus stop 12 to board the bus for Monchicchi Park. Every October, the Shin-Koiwa Station Tohoku Hiroba Festival is held here and Monchicchi also appears.
mo227-20220409_8254.jpg
Get off here at Kami-Hiraicho stop (上平井町). Even the bus stop signs have Monchicchi.
mo228-20220409_8257.jpg
From the bus stop, follow the signs to the park entrance.
mo229-20220409_8375.jpg
Monchicchi Park is a local public park which also serves as an emergency evacuation zone where nearby residents can seek refuge if homes are damaged in a large earthquake, etc. The new Monchicchi Zone is on the left. モンチッチ公園
mo230-20220409_8368.jpg
The park's main area (evacuation zone) is open 24/7, but Monchicchi Zone is gated and open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during April to September and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during Oct. to March. Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3.
mo231-20220417_8782.jpg
Bulletin board notice about Monchicchi Park unveiling its new expanded areas (Monchicchi Zone and Chibikko Hiroba) on April 2, 2022.
mo232-20220409_8372.jpg
Entrance to the new Monchicchi Zone at Monchicchi Park.
mo233-20220409_8378.jpg
This new Monchicchi Zone has 27 Monchicchi/Sekiguchi statues all donated by the Sekiguchi Koichi, company chairman.
mo234-20220409_8306.jpg
Boy Monchicchi-kun greets you.
mo235-20220409_8305.jpg
Girl Monchicchi-chan greets you.
mo236-20220409_8295.jpg
Monchicchi Zone's centerpiece monument great for selfies. Meet the Monchicchi family. On January 26, 2004, the boy and girl Moncchichi got married on Moncchichi’s 30th anniversary.
mo237-20220409_8311.jpg
The original Moncchichi pair were fraternal twins, but were magically reinvented into a married couple. On October 30, 2004, they had fraternal twin babies (boy and girl) named “Bebichhichi” (ベビチッチ).
mo238-20220409_8312.jpg
Moncchichi-kun now a dad.
mo239-20220409_8313.jpg
Moncchichi-chan now a mom.
mo240-20220409_8325.jpg
Back of the Monchicchi welcome monument is another selfie spot.
mo241-20220409_8367.jpg
In the rear is the new Monchicchi Mini Museum.
mo242-20220409_8326.jpg
Monchicchi Mini Museum is a small open-air pavilion with a video monitor and display panels.
mo243-20220409_8324.jpg
The exterior of the panels has stained glass-like artwork.
mo244-20220409_8336.jpg
mo245-20220409_8337.jpg
mo246-20220409_8327.jpg
Monchicchi Mini Museum exhibit panel explaining about Monchicchi.
mo247-20220409_8384.jpg
There's also baby Monchicchi named Bebichhichi-kun (boy on the left) and Bebichhichi-chan (girl).
mo248-20220409_8328.jpg
History of Sekiguchi Corporation, inventor of Monchicchi.
mo249-20220409_8389.jpg
How Monchicchi was born.
mo250-20220409_8329.jpg
Monchicchi Park layout. Upper left is the new Monchicchi Zone and lower right is the new Chibikko Hiroba for infants.
mo251-20220409_8346.jpg
Two panels show the wide variety of Monchicchi costumes. Like Barbie dolls, Moncchichi come in an incredible variety of versions and costumes.
mo252-20220409_8348.jpg
mo253-20220409_8330.jpg
mo254-20220409_8334.jpg
mo255-20220409_8332.jpg
mo256-20220409_8380.jpg
Boy Monchicchi on the roof.
mo257-20220409_8379.jpg
A few Monchicchi above and on a bench.
mo258-20220409_8314.jpg
Monchicchi bench.
mo259-20220409_8362.jpg
The new Monchicchi Zone is adorned with Sekiguchi doll statues.
mo260-20220409_8363.jpg
These new Monchicchi/Sekiguchi statues were donated by Sekiguchi Co. chairman Sekiguchi Koichi.
mo261-20220409_8339.jpg
Bronze statues of old Sekiguchi dolls complete with background info.
mo262-20220409_8341.jpg
Little Butch from 1977.
mo263-20220409_8340.jpg
Poppo-chan from 1969.
mo264-20220409_8316.jpg
On the left is Mademoiselle Jeje from 1973. Her thumb-sucking was also incorporated in Monchicchi. In the middle are clown dolls for music boxes in 1984.
mo265-20220409_8320.jpg
This is Gutchi from the Kuta-kuta monkey series in 1973 which evolved into Moncchichi. It was when Sekiguchi was transitioning from a plastic doll maker to stuffed animals, a totally different product requiring a different set of skills.
mo266-20220409_8358.jpg
Also see my Monchicchi blog post.
mo267-20220409_8343.jpg
Water fountain Monchicchi. This Monchicchi tower will spew water in summer.
mo268-20220409_8344.jpg
Water will spew out in summer.
mo269-20220409_8322.jpg
Unique Monchicchi angel made of ceramics. Plaque reads, "May your wish come true. Wishing you happiness and smiles!" Maybe this is an object for prayers.
mo270-20220409_8323.jpg
Monchicchi angel has its own corner of the park. 天使のモンチッチ
mo271-20220409_8287.jpg
Entrance to the main area of Monchicchi Park. As an emergency evacuation zone, this area has a storehouse storing emergency provisions, manholes for makeshift toilets, wash basins, rainwater tank, and a few benches which can be converted into wood-burning stoves.
mo272-20220409_8293.jpg
Opened on April 9, 2016 with a ceremony attended by many local dignitaries, Moncchichi Park is in a quiet residential neighborhood in Nishi Shin-Koiwa near Naka River.Medium-size park (4,580 sq. meters) with a graveled ground, cobblestones, and playground equipment.
mo273-20220409_8284.jpg
Main part of Monchicchi Park. Good place to run around, play with radio-controlled cars, or use playground equipment. This is also the emergency evacuation zone.
mo274-20220409_8286.jpg
In this corner, fitness equipment for stretching your body.
mo275-20220409_8276.jpg
Monchicchi on the cobblestones.
mo276-20220409_8279.jpg
Sekiguchi Doll House monument. Sekiguchi Doll House was a small museum of vintage celluloid dolls produced by Sekiguchi.
mo277-20220409_8277.jpg
Sekiguchi Doll House was located here before it was torn down to make way for this park. This monument is made of the stone bricks from the Doll House. The original Doll House sign is here.
mo278-20220409_8282.jpg
The building was a storehouse for celluloid doll materials before it became a doll museum. Since celluloid is flammable, the storehouse was made of stone bricks.
mo279-2219801013-007.jpg
Sekiguchi Doll House displayed many celluloid dolls. The company got its start in 1918 making celluloid toy dolls.
mo280-20220409_8268.jpg
Playground equipment for older kids.
mo281-20220409_8273.jpg
Playground equipment with a Monchicchi silhouette on the ground.
mo282-20220409_8270.jpg
Park restrooms decorated with Monchicchi.
mo283-20220409_8271.jpg
Another section of Monchicchi Park is Chibikko Hiroba, a small playground for infants. ちびっこ広場
mo284-20220409_8266.jpg
Monchicchi playground for infants and preschoolers.
mo285-20220409_8261.jpg
Monchicchi rocker
mo286-20220409_8262.jpg
Monchicchi-chan rocker
mo287-20220409_8264.jpg
Monchicchi-chan rocker
mo288-20220409_8260.jpg
Monchicchi Park's Chibikko Hiroba, a small playground for infants.
mo289-20220409_8258.jpg
Back entrance.
mo290-20220409_8259.jpg
Park rules.
mo291-20220409_8398.jpg
Monchicchi Park is near Naka River.
mo330-20220409_8150.jpg
JR Shin-Koiwa Station south side as seen from the platform.
mo331-20220409_8151.jpg
JR Shin-Koiwa Station south side as seen from the platform. This view will soon be gone when the new station building under construction is completed. The Lumière shopping arcade is visible.
mo332-20220409_8152.jpg
JR Shin-Koiwa Station south side as seen from the platform.
mo333-20220409_8186.jpg
JR Shin-Koiwa Station south entrance straight ahead. Koban police box on the right. A new station building will soon appear.
mo340-20220409_8185.jpg
On the south side of JR Shin-Koiwa Station is a shopping arcade named Lumière with 140 stores. It extends across both Katsushika and Edogawa Wards. 新小岩ルミエール商店街
mo341-20220409_8187.jpg
On the south side of JR Shin-Koiwa Station, inside a shopping arcade named Lumière. 新小岩ルミエール商店街
mo350-20220409_8174.jpg
JR Shin-Koiwa Station north entrance (kitaguchi).
mo351-20220409_8428.jpg
JR Shin-Koiwa north entrance. On the left is the escalator to Skydeck Tatsumi.
100 files on 1 page(s)