I barely know Tokai On Air. Yet after spending time with two different acquaintances who like the group, I somehow visited Okazaki Castle 2 times in 1 month. The official shop inside Okazaki Castle Park was already visit No. 4. My fieldwork is moving much faster than my watch history.
Walking through the park, I saw river water so green it looked like a giant pool of matcha. Being in the city of Hatcho miso also prompted the imaginary “miso-pickled Chiikawa” collaboration. Not a real product—just a silly thought that began as something cute and ended up sounding like preserved food.
Then there was the park’s mechanical clock: about 6 meters tall, with a Tokugawa Ieyasu figure performing Noh and even putting on a mask. A dedicated automated Ieyasu stage disguised as a clock. A walk around the castle keeps taking me back into the Tokai On Air shop, too.
The yellow mascot came first
Despite visiting four times, the thing I learned before most of the 6 members was “ピースの二乗のあいつ,” roughly “the guy who is peace squared.” That really is the official name. I mentally called it something like “Peace-kun,” only to discover the real name is more mathematical.
Same ¥990 price, different amounts left
At the Okazaki Edition manhole-strap display, every version was ¥990 during the visit. Several hooks carried SOLD OUT labels while other versions still had visible stock. At that moment, the Ryo and Yumemaru versions appeared to have comparatively more stock remaining.
47 prefectures, only Aomori missing
Then came the “Peace Squared” prefectural rubber keychains. During the visit, Aomori alone was sold out.
I barely knew the group, yet I was starting to notice empty spaces on the shelf more than the members. Out of 47 prefectures, why Aomori?
Sold out does not automatically mean most popular. The starting quantity and restock timing change what the shelf looks like. Perhaps I had simply arrived at the moment Aomori was empty.
Before catching up on the videos, I had visited the castle 2 times and the shop 4 times. I learned the yellow mascot, compared the member shelves, and ended up wondering about the missing Aomori keychain.
If my next visit starts with “There is less Yumemaru today,” I will have skipped being a fan and become the stocktaking staff.
Before checking for a new video, I may well check whether Aomori is back.
