【Silver Spoon】Silver Spoon (Obihiro City, Hokkaido)
“Silver Spoon” (ぎんのさじ シルバースプーン) is an agricultural youth manga by Hiromu Arakawa, known for “Fullmetal Alchemist.” Set at Daieshiro Agricultural High School (Ezo-no) in Hokkaido, this work depicts the growth of the protagonist Yugo Hachiken, a city-raised student, as he faces agriculture head-on. Since serialization began in 2011, it has captivated many fans.
The setting of this story is the Tokachi region, centered around Obihiro City, Hokkaido. This article thoroughly introduces the charm of Obihiro City deeply connected to the work, pilgrimage spots, exhibition information, and the background of agricultural culture depicted in the series.
Deep Connection Between “Silver Spoon” and Obihiro City
Author Hiromu Arakawa and Connection to Tokachi
Ms. Arakawa Hiromu comes from a dairy farming family in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido and actually graduated from an agricultural high school. Having been involved in agriculture since childhood and helped with livestock care and farm work, her experiences are reflected throughout “Silver Spoon.” The agricultural depictions, interactions with animals, and daily life of farmers in the work all have the realism based on the author’s own experiences.
Model School for Daieshiro Agricultural High School (Ezo-no)
The “Daieshiro Agricultural High School” setting in the work is modeled after the Obihiro Agricultural High School in Hokkaido. Located at 9 Nishi 1-sen, Inada-cho, Obihiro City, this school was founded in 1907 (Meiji 40) and is a historic agricultural high school with departments including Agriculture, Dairy Science, and Food Science.
Obihiro Agricultural High School is one of the leading agricultural education institutions in the Tokachi region, equipped with extensive practice fields and livestock facilities where students learn practical agricultural techniques. Many of the practical training scenes and school events appearing in the work are based on actual activities at this school.
Characteristics of Obihiro City and Tokachi Region
Obihiro City is the central city of eastern Hokkaido with a population of approximately 160,000. Located in the center of the Tokachi Plain, it is known as one of Japan’s premier agricultural regions.
Characteristics of Tokachi Agriculture:
- Field Crop Agriculture: Large-scale field crops including wheat, potatoes, legumes, and beets
- Dairy Farming: Active raw milk production through dairy cattle raising
- Livestock: Beef cattle and pork raising also practiced
- Vast Agricultural Land: Average management area per household is about 10 times the national average
The “pork bowl” depicted in the work also exists as a local specialty of Obihiro City, with numerous pork bowl specialty restaurants lining the streets of the city.
Complete Guide to “Silver Spoon” Sacred Site Pilgrimage Spots
For fans of “Silver Spoon,” Obihiro City is a “sacred site” itself. By visiting real locations featured in the work, one can experience the world where the characters lived.
1. Obihiro Race Track (Ban’ei Tokachi)
Location: 1 Nishi 13-jo, Minami 9-chome, Obihiro City, Hokkaido
The only race track in the world where “ban’ei horse racing” can be enjoyed. It appeared in the work’s Episode 9, “Hachiken Perplexed by Pork Bowl,” depicting unique racing scenes where heavy horses pull heavy sleighs in a competition of strength and speed.
Highlights:
- Thrilling ban’ei horse racing observation
- Touching horses at the animal contact zoo
- Eating Obihiro specialty pork bowls at dining facilities
- Free admission (on race days)
Ban’ei horse racing is a traditional culture continuing from Hokkaido’s pioneering era, originating from strength contests of agricultural horses. The work also depicts the deep relationship between agriculture and horses.
2. Obihiro Shrine
Location: 1 Higashi 3-jo, Minami 2-chome, Obihiro City, Hokkaido
Believed to be the model for the shrine appearing in the work, famous for its horse-shaped ema (votive plaques). It appears in scenes where Hachiken and friends visit for New Year’s prayers.
Features:
- Historic shrine founded in 1910 (Meiji 43)
- Horse-motif votive plaques reflect the characteristic of an agricultural region
- Panoramic view of Obihiro City from the shrine grounds
- Nearby Tokachi River floodplain suitable for walking
3. Tokachi River Floodplain
The Tokachi River floodplain near Obihiro Shrine appears in scenes where characters talk in the work. The vast floodplain and majestic nature symbolize the landscape of the Tokachi region.
Ways to Enjoy:
- Walking along the cycling road
- Summer fireworks festival venue
- Beautiful snowy landscape in winter
4. Obihiro City Green Park (Obihiro City Midori-ga-oka Park)
Location: 2 Midori-ga-oka, Obihiro City, Hokkaido
This park appeared in Episode 8 of the work, “Hachiken’s Big Blunder.” Famous for the world’s longest bench (402.6 meters total length) recognized by Guinness World Records, it is a place of relaxation for Obihiro residents.
Facilities:
- Spacious lawn plaza
- Boating area
- Park golf course
- Barbecue facilities
- Adjacent Obihiro Zoo
- Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art
The Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art hosted the “Silver Spoon Exhibition” mentioned later, making it doubly meaningful for fans.
5. Agricultural Landscape of Tokachi Region
Farmland stretches as far as the eye can see in and around Obihiro City, allowing one to experience the scenery depicted in the work. Particularly from summer through autumn, one can enjoy different agricultural landscapes for each season—the golden wheat fields, potato flowers, and beet fields.
Recommended Driving Routes:
- Agricultural area along National Route 236
- Roads toward Shihoro Town direction
- Crop farming areas toward Memuro and Shimizu towns
6. Pork Bowl Famous Restaurant Tour
The “pork bowl” featured multiple times in the work is the soul food of Obihiro City. Numerous pork bowl specialty restaurants throughout the city are a must for sacred site pilgrimage dining.
Famous Restaurants:
- Pancho (Original pork bowl shop)
- Ippin
- Ton-den
- Pork Bowl no Buta-hage
A simple yet profound dish of pork grilled over charcoal, seasoned with sweet-spicy sauce, and served over rice.
“Silver Spoon” Exhibition Information and History
Exhibition at Obihiro Venue (Concluded)
Commemorating the 10th anniversary of “Silver Spoon” serialization and serving as a commemorative event for Obihiro City’s 140th anniversary of development and 90th anniversary of municipal incorporation, an exhibition was held at the Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art.
Exhibition Overview (Concluded):
- Venue: Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art (2 Midori-ga-oka, Obihiro City)
- Period: July 17, 2021 (Saturday) to September 5, 2021 (Sunday)
- Exhibition Contents: Approximately 200 original paintings, various materials, video exhibitions
- Admission: General ¥1,200, High school/university students ¥600, Middle school and below free (Tokachi region high school students also free)
Exhibition Contents
The exhibition introduced the appeal and world of “Silver Spoon” from multiple perspectives, centered on original paintings drawn by Ms. Arakawa Hiromu.
Main Exhibits:
- Approximately 200 key original paintings from serialization start to conclusion
- Character design materials
- Photographs and materials from research
- Anime and live-action film adaptation related materials
- Real agricultural tools and materials featured in the work
- Video corner recreating famous scenes from the work
The original painting exhibition in particular allowed close viewing of Ms. Arakawa’s detailed drawings, panel composition techniques, and character expression changes, providing a precious opportunity for fans.
National Touring Exhibition
Following the success at the Obihiro venue, the exhibition toured nationwide.
Touring Schedule:
- Obihiro Venue (Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art): July 17 – September 5, 2021
- Sapporo Venue (Sapporo Art Forest Museum): September 18 – November 7, 2021
- Osaka Venue: Held in 2022
- Tokyo Venue: Held in 2022
Special exhibitions and related events tailored to each region were held at each venue, providing an opportunity for fans nationwide to experience the work’s world.
Significance of the Exhibition
Holding the exhibition at Obihiro, the work’s setting location, carried special significance. For local Tokachi residents, it provided an opportunity to reaffirm their pride that their daily lives and culture were depicted in a nationally popular work. For work fans, it was a precious experience of viewing original paintings at the sacred site.
Agricultural Culture Depicted in the Work and Actual Obihiro
Reality of Agricultural High Schools
“Silver Spoon” is highly evaluated for realistically depicting daily life at an agricultural high school.
Characteristics of the Agricultural High School in the Work:
- Dormitory System: Most students live in dormitories
- Practice-Centered: Abundant practical training in livestock farming, field crops, and food processing beyond classroom instruction
- Early Morning Work: Livestock care begins early in the morning
- Facing Life: Meat processing education is included, involving education about life
- Specialization: Specialized departments including Dairy Science, Animal Husbandry, and Agricultural Civil Engineering
Agricultural high schools in Hokkaido, including Obihiro Agricultural High School, actually conduct such education, making the work’s depictions highly accurate.
Tokachi’s Dairy and Livestock Industry
The dairy and livestock industry, which is an important theme in the work, is the backbone industry of the Tokachi region.
Characteristics of Tokachi Dairy Farming:
- Large-Scale Operations: Average of over 100 dairy cattle per farm
- Freestall/Freeborn System: Allowing cattle to move freely
- TMR (Total Mixed Ration) Feeding: Feed design considering nutritional balance
- Raw Milk Production Volume: Producing approximately 10% of the nation’s production in the Tokachi region
In the work, the protagonist Hachiken’s process of raising a “pork bowl” pig and shipping it as meat is depicted in detail. This is the very “education about life” conducted in actual livestock farming education.
Reality of Field Crop Agriculture
The Tokachi Plain is Japan’s largest field crop region, and extensive farmland landscapes appear frequently in the work.
Major Crops:
- Wheat: Producing about 40% of Hokkaido wheat production
- Potatoes: National top-class for both starch and edible potatoes
- Legumes: Small red beans, soybeans, kidney beans, etc.
- Beet (Sugar Beet): Sugar raw material
- Chinese Yam: Tokachi specialty product
The work depicts cultivation and harvest of these crops season by season, conveying both the difficulty and joy of agriculture.
Agricultural Machinery and Technology
Machines such as large tractors and combines appear in the work. Large-scale agriculture in Tokachi practices precision agriculture utilizing cutting-edge agricultural machinery and GPS technology.
Characteristics of Modern Tokachi Agriculture:
- GPS auto-steering system-equipped tractors
- Drone-based growth diagnosis
- Smart agriculture adoption
- Sixth industry (integration of production, processing, and sales)
Impact the Work Has Had on Obihiro City and Tokachi Region
Contribution to Tourism Promotion
Due to the popularity of “Silver Spoon,” Obihiro City and the Tokachi region have become a “sacred site” visited by many fans.
Effects in Tourism:
- Increased tourism from younger demographics
- Increased interest in agricultural experience programs
- Nationwide awareness increase of regional food culture (pork bowl, etc.)
- Increased use of accommodation facilities and restaurants
Local tourism associations have also developed tourism promotions utilizing the work, creating tourist maps and model courses for “Silver Spoon” fans.
Promotion of Agricultural Understanding
The work, by accurately and attractively depicting agriculture, has raised understanding and interest in agriculture.
Impact on Education:
- Increased enrollment applications for agricultural high schools
- Increased interest in agriculture among urban youth
- Use as teaching material for food education
- Raising awareness of agricultural successor issues
In fact, during serialization, increased enrollment applications were reported at agricultural high schools nationwide.
Reaffirmation of Regional Identity
For local Tokachi residents, having their daily lives and culture become the setting of a nationally popular work became an opportunity to reaffirm their pride in the region.
Impact on the Region:
- Pride and confidence among agricultural workers
- Increased local attachment consciousness among youth
- Reevaluation of regional culture
- Community revitalization
Anime Adaptation, Live-Action Adaptation, and Obihiro City
Anime Version’s Setting Recreation
The television anime “Silver Spoon” was broadcast in Season 1 in 2013 and Season 2 in 2014. During production, staff actually conducted research in Obihiro City and the Tokachi region, faithfully recreating scenery and buildings.
Anime Characteristics:
- High-quality animation by A-1 Pictures
- Use of actual Tokachi landscape as backgrounds
- Emphasis on realism in agricultural depictions
- Accurate recreation of dialect and regional culture
Live-Action Film Locations
The live-action film adaptation “Silver Spoon” released in 2014 had filming conducted in Hokkaido.
Film Information:
- Director: Keisuke Yoshida
- Starring: Kento Nakajima (as Yugo Hachiken)
- Filming Locations: Various locations in Hokkaido (centered on Tokachi region)
- Box Office Revenue: Approximately ¥700 million
In the film, actual agricultural high schools and ranches were used for filming, and actors experienced farm work firsthand while developing their characters.
Access to Obihiro City and Tourism Information
Access to Obihiro City
By Airplane:
- From Tokachi Obihiro Airport to Obihiro City center approximately 30 minutes by car
- From Tokyo (Haneda) approximately 1 hour 40 minutes
- From Sapporo (New Chitose) approximately 40 minutes
By Railway:
- Express train from Sapporo via JR Nemuro Main Line approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
- Express train from Kushiro approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
By Bus:
- Highway bus from Sapporo approximately 4 hours
Best Season for Tourism
Spring (April–June):
- Snow thaw and start of farm work
- Beautiful new green season
Summer (July–August):
- Peak growing season for crops
- Lush green landscape
- Optimal tourism weather
Autumn (September–October):
- Harvest season
- Golden wheat fields
- Beautiful autumn foliage
Winter (November–March):
- Snowy agricultural landscape
- Winter agricultural scenes
- Extreme cold (cold-weather preparation essential)
Recommended Accommodations
Hotels:
- Business hotels around Obihiro Station
- Hot spring resort hotels
Farm Homestays:
- Lodging with actual farms allowing agricultural experiences
- Deeper experience of the work’s world
Obihiro Cuisine
Recommendations Other Than Pork Bowl:
- Rokkatei: Specialty sweets like Marusei Butter Sandwich
- Ryugetsudo: Sweets like Sanpo-roku
- Indian Curry: Curry chain originating in Obihiro
- Tokachi Milk/Dairy Products: Fresh dairy products
- Tokachi Wine: Regional wine from Ikeda Town
How to Enjoy “Silver Spoon” More Deeply
Appeal of Original Manga
“Silver Spoon” concludes in 15 volumes total. Many parts not depicted in anime or film versions exist, and reading the original allows deeper understanding of the work’s world.
Work Themes:
- Connection between life and food
- Growth between dreams and reality
- Bonds between friends
- Harshness and joy of agriculture
- Difference in values between urban and rural areas
Related Books
Reading other works by Ms. Arakawa Hiromu and books on agriculture and dairy farming further deepens understanding of the work.
Agricultural Experience Programs
The Tokachi region offers numerous agricultural experience programs for tourists.
Experience Contents:
- Milk-milking experience
- Tractor test ride
- Harvest experience
- Cheese and butter-making experience
- Farm restaurant dining
Through these experiences, one can directly feel the reality of agriculture depicted in the work.
Conclusion: Future of “Silver Spoon” and Obihiro City
“Silver Spoon” is a groundbreaking work that has communicated the agricultural culture of Obihiro City in Hokkaido and the Tokachi region nationally and internationally. Through the work, many people have learned about agriculture’s reality, reconsidered the importance of food, and discovered the charm of Obihiro City as a region.
Though serialization has concluded, the work’s impact continues. Obihiro City and the Tokachi region will continue to welcome many fans as the sacred site of “Silver Spoon.” The agricultural value depicted in the work will become increasingly important in the times ahead.
Visiting Obihiro City is not merely sightseeing but a journey to experience “life and food,” “agricultural significance,” and “regional culture” that the work intended to communicate. Please actually visit and experience the world of Ezo-no. The vast Tokachi Plain, fresh air, and warm people await you.
