I joined the on-site shoot for “Save Nishinomiya’s Ojizo-san!” on “Tantei! Knight Scoop,” which aired on Friday, 5/10.
We’ll also share some funny behind-the-scenes stories that didn’t make it onto TV, as a new Nishinomiya legend. Please enjoy it with a cup of tea or something.
What happened before the Tantei! Knight Scoop shoot
Here at Nishitsu, we received a request for the Nishitsu Detective from a reader named peke.
I always enjoy reading your site. My name is peke.
2024/4/5
The Ojizo-sama statue that used to be along the river in Tsuto Sumiecho is gone.
It was along the river by the triangular park west of Tsuto Chuo Park.
It used to sit there wearing red clothing.
When I passed by on 4/4,
it looked like this, with only the pedestal and the staff (?) it had been holding left behind…
Judging from the situation, it’s hard to imagine it was removed peacefully. It seems like someone may have broken it or taken it away.
I looked into the nearby river, wondering if it had been thrown in, but I couldn’t find it.
This might be something for the police, but for now I thought I’d try reaching out to Nishitsu first.
It was an Ojizo-sama loved by the local people, who dressed it in seasonal clothes and offered flowers, so this is truly sad.
I would really appreciate it if you could look into this.
Here it is on the map↓
The address is around 10 Tsuto Sumiecho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture.
After That
We then received a key piece of testimony from Nishinomiya local detective “Taron”: “The Ojizo-san had fallen into the river.”
To rescue the fallen Ojizo-san, Shachomi, the Nishitsu Detective, contacted the Port and Harbor Bureau, but they said it would “cost money.”
Standing in the way was “money”
A Call from Detective Ishida
“My name is Yasushi Ishida, a detective on a program called Tantei! Knight Scoop on Asahi Broadcasting.”
He was calling in that same familiar style we always see on TV!!
“I’m at the site now, and I’d like to hear more from Taron.”
And so…
Since I’m connected with Taron on LINE, I sent a message saying that Ishida from Tantei! Knight Scoop wanted to get in touch.
This is the article I posted right away↓
Out of some weird sense of consideration, I wrote the article without mentioning Tantei! Knight Scoop at all.
And of course, I went. I had to go.
Arriving at the Site
We immediately headed from the Nishitsu office to the location.
We arrived at the nearby Times parking lot in the Mini Cooper from our MINI Nishinomiya collaboration! (next to Nihonsakari’s Rengakan)
It was raining that day. We had posted an article saying the Ojizo-san might be rescued, but honestly, I didn’t think anyone would come to watch.
Detective Ishida was looking over like, “Who’s that?!”
There was a camera operator and a sound person too! It really felt like a TV location shoot.
The woman on the right is peke, who submitted the request saying, “Please help the Ojizo-san.”
Detective Ishida gave me such a warm welcome, saying, “Shachomi-san, we’re so grateful you came!”
Then Detective Ishida suddenly asked me, “You’re a man, right?” So I confidently answered, “I’m a man!” and then
Detective Ishida shot back, “No, no lol I didn’t mean a man, I meant you’re a detective, right? lol” Total fail on my part lol But the mood was so friendly and fun. Ishida-san is exactly like he is on TV.
They were also filming with a camera from the opposite side of the river. I didn’t notice at first.
Nishinomiya Locals Came Pouring In
While all this was going on,
more Nishinomiya locals arrived.
This is Kuroki-san, who provided Nishitsu with the photo of “Ojizo-san in its better days.”
Kuroki-san said, “I saw Nishitsu and came to rubberneck.” Rubberneck, huh?
