Karatsu City

Karatsu (唐津市, Karatsu-shi) is a port city located in the western part of Saga Prefecture, Kyushu Island, Japan. It is the city where most of the events in the anime Zombie Land Saga are centered.

In real life
Under ritsuryō, the current area of ​​the city was part of Hizen province. In 1591, on the coast of the northern part of the city (formerly the city of Chinzei), Nagoya Castle was built. The following year, it became the place from which Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched the Imjin War. In mid-1593, Terazawa Hirotaka created the Karatsu Domain and began ruling it. In 1602, replacing Nagoya Castle, Karatsu Castle was built in what is now the heart of Karatsu. The tower of Karatsu Castle was built in 1966.

In 1889, the modern municipal system was established. The current region of the city is occupied by 1 city (Karatsu) and 19 villages (Hamasaki, Irino, Kagami, Karatsu, Kirigo, Kitahata, Kuri, Kyūragi, Minato, Mitsushima, Nagoya, Nanayama, Ōchi, Ōmura, Onizuka, Sashi, Uchiage and Yobuko).

Karatsu is famous for its Karatsu Kunchi festival, which is held annually from November 2 to 4 and is visited by approximately 500,000 visitors from all over Japan. The festival consists of 14 hikiyama (floats made of many layers of paper-mâché) that are carried through the narrow streets of the city to the sound of shouts of “Enya!”. Some hikiyama members say “Yoisa!”. This accompaniment is one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. Regularly during Karatsu Kunchi, the people of this city open their houses to friends and strangers to eat and drink; the main focus is enjoying food, beer, and shochu, and having a lively conversation.

Between Karatsu station and the main bus center, there is a 170-meter gallery containing many small shops that specialize in Karatsu Kunchi omiyage, and the Korean-influenced local pottery which are called “Karatsu ware” since they refer to Japanese ceramic wares of Korean origin. The actual production date of “Karatsu Yaki” is believed to have started sometime “during the first half of the 16th century in the late Muromachi period”.

In the series
The city of Karatsu is the event of most episodes of the anime, as it is the home of the Franchouchou group and the headquarters of the Saga Sagako Busters. During the events of episode 11 of the second season, the city suffers from massive floods caused by the curse and forces its inhabitants into makeshift shelters while the infrastructure is rebuilt.

Places seen in the anime

 * Franchouchou Mansion
 * Karatsu Station
 * Furusato Kaikan Arpino
 * Boat Race Karatsu
 * Kation Mall

Gallery
Ciudad de Karatsu