What is "OMAIRINGU" ?｜OMAIRINGU｜Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage｜manga anime cosplay Japanese subculture elements

The Emptiness of Form × Absolute Territory

What is "OMAIRINGU" ?

The OMAIRINGU project began on August 8, 2012.

Centering on the theme of "connections", we are creating works based on the Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage and local communities along the route. We hope to provide opportunities for people to take interest in the appealing aspects of Shikoku, the local pilgrimage culture and other such topics.

Based on a new concept that entails the fusion of Shikoku pilgrimage culture and its history of 1,200 years together with manga, anime, cosplay ("costume play") and other Japanese subculture elements, our goal is to create wide-reaching connections that bridge generational gaps.

This project′s Web novels as well as "relay" manga and comics use the 88 Buddhist temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage and local communities along the route as backdrops, based on the concepts of "gratitude" and "connections with local communities and people". The complete story comprises a prologue, 88 chapters and an epilogue for a total of 90 sections.

The journey′s prologue takes place in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, where the main character spends one listless day after the next plagued with interfamilial troubles. One day, a mysterious young girl named Ayumi appears and the two set out on a pilgrimage to the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage in order to fulfill a mission. The first chapter of the story takes place at Ryozenji Temple (Tokushima Prefecture), the first destination on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Each temple has its own separate story, and all 88 temples serve as backdrops throughout tale. Furthermore, new characters appear at each of the 88 temples.

⇒ Learn More About the Characters!

What Are Project Members Doing?

The main story is based on the Web novel. Production staff visit the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage in person and take photographs in order to incorporate people they encounter at temples, local communities, individual histories and other such information into their stories.

⇒ Read the Web Novel!

A "relay manga" (manga authored by different people in turns) is being created based on the Web novel. This Web comic project is a collaborative work by 11 members comprising first-year students and graduates of the Manga Creation Department at the Kawahara Design and Art College in Matsuyama City.

⇒ Read the Web Relay MANGA!

This is a manga version of the original Web novel, published in 28-page sections (52 pages first volume). The manga is sold on this website, at events, etc.

⇒ Read the OMAIRINGU-DX!

This is a cosplay ("costume play") pilgrimage of the 88 temples dressed as Ayumi, the story′s heroine. This real-life "Ayumi" makes visits to temples in her white pilgrim outfit, contributing to the storyline and interacting with other pilgrims along the way.

⇒ Read the Diary of Pilgrimage!

The new Mohenro Android app is a collaborative project undertaken by local students, much like the relay manga. Users can take part in a virtual pilgrimage together with the heroine Ayumi. The app includes a pedometer function as well as a feature that calculates the number of steps to the next temple.

⇒ View the Mohenro App!

The "MOHENRO-CHAYA(Cafe and Shop)" was opened next to the "Ishiteji" that is temple of 51th. A menu of the shop is made in the image of the character of the temple "HACHI-HACHI-SAN". In addition, the shop has a sale of original goods.

⇒ MOHENRO-CHAYA

For those who want to know more about the pilgrimage and Shikoku Pilgrimage. The "MOHENRO University" is now available. It can join anyone is free. You can learn manners and pilgrimage procedure.

⇒ MOHENRO-DAIGAKU

Online shop is now open. You can get the original books and goods at the store.

⇒ Online Shop

This story is a work of fiction. Even though actual names of people, places, groups and so forth are used in the story, they have no relationship to our works or the project’s operating company. Furthermore, this story is not intended to mock or disrespect the Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage or any of its pilgrims.
It is our hope that these works will inspire as many people as possible to experience and take interest in the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the natural scenery and culture of Shikoku.

This is a story about the Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage, which has a history of 1,200 years.

About the Story of "OMAIRINGU"