👹 Draw an Oni in Mekki: Demon-Slaying GPS Art ✨
This GPS art course takes you on a 23-kilometer journey around Mekki, a small area in Yatsuo, Toyama City, whose name literally means “Demon Slain.” As you walk the course, an image of an oni (demon) gradually appears on your map, turning the landscape itself into a story.
The place name Mekki is said to originate in the Edo period, when this area was covered by dense forest and feared as a land where foxes, raccoon dogs, bandits, and other “demonic beings” roamed freely. According to legend, a brave warrior drove these threats away, and the area became known as the place where demons were defeated. Another theory suggests the name comes from the rhythmic sounds of the Jinzū River flowing nearby, showing how nature and folklore intertwine in this region.
The course follows the Jinzū River and surrounding countryside, passing the Toyama City Jinzū River Waterside Plaza and Nature Learning Center, as well as Sugihara Shrine, a local guardian shrine with deep historical roots. The wide river views, quiet rural paths, and traces of former woodland landscapes create a peaceful yet evocative walking experience.
In recent years, the name “Mekki” has attracted attention because it reminds visitors of the popular manga and anime Demon Slayer. Although there is no direct connection, fans have begun visiting the area as a kind of unofficial pilgrimage, drawn by the powerful imagery of the name itself.
Drawing an oni in a place called “Demon Slain” adds a playful twist to the journey. This GPS art walk is perfect not only for the Setsubun season, but also for anyone interested in folklore, place names, and the way stories are embedded in the land.
DETAIL (EXTERNAL LINK)
A PIONEER IN GPS ART.
1st work was authorized by Guinness World Records as “the Largest GPS Drawing”.
He is the only Japanese person to be featured in a Google documentary as an innovator. He is fascinated by the idea of drawing with GPS and has published more than 2,500 works.
