I brought my Chi-Nu tank model to Oarai—the real-life setting of Girls und Panzer.
This is the Garupan-inspired Chi-Nu I built and painted in my previous post.
Ever since I finished it, I had one idea in mind:
I wanted to bring it back to where it belongs—Oarai.
Oarai, the Sea, and the Atmosphere
This was my fifth time visiting Oarai, and I usually come here during the anglerfish season in winter.
The moment I arrived, I was reminded why I love this place so much.
The sea air is incredibly fresh, and everything feels calm and open.
Just taking a deep breath makes you realize, “Yeah… I’m back in Oarai.”
I also took some photos of the scenery itself—not just the model.
Oarai is known for its beautiful coastal views, including a famous torii gate a famous torii gate —a traditional Japanese shrine gate— standing by the sea.
For the model photos, I stayed away from crowded areas and kept the shoot brief in a quiet spot.
And of course, I couldn’t leave without enjoying a local specialty: Dobu-jiru.
It’s a traditional winter dish made with anglerfish, typically available from around December to mid-March.
What makes it special is how it’s prepared—no water is added at all.
Instead, the broth is made entirely from anglerfish liver and the natural moisture of the vegetables, creating an incredibly rich and concentrated flavor.
The soup is packed with umami, with plenty of creamy liver blended into the base, and generous pieces of tender, collagen-rich anglerfish.
Honestly… it was so good I almost passed out—I even joked it might give me gout.
It’s quite a heavy dish, so I highly recommend going in hungry.
I actually make the trip to Oarai just to eat this every winter—and I can’t recommend it enough.
Chi-Nu on the Shore
Placing the Chi-Nu by the sea felt… surprisingly natural.
It blended into the scenery so well that, for a moment, it almost felt like the tank was really there.
There’s something special about seeing a model you built with your own hands exist “inside” a real landscape like this.
All at once, a lot of emotions hit me:
“I’m really glad I made this.”
“I’m so glad I brought it back here.”
I know this sounds like total proud-parent energy…
but honestly, it was just an amazing experience.
Taking a model outside instead of just finishing it at your desk adds a whole new layer of enjoyment to the hobby.
I’d love to try this again with other builds,
and maybe explore even more locations in the future.
For now, I’ll just say this:
I’m really glad I made it—and brought it back to Oarai.