Inaba

Inaba is a rural mountain town that's about an hour and change from Tokyo by train, including one transfer onto a line to Yasoinaba Station.

In so many ways, Inaba is a snapshot of life in rural Japan, particularly with its crisis of an aging population. The youth of the town often feel the town is 'boring' or 'old-fashioned' compared to the bustling cities they've never been to, and often take up part-time or full-time jobs as soon as they can.

'Find a way to keep yourself busy' is the advice locals often give to the few who travel to Inaba from larger cities.

Heartbeat, Heartbreak...

History of Inaba

Some locals speculate that Inaba has existed in some form since at least the Heian period, but there's little historical record to back this up. Even the Tatsuhime Shrine, one of the oldest structures in town, has been fully abandoned by its caretakers, leaving it with little in the way of historical tradition to pass on.

What is known by the locals is that Inaba became a booming coal mining town during the Meiji Restoration, bolstered by the rail lines built during that time. Old timers get misty-eyed talking about how life used to be when Japan was one of the biggest coal exporters in the world, then lament how matters have declined over time.

By the late Showa era, coal production began to slow down, and the mine was only kept open by tradition until it finally closed down entirely in the early 90's. Some saw the beginning of the Heisei era as a sign the time had come.

Ever since, the town has been on the decline. The population had grown large enough during its heyday that a few people leaving hasn’t started a mass exodus; however, there hasn’t been any new economic industry to revive it, either. People of the older population cling to this place with fierce loyalty, stating they were born here and will die here, but admit sorrowfully that things have changed.

The recent groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the future Junes megastore fully encapsulates the current crisis Inaba faces of traditional atmosphere vs. modern convenience. The Central Street Shopping District, once the main artery of the town, is now waiting in nervous apprehension of family businesses being unable to compete with Junes' expansive inventory and slashed prices.

Several businesses are already on track to close down in an attempt to cut their losses, only remaining open long enough to keep vital services ongoing before Junes' grand opening.

Culture of Inaba

Despite being a rural town of decent size on the slow decline, Inaba still has that small town atmosphere. While everyone doesn't necessarily know everyone here, you've probably at least heard of most everyone or know someone they know.

People talk. Rumors and gossip are everyday activities. Any news worth talking about within the small town is known by basically everyone the day after. People are swift to share their opinions with friends and classmates, and pass judgment on nearly everything and everyone in the town, for better and for worse.

'It takes a village' is a common attitude with how the adults regard the children of the town, but often that means more open criticism during perceived wrongdoing than necessarily helpful advice. This includes a steady pressure on the youth to find someone nice in their shallow dating pool and settle down.

Dissatisfaction is common among teenagers trying to find their way in life and young adults who believe the rest of their life's path has already been decided for them. As a result, it's not uncommon for young people to plan to leave Inaba the moment they can. However, the pull of filial piety and the status quo is strong for so many others who find they cannot.

Industriousness is perhaps the most prized value of Inaba: keep busy, keep productive. Idleness is one of the greatest sins one can commit in the slow-moving town. As a result, almost everyone in Inaba has some kind of hobby that they can concentrate on outside of work or school, and almost everyone is in not just one but two clubs in high school.

After all, if people think of you as lazy, then soon everyone will know it.

Locations of Note in Inaba

• Yasogami High School - An old rural school that hasn't been renovated in decades. Yasogami High has a three-floor classroom building with each floor corresponding to the year of the students, a two-floor practice building for clubs, a gym, and a field shared by various sports. The faculty here are eclectic and some are quite inappropriate to their students, a result of a limited rural hiring pool for educators.

• Central Shopping District - A thoroughfare lined with local business after local business, so many of which are worried about the imminent debut of the Junes Department Store. But the locals certainly haven't given up, and many family businesses stubbornly have staked claims that they're remaining open no matter what. The district is divided by North and South, with the Tatsuhime Shrine being a large part of the Northern district.

• Tatsuhime Shrine - A Shinto shrine of a bygone era, no longer tended to by any priest or family. Instead, the locals of the district take turns cleaning it. A popular hangout spot for young kids by day, they often find themselves there to play, gossip, or catch bugs. There is a donation box for the shrine's restoration and a place for ema plaques to be hung for people to send their wishes to the local gods. Will their prayers ever be answered?

• Samegawa Flood Plain - The path to Yasogami High School is a large flood plain built with steep sloping hills in order to absorb overflow from the Samegawa River during typhoons and the rainy season. A popular gathering spot by townsfolk who love to fish, or simply need a quiet place to think.

• Amagi Inn - One of the most popular traditional inns this side of Japan! The Amagi Inn drums up the majority of local tourism, and most out-of-towners end up staying here. Everyone takes it for granted that it will remain in the Amagi family's hands to the point that they've already begun calling the family's eldest daughter the 'future manager.'

• Inaba Municipal Hospital - Sitting on the edge of the town in order to serve both Inaba and Okina City, the locals grumble frequently about how it's so out of the way that they have to take the bus to get there. Still, as the largest hospital anywhere nearby, everyone appreciates its presence.

Important for Inaba Characters!

• Most Inaba citizens, teens included, use flip phones. Smartphones are considered an elaborate luxury that most people will be judged for, and the internet service out here makes certain that streaming won't catch on for years. Most people are still fully glued to their TVs every night.

• The cops in Inaba, like in many small towns, are absolute authorities here for its citizens. The adults mostly are grateful to them. The teenagers are either wary or low-key resent them. Nevertheless, Inaba cops are less corrupt in general than big city cops in Japan as the New World Order is consolidating power mostly in the cities.

• Inaba's a little less distrusting of 'big city outsiders' than most towns. New transfer students from the big city are generally quite popular unless they're associated with the construction of Junes or are especially arrogant about their prior history.

• While Persona 4's plot has not yet started, people are welcome to make Inaba their character's town of origin. No major FC ties are allowed, but things like 'having heard the son of the Tatsumi Textiles' owner is a huge delinquent' or 'Oh right! She's the eldest daughter of the family that runs the Amagi Inn' are fine.

• Note that as of this time Junes has not yet opened for business in Inaba.