Line #14 Main/ArtificialRiverbank


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/KimiNiTodoke https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/riverbank.JPG]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:A perfectly landscaped riverbank in an urban park.]]
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4	Many Japanese cities, as seen in {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}, will feature a river running through a city with a gently sloped artificial riverbank with beautiful landscaping and a sidewalk or trail either at the top or bottom (or both) and stairs to descend to the water's edge. There's likely a nearby bridge, too, for people to stroll on. Suitable for LyingOnAHillside, SceneryPorn, WatchingTheSunset, and ThatCloudLooksLike.
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6	This is TruthInTelevision, as the Liberal-Democratic Party -- which has virtually monopolized the government for several decades[[note]] Except for a couple brief stints of minority status in 1993 and from 2009 to 2012, more about that on UsefulNotes/JapanesePoliticalSystem[[/note]] -- realized back in the 1960s that investing huge sums in semi-useful infrastructure and beautification projects kept people employed, happy, and voting for them. Thus, many if not most rivers that pass through urban areas have received this treatment. However, only the largest tend to be picturesque, with most being small creeks enveloped by steep concrete. These also happen to serve a practical purpose in allowing for controlled overflow during the typhoon season.
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8	See also GhibliHills. A small-scale subtrope of TerrainSculpting. Compare DownLADrain, its American (or at least Californian) equivalent.
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10	----
11	!!Examples:
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13	[[foldercontrol]]
14
15	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
16	* ''kiss×sis'', in the flashback about the two dogs.
17	* In ''Moetan'' episode 05, site of the troubled person of the week, overly dramatic scene of the week, and MonsterOfTheWeek all in one go!
18	* Hasegawa encounters Tomoka on one in episode 2 of ''Ro-Kyu-Bu!''.
19	* After losing everything he owns, Iyami of Anime/OsomatsuSan lives under a bridge on one of these.
20	* The first big battle of Anime/ReCreators takes place behind the bridge of a riverbank.
21	* Tina's favorite place in ''Manga/AiYoriAoshi''.
22	* ''Anime/AllPurposeCulturalCatgirlNukuNuku'':
23	** In episode 4 of ''TV'', Kyousuke goes to one to angst, only to be subjected to several of Nuku Nuku's classmates practicing their karaoke. In the new year's episode, Nuku Nuku herself goes there for the same reason.
24	** In episode 3 of ''[[Anime/AllPurposeCulturalCatgirlNukuNuku Nuku Nuku Dash]]'', Ryuunosuke is running along the wall of one when he falls in the river, allowing Nuku Nuku to catch up with him.
25	* Sanada and Arashiyama hang out on one while skipping class in episode 7 of ''Manga/AndYetTheTownMoves''.
26	* In ''Manga/ArakawaUnderTheBridge'' the protagonist is forced to live under a bridge spanning over one of these, alongside... interesting neighbours such as a [[NunTooHoly guy in a nun's habit]] and a {{Kappa}}-wannabe.
27	* ''Manga/{{Beelzebub}}'' has the titular character first appear on Earth near one, and later a major fight between Tojo and Oga takes place in that same spot. Main characters tend to hang out there when thinking or meet up to challenge opponents.
28	* All of Karakura Town in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' is built around a big river, whose banks look exactly like this. Said river is good for watching fireworks, doing exercise, and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick being devoured by]] TheHeartless.
29	* ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'': The titular character challenges another character to a duel, which takes place on such a riverbank.
30	* The 3rd EndingTheme for ''Manga/CrossGame'' takes place on one of these.
31	* Justifiably, an artificial riverbank is one of the places the characters in ''Manga/DailyLivesOfHighSchoolBoys'' hang out.
32	* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'': Hei is sitting with [[HeroAntagonist Kirihara]] on the stairs of such a riverbank in his [[SecretIdentity civilian disguise]] when he [[StealthHiBye suddenly vanishes]], leaving her perplexed.
33	* A majority of the action in ''Literature/{{Dokkoida}}'' takes place there.
34	* ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'' have one such river where Nobita and gang would frequently hang out beside. It's even the focus of a few movies:
35	** ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaInTheWanNyanSpacetimeOdyssey'': Nobita meets his new pet, Hachi, near that river when Hachi (then a stray dog) tries impressing Nobita by jumping into the waters to retrieve Nobita's baseball. Unfortunately, turns out Hachi couldn't swim and nearly drowns, if Nobita didn't wade into the water and save Hachi in time.
36	** The adventure from ''Anime/DoraemonNobitasTreasureIsland'' is kickstarted when Nobita and Doraemon uses the Enlarging Light to transform Nobita's model boat into a real, life-sized boat, which they then sail upon along the river, picking up Shizuka, Suneo and Gian along the way (with passing civilians and other kids stopping to do a DoubleTake at the sight of an ''actual pirate ship'' in the middle of the city).
37	* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'': The baseball match between universe 6 and universe 7 is played near one. When the [[DestroyerDeity Gods of destruction]] [[SiblingRivalry Beerus and Champa]] start fighting, the area is nearly destroyed along with [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the entire universe]]. Fortunately, their Angels Whis and Vados interfere on time, preventing it.
38	* In episode 11 of ''Anime/ExcelSaga'' (the "youth drama" episode), TheAce of the baseball team is sitting on one of these when he overhears the conversation that convinces him to change his mind and play for the team.
39	* Monta of ''Manga/Eyeshield21'' drinks the coke and food he had saved for his celebration on making the baseball team here, because he didn't actually make the team. Later, Sena tries to influence him into joining the American football team.
40	* ''Manga/FairyTail'' has Erza brooding by one in Magnolia at the end of the Tartaros Arc, with Jellal briefly stopping by to exchange words with her.
41	* The river that runs through Mabase in ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' is of this type. Much of the show is set on the banks.
42	* ''Anime/FreshPrettyCure'' and ''Anime/HeartCatchPrettyCure'' each have one.
43	* In ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'', Ed and Al practice fighting on a riverbank like this.
44	* Hikari and Chiaki used to hang out at one in the manga ''Manga/GenkakuPicasso''. [[spoiler:Jeanne nearly throws herself into the river at the same spot when she's outed as trans, and by the end of the manga the main characters have formed a new 'riverside club' that is devoted to enjoying the riverside together.]]
45	* ''Anime/TheGirlWhoLeaptThroughTime'': It's in such a location that the heroine makes her first deliberate time-leap.
46	* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'': An artificial riverbank marks the spot where Ippo Makunouchi began his boxing career. Also an essential component of many training exercises.
47	* In ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'', Kyon and Mikuru have a private talk along the steeply walled creek version. During the Endless Eight arc, the SOS Brigade sets off fireworks on one.
48	* In ''Manga/{{Heroman}}'' episode 4, one of the titular robot's many attempts to stop the sphere takes place on one of these -- it's one of the less successful ones, and Heroman quickly gets pushed under the water as the sphere rolls on.
49	* Episode 5 of ''Manga/HighSchoolOfTheDead'' has the group re-convene at one.
50	* ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'': The riverbank is a common location in the first anime. This is where Raimon's soccer team usually practices.
51	* In ''Literature/{{Inukami}}'', Keita and Yoko are forced to live under a bridge that spans one of these for a few episodes.
52	* Some of the most dramatic scenes in ''Manga/KashimashiGirlMeetsGirl'' take place in such a setting.
53	* In the first episode of ''Manga/KimagureOrangeRoad'' Hikaru and Ayukawa face down a gang of five burly high school boys and win (well, mostly Madoka wins) on this type of bank.
54	* Sawako in ''Manga/KimiNiTodoke'' often walks home passing by a scene like this while thinking about her day at school.
55	* ''Manga/TheLuciferAndBiscuitHammer'' uses one as a hurdle for the main character to practice his [[MindOverMatter telekinetic jumps]].
56	* Rivers are a common motif in ''Manga/MarchComesInLikeALion'', so they appear on occasion. In particular, the riverbank in Kyoto is featured in an important scene in Volume 6 that reinforces both the motif and its related symbolism.
57	* Rina's favourite spot in the ''Anime/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'' anime.
58	* In episode 13 of ''Manga/{{Mitsudomoe}}'', that's where the Marui sisters find a stray cat, and where Mitsuba goes to brood at the end of the episode.
59	* Titular Nanas and their friends in ''Manga/{{Nana}}'' do this as well at one time. It helps that their apartment looks out over one as well.
60	* Doused in blood in (what else?) ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'''s 18th episode. You know, the one that got them [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids knocked out of their children's time block.]]
61	* ''Manga/{{Nichijou}}'' features these from time to time. One incident sees Mio (who was tearfully sprinting across town after seeing her crush Sasahara arm-in-arm with another girl) absentmindedly rescuing a kid from drowning in one. Another chapter sees Mio meet [[OddballDoppelganger Doublecheeseburgirl]], who was wistfully gazing across the water, at one.
62	* One episode of ''Manga/NyanKoi'' has the protagonist meet his LoveInterest repeatedly along such a riverbank while training.
63	* The site of Ryoushi's training in episode 10 of ''Literature/OkamiSan''.
64	* ''Manga/OmamoriHimari'' has the first meeting with the TokenMiniMoe under a bridge along one of these.
65	* ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'': The flat part of the bank at the bottom is [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Kaidou Kaoru's]] favorite place to work out, when he's not jogging.
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67	%% NOTE: kiss×sis was removed from the wiki under the content policy.
68	%% Do not try to make the title into a wick.
69	%%
70	* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', Ranma often passes by one, occasionally he falls into the water [[SexShifter and turns female]] or he'll have a battle nearby. He also seems to like to hide out under a bridge next to the riverbank when he wants to get away from the craziness. It's actually become a bit of {{Fanon}} that he commonly does this.
71	* In the ''[[Manga/Reborn2004 Reborn!]]'' anime Tsuna fought challengers of a dojo here with a style reborn taught him.
72	* In ''Manga/{{Sankarea}}'' the main school is located right after a walk through any of the sides of this.
73	* In the first season finale of ''Literature/ShakuganNoShana'', the entire cast is watching an after-festival bonfire on such a riverbank when [[spoiler:the enemy's OminousFloatingCastle teleports into place just above them.]]
74	* ''Manga/ShugoChara'' has these scenes in most episodes.
75	* ''Manga/SketDance'': In [[TheHero Bossun's]] backstory, this is where he underwent his CharacterDevelopment, and had his ChronicHeroSyndrome kick in, when he decided to do what his [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest late father and mother]] wanted him to do: stand up selflessly for a meek looking guy [[spoiler:([[ForgottenFirstMeeting who turns out to be]] [[TheRival Tsubaki]], his [[SeparatedAtBirth long lost twin]] before receiving a makeover)]] from being beaten by a bunch of delinquents.
76	* Passed by in ''Anime/{{Tamayura}}'' 01.
77	* The protagonist of ''Manga/ToLoveRu'' takes Lala to such a riverbank for some privacy in an effort to break up with her, only to run out of time to do so safely. It's also a WatchingTheSunset moment.
78	* ''Literature/{{Toradora}}'': Taiga lays on the riverbank exhausted after wheeling a bike around, because she can't ride a bike. A chance encounter with her LoveInterest motivates her to get up and try to ride the bike. In the novels Ryuuji and Ami go there as part of a community service project to collect trash, but the scene is heavily truncated in the anime.
79	* Kanon films a TV drama on one in episode 6 of ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows''.
80	* ''Anime/YuGiOh'': Yugi's first encounter with an egyptian god card in the Battle City arc takes place at one of these.
81	[[/folder]]
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83	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
84	* One particular artificial riverbank in Tokyo shows up [[HeyItsThatPlace quite often]] as a filming location for ''Franchise/KamenRider'' shows.
85	[[/folder]]
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87	[[folder:Video Games]]
88	* Samegawa River of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', which you can fish at during the day or evening.
89	* ''Project Justice: VideoGame/RivalSchools 2'' features an artificial riverbank stage at sunset, although it is presented as a rather grim, industrial environment.
90	* Sakura's stage in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' is set on a pathway next to one of these, with a railway fly-over above and kids playing in a disused car.
91	[[/folder]]
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93	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
94	* ''VisualNovel/GrisaiaSeries'': Mishima Cape, the city where most of the story takes place, has one such location, it is most prominently featured in Yumiko's route.
95	[[/folder]]
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97	[[folder:Real Life]]
98	* The Yarra River in Melbourne, in the Southbank Area. Though the closer you get to portside, it becomes decidedly more concrete filled and less romantic.
99	* Kyoto's Kamo River has a river bank quite like this, and also has some small islands in the middle of the river, connected to the river banks by stepping stones. As one might expect, this is a fun place to play as a kid -- or alternatively, a fun place to drunkenly set off fireworks in college with visiting international students. Many Japanese cities with rivers do have this, Kyoto is just the one that's most well-known.
100	* [[DownLADrain Los Angeles River]], an ideal spot in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles for [[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay car chases]] and [[Film/{{Grease}} drag racing]], is an artificial riverbank without a river to speak of. No grass though.
101	* New York has quite a few rivers running across Manhattan Island, now covered over, concreted and redirected, which are largely used for flood control. One that flows underneath the Empire State Building is actually used as part of its air conditioning system - the flowing water is used for heat regulation.
102	* The City of UsefulNotes/{{Pittsburgh}} has, in the past few years, tried to create these along the Allegheny River by setting up small parks, or Riverwalks, along them. Much like the previous examples, these slopes mostly exist for flood control, but also as part of the City's attempt to both clean and promote its three rivers after years of steel mill pollution.
103	* Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, Korea. Originally covered to hide its massive pollution due to pretty much being an open sewer, it was uncovered and made into a park in 2005 as part of a massive urban renewal project.
104	* As it flows from its source in Stockport and out through South Manchester, quite a few miles of the River Mersey have been remodelled like this so as to provide a flood plain if needed.
105	[[/folder]]

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