Welcome to this week’s review of notable instances of transit, place and culture as rendered in anime currently broadcast in Japan and simulcast internationally via the web. For a detailed outline of the approach, please refer to the explanation in the inaugural issue. Links to streaming sources are included when available, though not all may have current episode available at the time this column is published.
Tamako Market
(たまこまーけっと Tamako Māketto)
Watch: Anime Network
Google Map Update
New locations added and tallies updated. Click ‘View Larger Map’ to see everything, as we’ve expanded beyond the city core of Kyoto. Miyazu is way out to the northwest of Kyoto
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Episode 5
A school trip for long distance swimming finally takes us out of the now familiar shōtengai and academy axis.
But first, a practice swim in town. Midori, Tamako and Kanna meet Shiori on the south side of Chūshojima Station (中書島駅), which can be reached by taking the Keihan Main Line (京阪本線) past Fujinomori Station (location of the academy).
Outdoor pools at Fushimi Harbor Park (伏見港公園). Better pool images: 1, 2
Immediately after the Japan broadcast, a handful of dedicated fans were hard at work figuring out this location. Within 24 hours it was confirmed as Yura (由良) beach in Miyazu (宮津), a city in Kyoto Prefecture (京都府). One particularly enthusiastic viewer (Twitter: @jo2_pushi) has already made a trip there and published a post to confirm and document with photos. The beach is close to Tango-Yura Station (丹後由良駅) on the Kitakinki Tango Railway Miyazu Line (宮津線).
Back in Kyoto, I think this is looking north from roughly above the location of the shōtengai.
Blast of Tempest
(絶園のテンペスト Zetsuen no Tenpesuto)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 17
Yoshino and Hakaze are on the Shinkansen. Both the 700 series and N700 series trains share the blue stripe markings, so without seeing the nose it’s tough to tell them apart. The platform feels a little like Kyoto, but it’s pretty generic. Despite a few instances of recognizable spots, Tempest hasn’t stressed obvious identification of real world locations.
In a flashback, Yoshino is with Aika on the concrete reinforced portion of a riverside embankment (土手 dote) as a train passes overhead.
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou
(さくら荘のペットな彼女 Sakura-sō no Petto na Kanojo)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Anime Network • Hulu
Episode 17
Nanami’s train breaks down on the way to her audition.
Because she’s still close, Sorata comes on bicycle to help.
The circular indentations in the road are to aid vehicle traction and are commonly found on sloped streets.
In Japan, riding on the sidewalk is technically illegal, but rarely enforced.
Noborito Station (登戸駅)
The taxi queue is full due to the stranded passengers, so Sorata takes her on the back of his bicycle (also not legal).
Rita takes an airport bus to return home.
Sorata follows the tracks of the elevated train line. This looks like the pylons and catenary of the Odakyū Odawara Line (小田急小田原線) as it goes north into Tokyo, though the curve and road width in the show don’t quite match up with the map.
Amnesia
(アムネシア Amuneshia)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Anime Network
Episode 5
Looking southwest, near Toden-Zōshigaya Station (都電雑司ヶ谷駅). The tracks of the Toden Arakawa Line (都電荒川線) are on the right.
Despite being the only tram line left in Tokyo, the Arakawa has an interesting variety of rolling stock. My hunch is that cars leftover from the dozens of now defunct lines live on as they cycle through service on this line.
Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, on the left
Da Capo III
(〜ダ・カーポ III〜 Da Kāpo III)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 5
Hatsune Island is too small to support a train network, but the buses seem to meet everyone’s needs just fine. The episode opens with a discussion comparing the experience of taking trains in the big cities with the bus here.
Background animation even includes a detailed bus route map.
Oreshura
(俺の彼女と幼なじみが修羅場すぎる Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 5
Eita and Masazu meet in a neighborhood park.
Chiwa takes cover from the rain under a storefront awning. We’ve been getting little bits and pieces of commercial districts in fictional Hanenoyama, including around the train station, but activity has been focused elsewhere.
Love Live! School Idol Project
(ラブライブ! Rabu Raibu!)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 5
As usual, back at Kanda Shrine (神田明神). I had really hoped we would see more of Tokyo in this show! Perhaps that will come later, after μ’s becomes more established?
The vending machine, and the stall behind it during open hours, would be where one obtains omikuji (おみくじ), fortunes written or printed on small pieces of paper. Inauspicious fortunes are folded and tied to a pine tree or fence of metal wires setup for this purpose, to ward off bad luck.
