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.
Regardless of My Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur, I Want a Date!
(中二病でも恋がしたい! Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai!)
Watch: Anime Network
The @lidges map:
Episode 10
Yūta and Rikka each try to work up the courage to confess their feelings for the other. The buildup begins as they leave the school cultural festival preparation, stopping first at Keihan Ishiyama Station.
Attempt number two happens inside the “EcDonald’s” across from the station, where they’ve taken shelter from the rain.
Through the window on the left: bicycle parking
Crossing the Seta River using the Tōkaidō bridge pedestrian lane. It’s hard to believe, but this is actually the original Tōkaidō (東海道 East Sea Road), the route which has connected Kyoto and Tokyo since the Edo period and from which the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Tōkaidō Main Line take their names. These days, the trains and Tōmei and Meishin Expressways serve the role of the original route.
They retrieve Rikka’s umbrella from under the bridge, on the pedestrian path that runs along the east shore of Seta River.
Looking southwest across the river, the other bridges and buildings on the shore provide convenient mood lighting.
Yūta hesitates as a cyclist goes past.
Finally!
Tōka and Yūta meet at a famiresu to talk about how to help Rikka. Unlike a family restaurant in the US, famiresu are a bit more versatile, combining the roles of casual dining, cafe and public-ish space. While you can order a meal and leave when finished, you can also just sit and chat with friends over a continuous stream of coffee and cake, and even stay through the night if the location is 24-hours.
Say “I love you”
(好きっていいなよ。 Suki-tte Ii na yo.)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 9
Yamato wants to wait for Mei to finish her shift working at the bakery.
He kills time strolling the pedestrian shopping street (shōtengai 商店街) adjacent to Hachiōji Station.
Residential neighborhood small streets
Pedestrian bridge crossing the canal near school
Kamisama Kiss
(神様はじめました Kamisama Hajimemashita)
Watch: Funimation • Hulu
Episode 10
Covered bicycle parking at Nanami’s highschool
Karaoke
Anyone know where this is? Might be in Kawagoe, but could also be somewhere on the west side of Tokyo.
My Little Monster
(となりの怪物くん Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 10
The commercial district is decked out for Christmas.
KFC does a brisk business at this time of year in Japan.
Christmas party at the batting center
Shizuku’s stairs
Code:Breaker
(コード: ブレイカー Kōdo:Bureikā)
Watch: Funimation • Hulu
Episode 9
Footbridge
Pedestrian lanes on both sides of this bridge
Can’t figure out what bridge this is supposed to be. There aren’t that many with a direct sight line to Tokyo Skytree, but none look anything like this. Maybe I’m chasing a phantom ^_^
2 comments
jcgator1 says:
Dec 8, 2012
You know, since starting to read your blogs, I find myself looking at anime and pointing out the urban aspects of them lol. For example, I just finished watching “Elfen Lied” and the use of rail in that one is key to the plot of the story (dont want to give it away if you havent watched, but its available on netflix :). Also “Kaze no Stigma” shows many seens of urban interactions and transportation use.
Michael says:
Dec 8, 2012
It’s hard to avoid it! When I started this I thought it be just a couple of hours a week. Even thought limiting it to current broadcasts might mean not enough for a post every week. Totally off. Urbanism is so prevalent I think you’d need a handful of full-time people just to keep track of all of it.
Just finished Bakemonogatari and I’m watching Nichijou with my daughter, both of which are loaded. I’ve had Elfen Lied in my long-term queue for a while. Maybe I should bump it up ^_^