Welcome to this week’s review of notable instances of public transit use and urban design, as well as discussion of place identity and culture, through anime currently broadcast or screening in Japan and simulcast internationally via the web. This review also documents seichijunrei (聖地巡礼 sacred site pilgrimage) and butaitanbou (舞台探訪 scene hunting)—on this website referred to collectively as anime pilgrimage—which are forms of place-based engagement induced by the use of real locations in show settings.
The Eccentric Family
(有頂天家族 Uchōten Kazoku)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ye_bi_su is back in action with a pilgrimage around Kyoto covering Episode 5 through Episode 7, and separate post for Episode 8. He also switched from per episode maps to a cumulative series map.
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage covering Episode 5.
Episode 8
Shijō-dōri (四条通), near its intersection with Kawaramachi-dōri (河原町通). In this section of Kyoto, both streets are flanked by wide sidewalks that feature covered shopping arcades, another form of shōtengai.
Shijō-dōri, near Kiyamachi-dōri (木屋町通)
Kamo River (鴨川)
Kiyamachi-dōri
Yajirō and his father’s last meeting was at an izakaya (居酒屋), a quintessential third place of Japan.
Back to the intersection of Shijō-dōri and Kiyamachi-dōri
A favorite pastime of the two was to transform into an antique train car once used by the Eizan Electric Railway (叡山電鉄株式会社), then barge through the streets, terrorizing onlookers. Here they barrel down the Teramachi Kyogoku Shōtengai (寺町京極商店街).
Rounding the corner from Shijō-dōri onto Hanami-koji (花見小路)
Higashiōji-dōri (東大路通)
Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社)
Thanks to @ye_bi_su, we know that this sento isn’t Nishiki-yu (錦湯), as I had thought last week, but in fact Kurama-yu (鞍馬湯).
Ten’nei-ji (天寧寺)
Kamo River, looking south at Kamo Bridge (賀茂大橋)
Monogatari Series Second Season
(〈物語〉シリーズ セカンドシーズン)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@Newyork0201 made a pilgrimage to Hachiōji and Higashimurayama, both Tokyo Prefecture, for Episode 7 and Episode 8.
Episode 8
Araragi and Shinobu travel back 11 years, to a time when his suburban neighborhood was at an earlier stage of development. The area is modeled on Higashimurayama, a city at the western edge of Tokyo Prefecture.
Though suburban, the city is still far more dense than most North American style suburbs, with ample pedestrian infrastructure.
The traffic signal motif continues from the previous episode.
Neighborhood kōban
Gatchaman Crowds
(ガッチャマンクラウズ Gatchaman Kurauzu)
Episode 7
Rui returns home by train after the meeting in Tachikawa.
Rui confronts Berg Katse at the waterfront in Tokyo’s Kōtō Ward, which is part of the reclaimed land created in Tokyo Bay.
A Galax user participates in a collective effort while waiting for a train.
A Certain Scientific Railgun S
(とある科学の超電磁砲（レールガン） Toaru Kagaku no Rērugan)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@shira_ry made a pilgrimage to Tachikawa for Episode 17 though Episode 19.
Episode 19
Febri is taken for a ride on the Tama Toshi Monorail Line (多摩都市モノレール線). Though the train appears frequently in the show, this is the first time to my memory that any of the characters has boarded.
WataMote ~No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular!~
(私がモテないのはどう考えてもお前らが悪い! Watashi ga Motenai no wa dō Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui!)
Episode 8
Yū takes a call from Tomoko while taking a train on a beach trip with classmates. The orange and green Shonan color scheme and sea in the background suggest the San’in Main Line (山陰本線), somewhere in Tottori Prefecture, but could just be coincidental.
Kinmoza!
(きんいろモザイク Kin’iro Mozaiku)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ngwrb made a pilgrimage to the Usui neighborhood covering Episode 5 through Episode 7.
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Mimomi Station and Keisei-Usui Station for Episode 3.
@ts_kobaya made a video pilgrimage to Keisei-Usui Station, Mimomi Station and Tsudanuma Station.
Servant x Service
(サーバント×サービス)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@paffue made a pilgrimage to the ward office of Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo for Episode 8. This is one of the few settings in the show based on locations actually in Hokkaido.
Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@Bf109K1 made a pilgrimage to Iwami, Tottori Prefecture covering the OP and Episode 1 through Episode 5.
Tamayura: More Aggressive
(たまゆら〜もあぐれっしぶ〜 Tamayura Mo Aguresshibu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 7.
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture for Episode 1.
Oreimo
(俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない。 Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai.)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ngwrb made a set of pilgrimages covering Episode 13 and the final OVA Episode 14 through Episode 16: Tokyo Skytree and Kinshichō in Sumida Ward, Akihabara and Chiba/Makuhari.
@kouhei15407 made a pilgrimage to Chiba for the the OVAs.
Other Pilgrimage
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Kichijōji in Musashino, Tokyo Prefecture and Okamoto in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward for Fantasista Doll.
@megtan made a pilgrimage to Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture for Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.
@Bf109K1 made a pilgrimage to Tokyo, split into posts for Shinjuku, and along Tokyo Bay and the Sumida River for the manga source material of Saki.
@kaminoaraki_485 made a pilgrimage to Toyosato, Shiga Prefecture for K-On!
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Furano, Hokkaidō for Tokimeki Memoriaru Only Love.
@1000th_summer made a pilgrimage to Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture for Asagiri no Miko.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Nagasaki for Fate/stay night.
