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.
Media and General Interest
Sabae Meganebu! preparation
Fukui Shimbun ran an article about Sabae, Fukui Prefecture, the setting of the upcoming fall series Meganebu! The local chamber of commerce and shōtengai business owners associations received briefings and recommendations for capitalizing on pop culture tourism, which anime fans refer to as ‘pilgrimage’ (聖地巡礼 seichijunrei).
Anohana seichijunrei marriage
The Saitama Shimbun reports two fans of Anohana met while on pilgrimage to Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture in 2011, began dating and were just married in June 2013.
The Eccentric Family
(有頂天家族 Uchōten Kazoku)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ye_bi_su made a Kyoto pilgrimage for Episode 9.
@Bf109K1 made an extensive pilgrimage to Kyoto covering multiple episodes.
Episode 9
Shiunzanchoho-ji (紫雲山頂法寺), also called Rokkaku-dō (六角堂), was the breakout star of this week’s episode. The shrine grounds are recreated in painstaking detail from a multitude of angles.
The hexagonal stone is part of the foundation of an earlier version of the shrine, and is also said to mark what was once the center point of Kyoto.
Kyoto University (京都大学)
This cafe (珈琲 蔦家) near Rokkaku-dō is also a near one-to-one recreation of its real life counterpart, both interior and exterior.
Another cafe (カフェウッディタウン), this one just outside Tadasu no Mori (糺の森), the sanctuary in which Shimogamo Shrine is located.
Kurama-yu (鞍馬湯)
Teramachi Kyogoku Shōtengai (寺町京極商店街)
Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club
Fan Pilgrimage Update
A blogger who calls himself Yacchan made a pilgrimage to Iwami, Tottori Prefecture for Episode 9. He appears to be an Iwami native, or at least lives very close by. Check out the blog for posts covering earlier episodes.
Episode 9
Nitori and Rin arrive by train for the matsuri via Iwami Station (岩美駅).
The densest part of the town, between the station and coast, has been strung with lanterns for the festival.
Matsuri are very frequently setup on the grounds of Shinto shrines. Because the shrine is situated on a small site on a hill above the town, the wharf is used instead.
The overload of squid products is a nod to one of the two main industries in Iwami, the other being rice farming.
Gatchaman Crowds
(ガッチャマンクラウズ Gatchaman Kurauzu)
Episode 8
Rui encounters Berg Katse outside the east gate of Shinjuku Station (新宿駅).
The jumbotron on the front facade of the Studio Alta building is a popular landmark used when meeting others on this side of the station.
Back in Tachikawa (立川市), a crowd gathers on the elevated walkway system to follow a news update.
Tachikawa-Kita Staiton (立川北駅)
Kinmoza!
(きんいろモザイク Kin’iro Mozaiku)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Mimomi Station, Tsudanuma Station and nearby neighborhoods for the OP and multiple episodes.
Episode 9
Early in the episode, everyone walks through the residential neighborhood on the way to the train station as part of the daily commute to school.
At the end they also leave together, walking along a portion of the Keisei Main Line (京成本線).
Genshiken Second Season
(げんしけん 二代目 Genshiken Nidaime)
Episode 9
Saki makes a call to Ohno while standing just outside the west side of Shinjuku Station (新宿駅).
Tamayura: More Aggressive
(たまゆら〜もあぐれっしぶ〜 Tamayura Mo Aguresshibu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@Bf109K1 made a pilgrimage to Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture for Episode 9.
Other Pilgrimage
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Kashihara, Nara Prefecture for the first PV of upcoming Kyōkai no Kanata, while @kai881 made a pilgrimage for the just released second PV.
@shira_ry made a pilgrimage to Musashino, Tokyo Prefecture for Brothers Conflict.
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Kokubunju and Higashimurayama, both Tokyo Prefecture, for Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen.
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Yokohama for Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 7 of Futari wa Milky Holmes.
@Beetle787 made a pilgrimage to Tokyo Skytree and Kinshichō Station in Sumida Ward, Tokyo for Oreimo.
@tianlangxing (post) and @189asama (post) both made a pilgrimages to Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture for Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (Anohana).
@Beetle787 made a pilgrimage to Tokyo for YuruYuri.
@gromit1446 made a driving pilgrimage through the mountains in Nagano Prefecture for One Off.
@shira_ry made a pilgrimage to Nerima Ward, Tokyo for Kara no Kyōkai.
