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.
Wake Up, Girls!
Episode 4
Kōtōdai Park (勾当台公園)
Though scenes from the Sendai Subway feature use of a contact-less IC fare card, no system currently exists there. Prepaid fare cards, SKIP and Joy, are available, but these are inserted into the reader at ticket gates just as a normal single ride ticket would be. This is Kita-Yobanchō Station (北四番丁駅).
Though many local businesses have made appearances in the show, Cafe Bijou (喫茶ビジュウ) seems to get the lion’s share of screen time, including interior shots during scenes set in the cafe. (website | Twitter | Tabelog)
Kita-Yobanchō Station
Here and in previous episodes, when we jump to a short scene of the I-1 Club rehearsals, an image of Tokyo is always presented first as part of the transition. Here is a reflection of Tokyo Skytree.
Back to Sendai
Kumagai-ya (熊谷屋) (website | Facebook | Twitter)
The Sendai branch of LOFT, adjacent to Sendai Station (仙台駅)
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Ren
(中二病でも恋がしたい!戀 Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@jo2_pushi made a pilgrimage to the Kyoto Aquarium, and to Kusatsu and Moriyama, Shiga Prefecture for Episode 2, and a second pilgrimage to Ōtsu covering Episode 1 through Episode 3.
Episode 4
The McDonald’s across the street from the train station in the center of Ōtsu (大津) is occasionally used as a third place, as its location makes it a natural meeting point along the route home in the afternoon.
Dekomori and other students walk to school on their morning commute.
After school, everyone gathers in the large blue tiled plaza connecting Ishiyama Station (石山駅) and Keihan Ishiyama Station (京阪石山駅).
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha
(いなり、こんこん、恋いろは。)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@nobucafe updated a previous pilgrimage to include scenes from Fushimi Inari Taisha and Fushimi-Inari Station in Fushimi Ward, and Keage Station in Higashiyama Ward for Episode 2.
@626shin made a pilgrimage to Fushimi Inari Taisha and nearby areas in Kyoto for the OP and Episode 1.
@tsuruga_mega took a more comprehensive look at the life-sized cardboard cutouts of characters from the show placed in Keihan Main Line stations for which they’re named and badges on the trains themselves.
@lidges posted additional photography of Fushimi Inari Taisha, covered in snow. It’s not specifically a butaitanbou post, but does have some really wonderful images.
Episode 3
While there were no neighborhoods or other Kyoto locations to note this week, the parade of Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) beauty shots continues unabated.
World Conquest Zvezda Plot
(世界征服 ～謀略のズヴィズダー～ Sekai Seifuku: Bōryaku no Zvezda)
Episode 3
Kate has declared war on cigarette smokers and puts the full resources of Zvezda into a campaign to eradicate their behavior and, if need be, their existence. The show’s “West Udogawa” is modeled on Tachikawa (立川市), Tokyo Metropolis, but could just as easily be any city or suburban community in Japan. Though long term trends indicate smoking is on the decline, particularly among younger Japanese, it is still permitted in many public places and businesses that are frequently off limits in parts of the US. Public transit facilities are fortunately one of the places that do ban smoking.
As someone with fairly acute respiratory sensitivity to environmental tobacco smoke, I have to admit I quite enjoyed this one.
Taspo (タスポ)
Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil
(ウィザード・バリスターズ〜弁魔士セシル Wizādo Barisutāzu – Benmashi Seshiru)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@shira_ry made a pilgrimage to Asakusa and Ueno, Tokyo for the OP, ED, and Episode 1 through Episode 3.
@mint0066 made a pilgrimage to Asakusa for the ED and Episode 1.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Ueno for the OP and Episode 1.
Episode 3
This shot of the Butterfly Law Offices grafted into Ameya-Yokochō (アメヤ横丁) is always the same perspective, but each time uses different environmental light.
A flashback shows the trial defendant chasing her victim through narrow alleys in a bar district.
Golden Time
(ゴールデンタイム Gōruden Taimu)
Episode 16
After their nearly disastrous car accident, Kōko is met by her father at Kinshichō Station (錦糸町駅) in Sumida Ward, Toyko. The area around the station is an example of recent transit-oriented development that I’ll cover in volume two of The Tokyo Project.
@nobucafe made what I thought was a pretty insightful comment. High school classmates of his were killed in a very similar accident while on a trip during college, when the driver fell asleep and caused a head-on collision. Being the driver means taking on the responsibility for the lives of others (and your own). I wonder how many people run that through their mind each time they put the key in the ignition. Building the case for transit-oriented development frequently cites environmental pollution reduction and community enhancement as primary outcomes. Reducing your chances of being hurt or killed tends not to get as much play, perhaps sounding too much like fear mongering.
Noragami
(ノラガミ)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@Roan_Inish (post) and @teo_imperial (post) made pilgrimages to Shakujii Park in Nerima Ward, Tokyo for Episode 4.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Ōizumi-gakuen Station and surrounding commercial district in Nerima for Episode 1 and Episode 3.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Ōizumi-gakuen Station for Episode 1 and Episode 2, returned for Episode 3, and made a pilgrimage to Niiza, Saitama Prefecture for Episode 1. Though a seichijunrei old hand, he’s brand new to Twitter, so send some follow love.
Episode 4
Update 2014/02/12: I originally thought this was Shibuya Mark City/Shibuya Station, but it’s actually the entrance to Marui City Shibuya, at the end of Kōen-dōri.
This is Shibuya Station (渋谷駅), looking out over the scramble crossing from ekimae.
Seitokai Yakuindomo*
(生徒会役員共＊)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@chabata_k made a pilgrimage to Sagamihama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 2 and Episode 4.
Episode 4
Cosmo Clock 21 is a Yokohama icon. The giant Ferris wheel is part of Cosmo World (コスモワールド), an amusement park in Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい21), the city’s waterfront central business district. The Ferris wheel featured prominently in an episode of Honey and Clover, and was the tallest in the world at the time it opened.
Yokohama Grand InterContinental Hotel
Hamatora
(ハマトラ)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@tianlangxing updated his pilgrimage to Yokohama to include locations from Episode 1 through Episode 3.
Episode 4
Hamatora also made a stop at Cosmo World (コスモワールド) this week.
A young boy waits for a bus home after finishing cram school in the evening.
No-Rin
(のうりん Nōrin)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@gonta0822 made a pilgrimage to Gifu City for Episode 1 and to Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture for Episode 2 and Episode 3.
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Gifu City, Minokamo and Nagoya Station for the OP and Episode 1.
@nandakaomo made a pilgrimage to Minokamo.
Other Pilgrimage
@ohagi23 wrote an analysis of multiple depictions of Ramen Jiro in anime going back to 2010, including appearances in Space Dandy, The Idolmaster and Shin Koihime Musō.
@habusan made pilgrimages to Saginomiya in Nakano Ward, and Omotesando and Yoyogi Park (all Tokyo) for Nisekoi.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to a commercial street adjacent to Ōizumi-gakuen Station in Nerima, Tokyo Metropolis for Robot Girls Z.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage (post) and @fureshima is preparing for one (post) to Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture for Mikakunin de Shinkōkei.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Sapporo for Samurai Flamenco.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Yamato-Saidaiji Station and Nara proper for Kyōkai no Kanata.
@626shin made a pilgrimage (post 1 and 2) to Nara and Kashihara for Kyōkai no Kanata.
@habusan created a “Field Guide” of detailed instructions for making a pilgrimage to Ōboke Station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture for Kyōkai no Kanata.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage (post 1, 2 and 3) to Narashino, Chiba Prefecture for Kiniro Mosaic.
@Beetle787 made a pilgrimage to the Tenjin area in Fukuoka City for Sketchbook ~full color’s~.
@kazupi made a pilgrimage to San Francisco, California for Macross Frontier.
