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.
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Ren
(中二病でも恋がしたい!戀 Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@yutonyanBT made a pilgrimage to the locations in Saga Prefecture as well as Kagoshima City for Episode 6, and a pilgrimage again to Kagoshima for Episode 7. He even managed to catch the exact tram car, numbered 9504, that appeared at the beginning of Episode 7!
@utuki9797 made a pilgrimage to Arita Porcelain Park and the Yoshinogari Yayoi settlement in Saga Prefecture for Episode 6.
@jo2_pushi made a pilgrimage to Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture to capture a new cut that appeared in the film summarizing Season 1.
@sky_dj_ has put together a Google Map covering the current season, including all of the activity in Kagoshima City:
Episode 7
This week we’re all over Kagoshima City (鹿児島市), the capital of the prefecture of the same name. The episode opens at the observatory on Shiroyama (城山), which looks out over the city and across the water to Sakurajima (桜島). The mountain observatory is part of Shiroyama Park (城山公園), which also includes some of downtown Kagoshima.
Kagoshima Streetcar Line 1 (鹿児島市電1系統) stops at the northbound platform of the Izuro-dōri tram stop (いづろ通電停). With the exception of intersections, the tramways in Kagoshima have grass planted between the tracks.
Newlyweds Sakamoto Ryōma (坂本 龍馬) and Narasaki Ryō (楢崎龍)—she is commonly called Oryō (お龍)—visited Kagoshima on what is said to be the first honeymoon by a Japanese couple.
Yūta and Rikka sample shirokuma (白熊), “polar bear”, Kagoshima’s unique take on shaved ice (かき氷 kakigōri). This is the Tenmonkan Mujaki (天文館むじゃき) original shop, located in Tenmonkan Shōtengai (天文館商店街).
There is a well-known bronze statue in Tokyo’s Ueno Park (and a reproduction of it on Okinoerabujima) that depicts influential samurai Saigō Takamori (西郷 隆盛) with his dog.
The gag here is that Nibutani’s classmates keep expecting, but don’t find the dog when they encounter Saigō here and later in the episode. This one is catty-corner to Kagoshima’s Central Park (中央公園 Chūō-kōen).
Historical revisionism?
Shiroyama Park
Kagoshima Streetcar
Shiroyama Park
Saigō-san, again.
No dog, again. This statue is in Shiroyama Park.
Kagoshima Castle (鹿児島城), also called Tsurumaru Castle (鶴丸城)
Satone waits for the bus at the stop in front of the Kagoshima Prefectural Citizens Exchange Center (かごしま県民交流センター).
Chūō-kōen (中央公園)
The covered shopping arcade that flanks either side of Terukuni-dōri (National Route 225) in the center of the city is Terukuni Omotesandō (照国表参道), part of the Tenmonkan Shōtengai (天文館商店街) group. It appears that almost all of the larger shōtengai in downtown Kagoshima are part of the Tenmonkan association.
Erosion barrier
Kagoshima City Aquarium (いおワールドかごしま水族館)
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)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 6
In general, Wizard Barristers sticks to very faithful recreations of Tokyo neighborhoods, particularly in Taitō Ward, with the exception of a handful of fictional buildings that are key to the plot, such as the Butterfly Law Office in Ameya-Yokochō (アメヤ横丁).
I understand the need for something unique to serve as the protagonists’ headquarters, but am wondering why they made the exterior wall under the viaduct so spartan.
This is what’s actually there!
Tsunomi tells Cecile to meet the next day at Kōrakuen (後楽園). We later find out that she’s referring not specifically to the Koishikawa Kōrakuen (小石川後楽園), but the general area near the garden. In Tokyo, it’s common to reference neighborhoods by landmarks, notable features or the name of the closest train station, rather than the official municipality and (often confusing) numerical addressing system.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁)
Intersection of Kasuga-dōri (春日通り) or National Route 254/Prefectural Route 453 , and Hongo-dōri (本郷通り) or National Route 17
The following cut is a bit interesting. The background art repeats, so you see the same few storefronts a couple of times as Cecile zips by. The “Manga Nekonote Akihabara” and “Daito Park” are clear nods to the Comic Toranoana (コミックとらのあな) honten and neighboring Taito Station in Akihabara, which is quite a distance from her previous location and in the opposite direction from where she was headed.
We see Butterfly employees engaged in public recreational activities on the weekend. Tsnomi is part of a cosplay group meeting in a plaza that’s part of the Tokyo Dome City (東京ドームシティ) entertainment complex.
Kamakiri meets an idol in Akihabara
Wake Up, Girls!
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 7
Sendai City Youth Cultural Center (仙台青年文化センター)
Airi hides from the rain and rehearsal in the residence and kitchen, the non-public facing areas of Kumagai-ya (熊谷屋), an example of a shophouse.
Mayu and Yoppi head out to convince Airi to stay with the group, traveling via the single line of the Sendai Subway, the Namboku Line (南北線).
Sendai City Youth Cultural Center
A quick search on the game center doesn’t bring anything up, nor does the shōtengai resemble any of the larger ones in downtown Sendai, but its name “City of Trees” (杜の都 Mori no Miyako) is Sendai’s nickname, and is commonly found in business names.
The business and residential side entrance at Kumagai-ya
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha
(いなり、こんこん、恋いろは。)
Watch: Funimation
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Fushimi Inari Taisha for Episode 5.
Episode 6
Beware of lovesick Shinto deities when walking through Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) at night.
Golden Time
(ゴールデンタイム Gōruden Taimu)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 19
Banri returns to Tokyo from Shizuoka. Obligatory shot of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (東海道新幹線) passing Mount Fuji.
After 19 episodes, we finally get to a see a bit more of the neighborhood around Banri’s apartment. This narrow, single lane street is typical for non-arterial roads in residential neighborhoods of Japanese cities and suburbs. A few of the multistory apartments have shopfronts on the ground level. Note the unaccompanied elementary school students in the crosswalk on their commute.
Seitokai Yakuindomo*
(生徒会役員共＊)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 7
Tsuda mentions that he was admitted to two high schools, but chose Ousai because it was more straightforward to walk to and from home. The vast majority of students in Japan commute on foot, bicycle or take public transportation, no different from adults going to work.
Hamatora
(ハマトラ)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@tianlangxing made a pilgrimage to Yokohama and Haneda Airport for Episode 4 and Episode 5.
Episode 7
Yokohama Bay Bridge (横浜ベイブリッジ)
Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街)
Outdoor cafe seating
World Conquest Zvezda Plot
(世界征服 ～謀略のズヴィズダー～ Sekai Seifuku: Bōryaku no Zvezda)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Daisuki
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Tachikawa, Tokyo Metropolis covering Episode 2 through Episode 6.
No-Rin
(のうりん Nōrin)
Watch: Funimation
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@megtan made a pilgrimage to Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture for the OP.
Special Items
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Yokohama for a PV of upcoming OVA Zetsumetsu Kigu Shōjo: Amazing Twins.
@sky_dj_ completed his planned pilgrimage to Kumano and Kihoku, Mie Prefecture for Nagi no Asukara.
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture for Mikakunin de Shinkōkei.
@habusan posted a “Field Guide” to exploring locations in Tokyo’s Edogawa Ward, including Furukawa Water Park, for Nisekoi.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Saikin, Imōto no Yōsu ga Chotto Okashiin Da Ga.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Koiwa Station in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo for Super Sonico The Animation.
@buzz_tawagoto made a pilgrimage to Jashumon cafe in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo for Kyōkai no Kanata.
@shira_ry made a pilgrimage to Mitaka Station, Kōenji Station and Shinjuku Station in Tokyo for Coppelion.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Kyoto for Monogatari Series Second Season.
@nally45 made a pilgrimage (post 1, 2 and 3) to Kyoto for Uchōten Kazoku.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Shioiri and Uraga in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture for Tamayura: More Aggressive.
@keyboar made one final pilgrimage to the Saizeriya in Kita-Shukugawa, Kobe before its closure on 2014 February 23, for the feature film Suzumiya Haruhi no Shōshitsu.
@626shin was also at the Saizeriya in Kita-Shukugawa. He tweeted a photo of the shop that caught quite a bit of attention, 4,200 retweets as of this writing and counting. Many flames still burn for Haruhi. (^_^)
