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.
Wake Up, Girls!
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ye_bi_su made a pilgrimage to Tokyo locations that appear in conjunction with the I-1 Club vignettes.
Episode 11
Everyone gets geared up for the big trip to Tokyo to compete in the idol contest.
Before they go, Sendai streets become their endurance training grounds.
WUG fans reconvene at the famiresu for a strategy meeting.
More live performances at MACANA
Sendai City Youth Cultural Center (仙台青年文化センター)
Minami gets a pep talk from the aunties living in temporary housing.
Ready to go at Sendai Station (仙台駅)
Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線)
Tokyo Station (東京駅)
Yamanote Line (山手線)
No-Rin
(のうりん Nōrin)
Watch: Funimation
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@take_630 made a pilgrimage to Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture for Episode 4, Episode 6 and Episode 10.
Episode 11
Generally, the antics between students take up the majority of screen time, leaving little room for interaction with the community outside the agricultural high school. This week the equation gets inverted, with Kōsaku and Minori taking Ringo on a trip back to their farming village hometown. We depart from Mino-Ōta Station (美濃太田駅) in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture, on the Etsumi South Line (越美南線), the only line operated by the Nagaragawa Railway (長良川鉄道).
A funny thing about No-Rin, while most of the content is meant to be funny and is occasionally a bit too over-the-top, from time to time it flips into deadpan expositions of very pragmatic and real issues facing rural communities and the agriculture industry. One such instance comes as they depart Minokamo, when Kōsaku gives a brief primer on the history of this rail line and how it ended up in its current state.
Aioi Station (相生駅)
The second lapse out of drunkenness into a moment of clarity comes when Ringo and Kōsaku look out over the village. He pins the decline of agriculture on the fact that less people choose to live in rural villages. Ringo counters that the causal direction may be the opposite, that agriculture is no longer an appealing career choice and is causing the migration of young talent to the cities.
Kōsaku then takes her to the dilapidated structure that was his childhood home, before business failure precipitated the breaking apart of the family. It’s probably the darkest moment we’ll get in the entire series, but very much based on reality.
The end of the episode ends on a hopeful note, even if leaving the heavy issues unresolved. Village residents partake in their own, modest version of okuribi (送り火), sending lanterns down the river to assist the spirits of ancestors on their return journey to the spirit world.
Ringo tells Kōsaku that the farming village lifestyle still has many aspects that are appealing to her as an outsider, and not to count it as a lost cause.
Silver Spoon
(銀の匙 Gin no Saji)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 10 (Season 2)
Shingo Hachiken takes a call from Yūgo while standing at Cape Sōya (宗谷岬). Though not the true northernmost point under Japanese control, it is the northernmost point on Hokkaidō.
Hachiken departs from Obihiro Station (帯広駅) on a trip home to Sapporo.
Early morning Super Tokachi (スーパーとか) limited express service
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
@BloodRambo made a pilgrimage to Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture for Episode 11.
@etesuke put together a roundup of promotional materials currently installed on the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (which appears frequently in Chūnibyō).
Episode 11
This week features a return to several of points-of-interest along the Seta River in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture that made frequent appearances in the first season, but have featured minimally in the second installment. This is Karahashi Park (唐橋公園).
Seta River Bridge (瀬田川大橋), part of the Tōkaidō (東海道)
Karahashi Park
The scenes with Rikka searching around the pylons (and Satone/Yūta searching for her) come from a little bit west from Keihan Ishiyama Station, just off the Tōkaidō (National Route 1).
The twin rail bridges are the Tōkaidō Main Line (東海道本線) crossing the Seta River.
Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha
(いなり、こんこん、恋いろは。)
Watch: Funimation
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ye_bi_su put together a comprehensive review of final Episode 10 that includes both a pilgrimage to the Kyoto locations and a round up of the other Inari shrines from all around Japan that appear.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Sapporo Fushimi Inari Jinja for Episode 10.
@ye_bi_su (post) and @kbt_tigers1985 (post) made pilgrimages to Fushimi Inari Taisha for Episode 9.
Episode 10
While it was no surprise to see one last showing of lush Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社) art in the series’ big finish, we were also treated to a sampling of Inari shrines from across Japan, as the divine servants from around the country all converge on Kyoto to help Inari journey to the celestial plains.
Sapporo Fushimi Inari Jinja (札幌伏見稲荷神社)
Shiwafuru Inari Jinja (志和古稲荷神社) in Shiwa-chō (紫波町), Iwate Prefecture
Takahashi Inari Jinja (高橋稲荷神社) in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Taikodani Inari Jinja (太皷谷稲成神社) in Tsuwano-chō (津和野町), Shimane Prefecture
Higashi Inari Jinja (東伏見稲荷神社) in Nishitōkyō (西東京市), Tokyo Metropolis
Hanazura Inari Jinja (鼻顔稲荷神社) in Saku (佐久), Nagano Prefecture
Rounding Kyoto Tower (京都タワー) on the final leg into the city
Fushimi Inari Taisha
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
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ssslocation has been filling in the gaps in his archive of Tokyo locations from the series. This is the landing page with links to all of the sections.
Episode 10
We pickup at the end of the previous episode with Cecile’s escape through a lively commercial district.
Navigation signs include “Shinjuku”, though precisely where is still not clear to me.
Back to Ameya-Yokochō (アメヤ横丁)
Okachimachi Ekimae-dōri (御徒町駅前通り)
Ueno Park (上野公園), near the entrance to Keisei Ueno Station (京成上野駅)
Golden Time
(ゴールデンタイム Gōruden Taimu)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ssslocation has been filling in the gaps in his archive of Tokyo locations from the series. This is the landing page with links to all of the sections.
Episode 23
Ichigaya Station (市ヶ谷駅)
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
Episode 10
Tachikawa Station (立川駅)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎)
Shinjuku Station (新宿駅)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Tachikawa City Hall (立川市役所)
Noragami
(ノラガミ)
Watch: Funimation
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to the Ōizumi-gakuen area in Nerima Ward, Tokyo for Episode 11.
Episode 11
Yato and Yukine take Hiyori on a review tour of the local business district, in hopes of remedying her memory loss.
Rail turntables are cool. Rail turntables over iridescent green cauldrons of doom are cooler.
Hiyori and Yukine meet on a wide river flood protection embankment (土手 dote).
Seitokai Yakuindomo*
(生徒会役員共＊)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 11
The Ousai student council takes a public bus to a nearby school’s cultural festival.
Hamatora
(ハマトラ)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 11
Kannai Station (関内駅) in Naka Ward, Yokohama. The Keihin-Tōhoku Line (京浜東北線) is moving along the viaduct.
Special Items
The Kyoto Shimbun ran an article about the various collaborations between the Keihan Electric Railway and anime production companies, mentioning Chūnibyō Demo Koi ga Shitai!, Chihayafuru and Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha. Generally, the railway promotes the shows through advertising on its trains and in stations. In return, it receives prominent in-show placement that at times includes its logo, as well as the right to use show content in promotional events and products, such as limited edition tickets.
@ye_bi_su made a pilgrimage to the Kyoto locations that appear in the PV for Tamako Love Story, the film sequel to Tamako Market.
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture for the PV of Bokura wa Minna Kawai-Sō, a Brain’s Base production scheduled to premiere in April 2014.
@hiroina_7916ltd made a pilgrimage to the former town of Mikuni, now subsumed into the city of Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, for the first PV of P.A. Works’ Summer 2014 production Glass Lip.
@darkflame_esper made a pilgrimage for Makoto Shinkai’s 2007 film Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru (5 Centimeters Per Second). Locations include Oyama Station in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture; Iwafune Station in Iwafune, Tochigi Prefecture; and Yoyogi Park, Sangūbashi Station, Yoyogi Hachimangu and Shinjuku Station (latter all Tokyo).
@rimatai made one pilgrimage to Shinjuku, and a second pilgrimage to Asagaya Station and the Asagaya Pearl Center in Suginami Ward (all Tokyo) for Samurai Flamenco.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to the Yumeeteru Shōtengai near Ōizumi-gakuen Station in Nerima Ward, Tokyo for Robot Girls Z.
@shira_ry made a pilgrimage to the Kameido neighborhood in Kōtō Ward, Tokyo for the film Miraifukuin extra chorus, the most recent film installment of the Kara no Kyōkai franchise.
@k_soryu made a pilgrimage to Ise, Mie Prefecture for Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora.
