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
2014 Butaitanbou Summit
The Butaitanbou-sha Community (BTC) held its annual summit on 2014 July 19 and 20, bringing together anime pop culture tourism enthusiasts from across Japan to review the past year and call attention to exceptional individual effort. This year’s gathering was held at Yuwaku Onsen in Kanazawa, Ibaraki Prefecture, the model for the setting of Hanasaku Iroha. Participants have been posting updates and photos throughout the weekend with the hashtag #bts2014ywk. This year’s grand prize (photo) was awarded to @lidges, whose long-term commitment to the practice has been long recognized within the community, and who helped raise the profile of the subculture among the general public with his extensive pilgrimages to Iwami, Tottori Prefecture for the first season of Kyoto Animation’s Free!
Ōarai Garupan seichijunrei
MSN News ran an article about persistent interest and pop culture tourism in Ōarai, Ibaraki Prefecture related to Girls & Panzer.
Glasslip
(グラスリップ Gurasurippu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@sky_dj_ made a pilgrimage to Mikuni and Awara, Fukui Prefecture for the OP, ED, Episode 1 and Episode 2.
@teravich (post) and @ni_pu_ (post) made pilgrimages to Mikuni and Awara for Episode 2.
@allora1207 (post), @kbt_tigers1985 (post) and @hiroina_7916ltd (post) made pilgrimages to Mikuni and Awara for Episode 1.
Glasslip is the runaway favorite among the butaitanbou community for the 2014 Summer season. The package of P.A. Works’ high production value with a non-Kanto area location model is generally a popular combination. With Kyoto Animation thus far not offering much competition, most eyes are on Mikuni and Awara.
Episode 3
This week features detailed interior shots of the workshop at WATARIGLASS studio (ワタリグラススタジオ).
Mikuni-Minato (三国港)
The group goes hiking and picnicking on Kariyasu Mountain (刈安山) in Awara (あわら), Fukui Prefecture.
Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line (えちぜん鉄道三国芦原線)
Megane (Spectacles) Bridge (めがね橋)
Tokyo ESP
(東京ESP)
Episode 1
Starting off with Shibuya 109, Tokyo ESP embarks on a parade of well-known landmarks and commercial centers around the city in its opening installment, in which the premise is introduced as humans with supernatural powers vs. those without. For all the visual fireworks thrown at the viewer, this one may have difficulty differentiating itself among a slate of shows all focused on terrorizing or destroying the city in one way or another. As one viewer quipped on Twitter, by the end of this summer Tokyo will be reduced to scorched earth as far as broadcast anime is concerned.
Higashi Inari Jinja (東伏見稲荷神社) in Nishitōkyō (西東京市), Tokyo Metropolis
Hie Jinja (日枝神社) in Nagatachō, Chiyoda Ward
National Diet Building (国会議事堂)
Yotsuya Station (四ツ谷駅)
Nihonbashi (日本橋), Chūō Ward
Ministry of Defense (防衛省) in Shinjuku
Studio Alta (スタジオアルタ) building, outside the east exit of Shinjuku Station
Shinbashi (新橋), Minato Ward
Shibuya Station (渋谷駅)
Yamanote Line (山手線)
Yebisu Garden Place (恵比寿ガーデンプレイス) in Ebisu, Shibuya Ward
Shinjuku
Shibuya crossing
Shibuya Mark City
Shibuya 109
West side of Shinjuku Station
A Keio bus to the rescue!
Terror in Resonance
(残響のテロル Zankyō no Teroru)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@tianlangxing made a pilgrimage to Asagaya, Kasumigaseki, Shinjuku and Roppongi (all Tokyo) for Episode 1.
Episode 2
Where Tokyo ESP is a bit hokey and at times jocular in its action and dialog, Zankyō no Teroru deals in cold, unsettling realism. The aftermath of the attack on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎) looks strikingly similar to the wreckage of the World Trade Center after 9/11.
Azabu Police Station (麻布警察署) in Roppongi
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁)
Shinjuku
Yamada Denki (ヤマダ電機) branch in Shinjuku
Roppongi-dōri (六本木通り), in front of the Azabu Police Station
Tokyo Ghoul
(東京喰種トーキョーグール Tōkyō Gūru)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Kichijōji in Musashino, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 2.
Episode 3
Shinjuku Station (新宿駅)
Kabukichō (歌舞伎町)
Aldnoah.Zero
(アルドノア・ゼロ Arudonoa Zero)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@sky_dj_ made a pilgrimage to the Port of Kobe in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture for Episode 2.
Opening Credits
Shiodome (汐留)
Episode 2
Shinjuku (新宿)
Port of Kobe (神戸港)
Shonen Hollywood -Holly Stage for 49-
(少年ハリウッド -HOLLY STAGE FOR 49-)
Episode 2
NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building (NTTドコモ代々木ビル)
Takeshita-dōri (竹下通り) is a good case study in how human scale streets create lively, high quality public space with a strong sense of place.
Harajuku Station (原宿駅)
Omotesandō (表参道)
Yamanote Line (山手線) stopping at Harajuku Station
Residential block in Harajuku
Rail Wars!
Episode 2
The entire episode takes place at Tokyo Station (東京駅).
Re: Hamatora
(Re:␣ ハマトラ)
Episode 2
Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい21)
Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街)
Free! – Eternal Summer
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@yacchamfree made a pilgrimage to Iwami, Tottori Prefecture for Episode 3.
Episode 3
Iwami (岩美), Tottori Prefecture
Kindai University (近畿大学)
Hanayamata
(ハナヤマタ)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@paffue (post) and @harahianago (post) made pilgrimages to Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 1.
Two different shrines appear in the opening credits. As visitors have discovered, one has color and designs that echo Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū, the most important Shinto shrine in Kamakura. The other shrine, which also appears in the first episode, shares many similarities with Egara Tenjinsha, though some feel the roof lines unobstructed by trees are meant to evoke Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū.
Episode 2
Kamakura (鎌倉), Kanagawa Prefecture. This week includes three instances of students walking to or from school.
One instance is a flashback to Naru and Yaya as young children, commuting without adult supervision.
Encouragement of Climb Second Season
(ヤマノススメ セカンドシーズン Yama no Susume Sekando Shīzun)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@nichirou made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for extensive documenting of all the show related paraphernalia setup around the town.
Other Pilgrimage
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture for Non Non Biyori.
@aqcuaria made a pilgrimage to Komoro, Nagano Prefecture for the PV to the Ano Natsu de Matteru OVA and Natsumachi-ren participation at Dokansho.
@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to the Endōji Honmachi Shōtengai in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture for Usagi Drop.
@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Imabetsu Station in Imabetsu, Aomori Prefecture for the Makoto Shinkai film Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho (The Place Promised in Our Early Days).
