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
National Anime Holy Land Summit
The National Anime Holy Land Summit in Toyosato (全国アニメ聖地サミットin豊郷) was held on 23 November 2014 in Toyosato, Shiga Prefecture. The academic conference consisted largely of presentations and panel discussions regarding use of anime as a regional tourism driver, and was held in the former Toyosato Elementary School, used extensively as the location model for the school in Kyoto Animation’s K-On! NHK (article), Kyoto Shimbun (article) and Asahi Shimbun (article) ran brief stories describing the general purpose of the event. The summit was well attended by members of the core butaitanbou community, though thus far only @kazupi (post) and @m_fright (post) have blogged about the events. Due to a strict policy set by summit organizers, photos are almost entirely of peripheral events and not from the main presentation sessions. The biggest celebrity to emerge from the day was a Shiba Inu named Choco (ちょこ) belonging to @choko_kazu. Choco frequent accompanies Kazu on anime pilgrimages and is known among the community as Seichijunrei Dog (聖地巡礼犬).
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
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture, including the Akebono Children’s Park, for Episode 20.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Mount Takao in Hachiōji, Tokyo Metropolis for Season 1.
Episode 20
A pleasant surprise during an otherwise light week, Yama no Susume departs from its usual regimen of mountain climbing, devoting an entire episode to Kokona touring various types of public space in Hannō (飯能), Saitama Prefecture. First is the city’s Central Park (中央公園).
Hannō Meeting Hall (飯能市民会館)
Hannō Ebisu Jinja (飯能恵比寿神社)
The shallow riverbed in the center of the city has appeared in previous episodes, and is a popular recreation area.
Hannō Central Community Center (飯能中央公民館)
Yakyū Bridge (矢久橋)
Paved walking paths through the embankments along the riverbed
Hannō South High School (飯能南高等学校)
Hachikō Line (八高線)
Azu-Iwasawa Flow Bridge (阿須・岩沢 流れ橋), designed to allow water to pass over it in the event of flooding
Azu Athletic Park (阿須運動公園)
Akebono Children’s Forest Park (あけぼの子どもの森公園)
Celestial Method
(天体のメソッド Sora no Mesoddo)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Ginza, Chūō Ward, Tokyo for Episode 7, and updated a previous pilgrimage to Sapporo, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Episode 8.
@hiphaist made pilgrimages to Tōyako, Toyoura and Sapporo (all Hokkaidō Prefecture) for Episode 8.
Episode 8
Tokyu Hands Sapporo store (東急ハンズ札幌店)
Sapporo (札幌), Hokkaidō Prefecture
This week, there are multiple scenes of arrivals and departures at the Tōyako Onsen bus terminal (洞爺湖温泉バスターミナル).
Mitoyo Tunnel (三豊トンネル)
Sapporo TV Tower (さっぽろテレビ塔)
Former Hokkaidō Government Office (北海道庁旧本庁舎)
Shirobako
(シロバコ)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@kibaichi made a pilgrimage to Tanashi, Nishitōkyō for Episode 8, updated a previous pilgrimage to Musashi-Sakai, Musashino to include Episode 6 and Episode 7, and updated a previous pilgrimage to Ogikubo, Suginami Ward for Episode 8 (all Tokyo Metropolis).
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to multiple Tokyo locations for Episode 6 through Episode 8.
Episode 8
Aoi’s older sister drags Midori on what is perhaps one of the most cliched Tokyo sightseeing itineraries. Asakusa Kaminarimon-dōri Shōtengai (浅草雷門通り商店街)
Kaminarimon (雷門)
Asahi Beer Hall (スーパードライホール)
Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー)
Shimoigusa 5-chome (下井草五丁目), Suginami Ward
Sidewalk barriers called into action, preventing a car from jumping the curb in a low-speed collision.
Outdoor cafe seating
Update 2014/12/03: This is La Boutique de Joel Robuchon, Marunouchi shop (ラ ブティック ドゥ ジョエル・ロブション 丸の内店). [Credit: @ssslocation, from blog]
Grounds of the Institute for Sustainable Agro-ecosystem Services (生態調和農学機構), part of the The University of Tokyo, in Tanashi (田無), Nishitōkyō.
Your lie in April
(四月は君の嘘 Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@acqua_alta made a pilgrimage to Nerima Ward, Shinjuku Ward, Niiza and Kodaira (all Tokyo Metropolis) for covering selections from Episode 1 through Episode 7.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Shinjuku Ward and Kodaira, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 7.
Yuki Yuna is a Hero
(結城友奈は勇者である Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@hiro_tan3 made a pilgrimage to Kan’onji, Kagawa Prefecture for Episode 7.
@Bf109K1 made a pilgrimage to Kan’onji, Kagawa Prefecture for Episode 1 through Episode 4.
Amagi Brilliant Park
(甘城ブリリアントパーク Amagi Buririanto Pāku)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Akatsutsumi, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo for Episode 8.
Sword Art Online II
(ソードアート・オンラインII Sōdo Āto Onrain II)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Daisuki • Hulu
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Ginza, Yūrakuchō, Ōtemachi and the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for Episode 1 and Episode 14.
Other Pilgrimage
@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Ōgaki Station in Ōgaki, Gifu Prefecture for the manga Koe no Katachi, which announced it has entered the planning phase for an anime adaptation.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Yanagimori Jinja in Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo for Denkigai no Hon’ya-san.
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Nakanojō, Gunma Prefecture for Gugure! Kokkuri-san.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage (gallery 1, 2) to Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo for selector spread WIXOSS.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture for Futsū no Joshikōsei ga Rokodoru Yattemita.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Sapporo Fushimi Inari Jinja for Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha.
@gonta0822 made a pilgrimage to Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture for Nōrin.
@Bf109K1 made a pilgrimage to Ōboke Station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture for Kyōkai no Kanata.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Sapporo, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Servant x Service.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Komoro, Nagano Prefecture for the Ano Natsu de Matteru OVA.
@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to the former Mie Prefectural Office Building and Imperial Hotel, now at the Meiji-mura architectural museum in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture for Fate/Zero.
@ngwrb made a pilgrimage to Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture for Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to the Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill in Sapporo, Hokkaidō Prefecture for K-On!!
