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.
Tsukimonogatari
(憑物語)
Watch: Daisuki
Episode 1
Back on 2014 New Year’s Eve, the latest installment of the Monogatari franchise aired in a four episode burst. I like to hold on to these for a few weeks to allow time for the butaitanbou community to chase down leads, but this time around there wasn’t too much to look at from a location standpoint. Many of the places are returnees, though there are a few interesting newcomers.
In the opening of the series, Ononoki is on Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France.
Monogatari is no stranger to Americana, either.
Monogatari regular Kita-Shirahebi Jinja is back for the ride. This is inspired by Igusa Hachiman-gū (井草八幡宮) in Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis.
Japanese suburb texture. This has been used as the Araragi’s neighborhood since the beginning of Monogatari.
Temmabashi (天満橋), crossing the Okawa River in Osaka
As usual, we have various urban textures, completely uninhabited other than the characters in our play. This one has an American large city feel to it.
Episode 2
Episode 3
Rail infrastructure is a recurring motif. I can’t identify this as a specific location, though in previous series, stations and switchyards along the Chūō Main Line (中央本線) west of Shinjuku have commonly featured.
Our train looks an awful lot like an E233 series with a yellow or orange stripe. My money is on Chūō again.
Episode 4
As always, unnecessary pedestrian infrastructure in the middle of the forest greets visitors to the Kita-Shirahebi Jinja.
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (香港會議展覽中心)
Durarara!! X2
(デュラララ!!×2 承 Durarara!!x2 Shou)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Hulu
Fan Pilgrimage Update
Episode 3
Ikebukuro (池袋), Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Though through traffic streets thread all around the Ikebukuro central business district, the curbs have been expanded out from building fronts to create as much pedestrian space as possible.
Tokyu Hands Ikebukuro branch (東急ハンズ池袋店)
Your lie in April
(四月は君の嘘 Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Hulu
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 14.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Suwa Jinja in Nishi-Ōizumi, Nerima Ward for Episode 14.
Episode 14
Suwa Jinja (諏訪神社) in Nishi-Ōizumi, Nerima Ward. A blogger captured photos of a festival at the shrine in 2013 September.
The beach area, which also appeared in the OP for the first cour, is Shichirigahama (七里ヶ浜), just to the west of the Inamuragasaki (稲村ヶ崎) cape in Kamakura (鎌倉), Kanagawa Prefecture.
Protected sidewalk
Shichirigahama
Though not continuous, many sections of the Kamakura coast have a paved pedestrian promenade between National Route 134 and the beach/rocks.
Tetrapod erosion control
The Lawson comes from further east along the coast, in Sakanoshita (坂ノ下) near Hase Station.
SHIROBAKO
(シロバコ)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@fureshima (post), @kibaichi (post), @habusan (“Field Guide“) and @ssslocation (gallery) made pilgrimages to the Chōfu Airport in Chōfu, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 15 (previewed at end of Episode 14).
Episode 15
Chōfu Airport (調布飛行場) in Chōfu, Tokyo Metropolis
The new Musashino staff use the industry term location hunting (ロケーション・ハンティング) to describe their visit to the airfield to observe and document places and things that will inform how the studio creates artwork for their current series. When butaitanbou (舞台探訪) practitioners identify and visit the places they see in a finished work, they are reverse engineering this part of production.
Skippu-dōri Shotengai (すきっぷ通り商店街) in Musashi-Sakai, Musashino, Tokyo Metropolis
In the background is Asagaya Staion (阿佐ヶ谷駅), which straddles Asagayakita and Asagayaminami in Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis. Katsuragi is standing outside the main entrance to the Asagaya Pearl Center Shōtengai (阿佐谷パールセンター商店街).
The Idol M@ster Cinderella Girls
(アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ Aidorumasutā Shinderera Gāruzu)
Watch: Daisuki
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@FateViVid made a pilgrimage to Shibuya (municipality), Shibuya Ward and Sangenjaya, Setagata Ward (both Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 1.
@R_ada_cchi made a pilgrimage to Tokyo, Post 1 (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku and Kagurazaka), Post 2 (Yoyogi, Sangenjaya, Shibuya ekimae) for the OP and Episode 1.
Episode 3
Train carriage hanging advertisement
Train station (probably Shibuya) platform billboard advertisement
Shibuya ekimae
Turfed and publicly accessible river embankment (土手 dote)
Setagaya Maruyama Park (世田谷丸山公園) in Sangenjaya (三軒茶屋), Setagaya Ward
Orix Theater (オリックス劇場) in Nishi Ward, Osaka [Credit: @lidges, from Twitter]
Saekano -How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend-
(冴えない彼女（ヒロイン）の育てかた Saenai Hiroin no Sodatekata)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Hulu
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@FateViVid made a pilgrimage to Takada, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 1.
Episode 2
The first third place for the series is modeled on the Komeda Kissaten, Hōya shop (コメダ珈琲店保谷店) in Fujimachi, Nishitōkyō, Tokyo Metropolis. [Credit: @ssslocation, from Twitter]
Nozokizaka (のぞき坂) in Takada (高田), Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Shonen Hollywood -Holly Stage for 50-
(少年ハリウッド -HOLLY STAGE FOR 50-)
Watch: Funimation
Episode 16
Harajuku Station (原宿駅)
The president’s latest promotional activity has Shōnen Hollywood circulating around Harajuku for “spontaneous” encounters with fans.
Takeshita-dōri (竹下通り)
Hokoten is shorthand for hokōsha tengoku (歩行者天国), lit. pedestrian paradise, when a street is closed to vehicle traffic on set days and times.
The pedestrian zone is setup on the unnamed street that runs parallel to the Yamanote Line, along the east side of Yoyogi Park.
Looking south down Meiji-dori (明治通り) from Omotesandō (表参道)
Takeshita-dōri
In this episode, hokōsha tengoku extends to Omotesandō.
In front of the Omotesandō entrance of Harajuku Station
Tokyo Ghoul √A
(東京喰種トーキョーグール√A Tōkyō Gūru √A)
Watch: Funimation
Episode 3
There is concern as to whether Hinami will be safe (from ghoul hunters) attending an event at a local bookstore alone. Anteiku staff reason that the store is just “in front of the station”, so the high visibility and activity level should make it an unlikely time and place for a strike.
Abandoned underground shopping arcade that was once part of the connecting passages for a disused subway station
Special Items
@ye_bi_su made a pilgrimage to Uji, Kyoto Prefecture for the manga Hibike! Euphonium Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu e Yōkoso, the source material for the next Kyoto Animation TV series, premiering 2015 April.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture and Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Yama no Susume Second Season.
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Mount Tenran and Mount Tonosuyama in Hanno, Saitama Prefecture for Yama no Susume Second Season.
@ngwrb made a pilgrimage to the Wakasa Seaside Park in Kōtō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works.
@ye_bi_su updated his previous pilgrimage to Kyoto to include cuts from Umekōji Park for Tamako Love Story.
@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Fushimi Inari Taisha and Keage Station in Kyoto for Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture for Tamayura: More Aggressive.
