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
Kumamoto Natsume seichijunrei
Asahi Shimbun published an article about seichijunrei to Kumamoto Prefecture for Natsume Yūjin-chō.
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!
(やはり俺の青春ラブコメはまちがっている。続 Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru. Zoku)
Episode 1
The return of Oregairu brings us back to Chiba City (千葉市), Chiba Prefecture. An early scene depicts high school students walking to school on the morning commute, though the second half of the episode diverts to a school trip to Kyoto. Chiba Municipal Sōbu High School is modeled on Chiba Municipal Inage High School (千葉市立稲毛高校).
Tokyo Station (東京駅)
Tōkaidō Shinkansen (東海道新幹線)
Obligatory “Hey, I can see Mount Fuji from the train!” scene
Kyoto Station (京都駅)
Kyoto Tower (京都タワー)
Kyoto Station
Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)
Jishu Jinja (地主神社), part of the Kiyomizu-dera grounds
Pro tip: Don’t do this.
Pro tip 2: Do accept the drinking ladle from the attractive classmate who is kind of into you.
Hotel Heian no Mori Kyoto (ホテル平安の森京都) [Credit: @nandakaomo, from Twitter]
Ramen chain Tenkaippin original shop (天下一品本店) in Ichijōji Tsukida-choō Sakyō Ward, Kyoto [Credit: @hiro2712, from Twitter]
Re-Kan!
( レーカン! Rēkan!)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Sōka, Saitama Prefecture for the OP and Episode 1.
Opening Credits
The setting of Rēkan! is modeled on Sōka (草加), Saitama Prefecture. The opening credits hop around to a number of the city’s notable points of interest and public spaces. First to appear is Hachiman Jinja (八幡神社).
Matsubaradanchi Nishiguchi Park (松原団地西口公園)
Futabakashi Park (札場河岸公園). This and several other locations that appear in the setting are parts of the Sōka Matsubara Promenade (草加松原遊歩道), a network of pedestrian greenways, walkways and bridges traversing the city.
Sanmachi Inari Jinja (三町稲荷神社)
Den’u River (伝右川)
Promenade
Osencha-ya Park (おせん茶屋公園)
Yatate Bridge (矢立橋), on promenade
The school building is modeled on the Sōka Municipal Museum of History and Folk Customs (草加市立歴史民俗資料館).
Episode 1
Promenade
Yatate Bridge, on promenade
Promenade
Futabakashi Park, on promenade
Students (and ghosts) walk to school on the morning commute.
Sōka Municipal Museum of History and Folk Customs
Amami aspires to a deeper friendship with Inoue, but struggles to trigger the very important walk home from school together flag.
Matsubaradanchi Nishiguchi Park
Based on the screentime and unique cut count in the first episode, the park appears to be a node for Amami’s supernatural encounters.
Shirobako
(シロバコ)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@kazupi made a pilgrimage to Sado Island, via the Sado Kisen jetfoil ferry in Niigata Prefecture for Episode 24.
@shy_dj_ made a pilgrimage to Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture for Episode 24.
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Koizumi Farm in Oizumigakuencho, Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 24; and published a report on the wrap-up of the Shirobako promotional collaboration with the Skip-dōri Shōtengai in Musashi-Sakai, Musashino, Tokyo Metropolis.
@MatsuYan made a pilgrimage to the Chōfu Airport in Chōfu, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 15.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Tanashi, Nishitōkyō, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 8.
Your lie in April
(四月は君の嘘 Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@626shin made a pilgrimage to Nishi-Ōizumi, Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 15.
@ye_bi_su made a cherry blossom pilgrimage to Ōizumi, Shakujiidai, Kami-Shakujii and Takanodai (all Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 1/2/22.
@Roan_Inish made a cherry blossom pilgrimage to Higashi-Ōizumi, Takanodai and Shakujii Park (all Nerima Ward) for Episode 2.
@rimatai made a cherry blossom pilgrimage to Higashi-Ōizumi, Nishi-Ōizumi (both Nerima Ward); and Niiza, Saitama Prefecture for multiple episodes.
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)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ngwrb made pilgrimages to (post 1) Nishigahara, Kita Ward; Ikenohata, Taitō Ward; Fujimachi, Nishitōkyō (preceding all Tokyo Metropolis); and Wakō, Saitama Prefecture for Episode 11; and (post 2) Akihabara (Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda Ward) and Takada, Toshima Ward (both Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 12.
@ngwrb made a pilgrimage to multiple locations for the manga source material Saenai Hiroin no Sodatekata Koisuru Metoronōmu, Volume 2.
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)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Harajuku and Omotesandō, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 10.
Other Pilgrimage
@keyboar published a report on the state of Haruhi inspired tobidashi in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, as the city prepares for Nagato Yuki-chan no Shōshitsu.
@kortoku made a pilgrimage to Shibuya ekimae, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Owari no Serafu.
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Isuca.
@tianlangxing made a pilgrimage to Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Durarara!! X2 Shou.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to the Shinjuku central business district, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Aldnoah.Zero.
@thunder_cycle made a cherry blossom pilgrimage to the Lake Biwa canal in Kyoto for Tamako Love Story.
@teo_imperial made a cherry blossom pilgrimage to Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, Tama, Tokyo Metropolis for Isshūkan Friends.
@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Nakatane, Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture for Robotics;Notes.
@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture for Yosuga no Sora.
