Weekly Review of Transit, Place and Culture in Anime 136

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.

Sound! Euphonium

(響け! ユーフォニアム Hibike! Yūfoniamu)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@seki_saima (post), @ye_bi_su (post) and @thunder_cycle (updates: post 1, post 2) and @kbt_tigers1985 (post) made pilgrimages to Uji, Kyoto Prefecture for Episode 6.

@R_ada_cchi made a pilgrimage to Uji for Episode 5 and Episode 6.

Episode 6

Asagiri Bridge (朝霧橋) east end

Stone reinforced embankment (土手 dote) along the Uji River

Keihan 13000 series (京阪13000系)

Ōbaku Station (黄檗駅)

Ajirogi no michi (あじろぎの道)

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan

(長門有希ちゃんの消失 Nagato Yuki-chan no Shōshitsu)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@keyboar (post) and @thunder_cycle (update: post) made pilgrimages to Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture for Episode 7.

Episode 7

Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station (西宮北口駅)

Nishi-kita Park (にしきた公園) is a triangle-shaped plaza on the west side of Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station that needs no introduction for longtime Haruhi fans. The pocket park appears extensively in other works in the series and is hallowed ground for anime pilgrims visiting Nishinomiya.

This clock was scrapped several years ago during redevelopment of the plaza, but returned after fans discovered its remains in a scrap shop and lobbied the city for its restoration.

Cafe Dream (珈琲屋ドリーム)

The Shinano (しなの) is a limited express train service between Nagoya and Nagano operated by JR Central.

Nagano Station (長野駅)

The group passes through the ticket wicket, though neither tickets being inserted or IC card swipes are depicted.

They leave their luggage in coin lockers at the station in order to go sightseeing around the center of Nagano while they wait for the shuttle to their inn.

Soba and udon specialist Nagato-ya (長門屋). Get it? Nagato— ya— (^^)

[Credit: @ssslocation, from Twitter]

Zenkō-ji (善光寺)

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)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture for the OP and Episode 5 through Episode 7.

Episode 7

Takasu Community Center (高洲コミュニティセンター) in Mihama Ward (美浜区), Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture

Bicycling is Hachiman’s regular mode of transportation. He uses it to cover his commutes to school, as well as after school activities and errands on the return trip home.

Gyūdon chain Matsu-ya Inage shop (松屋稲毛店)

The First Kitchen Inage-ekimae shop (ファーストキッチン 稲毛駅前店) occupies a prime location at the edge of the bus and taxi rotary on the east side of Inage Station.

Totsuka and Hachiman stop at this third place for an impromptu conversation and light meal before they continue home.

Inage Station (稲毛駅)

Takasu Community Center

Kentucky Fried Chicken Inage Marinpia shop (ケンタッキーフライドチキン 稲毛マリンピア店)

Small plaza in front of Marinpia (マリンピア), a shopping center adjacent to Inage-Kaigan Station (稲毛海岸駅). Marinpia is its own corporate entity, though some shares are held by large developer ÆON (イオン株式会社) and the Chiba Economic Development Corporation (株式会社千葉経済開発公社).

Re-Kan!

( レーカン! Rēkan!)

Episode 7

Shōtengai in Sōka (草加), Saitama Prefecture

Matsubaradanchi Nishiguchi Park (松原団地西口公園)

Hatsumōde (初詣)

Hello!! Kinmoza

(ハロー!! きんいろモザイク Harō!! Kin’iro Mozaiku)

Episode 6

The group walks together on a weekend outing to a neighborhood cafe.

Students walk to school on the morning commute.

Other Pilgrimage

@sky_dj_ made a pilgrimage to Shin-Osaka Station for Baby Steps.

@MatsuYan made pilgrimages to (post 1) Igusa, Suginami Ward; and (post 2) Akihabara commercial district (Soto-Kanda), Chiyoda Ward (both Tokyo Metropolis) for Shirobako.

@MatsuYan made a pilgrimage to Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture for Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.

@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture; and Shibuya and Ebisu, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Yama no Susume Second Season.

@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Yama no Susume Second Season.

@mi_kawana made a pilgrimage to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto for Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha.

@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture for Tamayura: More Aggressive.

@ewi made a pilgrimage to Takehara for Tamayura.