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.
Concrete Revolutio
(コンクリート・レボルティオ～超人幻想～ Konkurīto Reborutio: Chōjin Gensō)
Episode 7
Use of a bar or club, which we’re told is in Yūrakuchō (有楽町), as third place. To boot, floor to ceiling windows draw the surrounding cityscape into the dining area.
I think the child-like scenarios and melodrama in Concrete Revolutio mask many interesting bits of history and social commentary that make the show more sophisticated than it seems. In particular, this and several prior episodes demonstrate awareness of the power of governments, advertising firms and news media to shape public opinion. Half the work of the Superhuman Bureau appears to revolve around managing optics for controversial issues.
Nihonbashi (日本橋) is already overshadowed by the expressway, so this fictional era’s model comes from sometime during or after 1964.
At a mid-block zebra crossing with no signal, cars do not yield to waiting pedestrians until outside force is called in.
By my unscientific account, when environmental pollution is depicted in anime, it’s often in a setting that doesn’t exist, isn’t Japan, or at least is a future dystopian version of Japan that no one would mistake for the real world. Depicting Shōwa era pollution in urban areas and suffering of residents hits close to home.
Use of cafe as third place
A Concorde supersonic passenger jet. Just for fun.
Organized protests in public spaces aren’t unusual in anime, but as with the pollution earlier, the anti-government themes and tactics used in the protests in Concrete Revolutio are much more reminiscent of the real student protests of 1960s Japan than I’m accustomed to seeing. There’s a lot going on here.
Beautiful Bones: Sakurako’s Investigation
(櫻子さんの足下には死体が埋まっている Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@gerad0705 made a pilgrimage to Asahikawa, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Episode 6.
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Asahikawa for Episode 1 through Episode 4.
Episode 6
Two uses of cafes as third place
Plazas and temporarily pedestrianized streets fill with people for hanabi in Asahikawa (旭川), Hokkaidō Prefecture.
Asahi Bridge (旭橋)
The river embankment (土手 dote) is also pedestrian accessible.
Noragami Aragoto
(ノラガミ ARAGOTO)
Episode 7
Hiyori and classmates walk to school on the morning commute.
Lily-of-the-valley style shōtengai lighting fixture
Owarimonogatari
(終物語)
Episode 7
An oldie but a goodie, appearing at least a few times in Monogatari Series Second Season, this is Kakinokizaka (柿の木坂), Meguro Ward, Tokyo Metropolis, along the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line (東急東横線) tracks between Toritsu-Daigaku Station (都立大学駅) and Gakugei-daigaku Station (学芸大学駅).
Grade level railroad crossing (踏切 fumikiri)
K Return of Kings
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@gromit1446 made a pilgrimage to Shiodome, Minato Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for the ED.
Other Pilgrimage
@qqbb5at9k made a pilgrimage to Kamakura and Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture for the PV to Musaigen no Phantom World.
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to the Shokei no Michi bamboo lantern festival in Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture for Tamayura.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Sapporo Station for Sora no Method.
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to stations and vistas from the Fujikyūkō Line that appear in Yama no Susume Second Season.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Yama no Susume Second Season.
@626shin made a pilgrimage to Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture for Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren. I was with Shin during this group tour following the 2015 Butaitanbou-sha Community summit.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Takayama, Gifu Prefecture for Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Chōshi, Chiba Prefecture for Amagami SS.
@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Kyoto from Mizuiro Jidai.
4 comments
Hpitoey says:
Nov 20, 2015
sir i still don’t understand special item section mean ?
it say @Xxx made pilgrimage to somewhere… how they can get there ? any information ?
Michael says:
Nov 20, 2015
Hi Hendri-
I only have time and means to report basic details like who, what and where (usually a city). I sometimes add more detail with pilgrimages for the 4-5 shows that I’m reviewing, as I’m more familiar with the content. I’ve provided links to all of the original pilgrimage posts, so you can always click through and try your best to understand the Japanese explanation.
Hpitoey says:
Nov 25, 2015
ah,, i didn’y know there was a link… hank you sir.. anyway i have decide where i’m to go… really2 thanks a lot sir…
Michael says:
Nov 26, 2015
No problem. I didn’t forget your email. Just a little busy the past few weeks.