Weekly Review of Transit, Place and Culture in Anime 167

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

Inbound seichijunrei
Nihon Keizai Shimbun published an article that mentions anime pilgrimage in the context of foreign tourist interests and trends in Japan.

Nishinomiya Nagato Yuki-chan seichijunrei
Nishinomiya Keizai Shimbun published an article about seichijunrei to Nishinomiya for Nagato Yuki-chan no Shōshitsu.

Nishinomiya Haruhi map
Yomiuri Shimbun published an article about the official map produced by the city of Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture to promote seichijunrei for works from the Haruhi franchise.

Kadokawa seichijunrei promotion
NNA Asia, part of the Kyodo News Group, published an article about plans by media conglomerate Kadokawa to promote seichijunrei locations in Japan at the 2016 Hong Kong Book Fair, to be held in July. This campaign follows similar efforts by local municipalities that participated in the Japan Pavilion in 2014 at the same event.

Erased

(僕だけがいない街 Boku Dake ga Inai Machi)

Episode 9

With Kayo out of harm’s way, Satoru is on the move again, taking us to a few new locations in Tomakomai (苫小牧), Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō Prefecture.

The river embankment (土手 dote) where he begins tailing Nakanishi features a paved walking path and covered seating areas. These buffer areas are meant to serve as flood protection during earthquakes but, as in this case, are often utilized as public space.

Satoru follows Nakanishi to the Ōmachi Ginza Shōtengai (大町銀座商店街).

He and Kenya keep watch over Hiromi at the children’s center until it is time for them to head home.

Satoru returns to Ōmachi Ginza Shōtengai to continue after Nakanishi after her cram school dismissal, but is cut short when he encounters his mother on a grocery run.

Local service on the Muroran Main Line (室蘭本線)

She and Her Cat -Everything Flows-

(彼女と彼女の猫 -Everything Flows- Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko -Everything Flows-)

Opening Credits

Rail viaduct for the Tōkaidō Main Line (東海道本線) crossing the Yodo River near Tsukamoto Station (塚本駅) in Tsukamoto, Yodogawa Ward, Osaka City

[Credit: @ye_bi_su, blog]

Kanoneko is based on the 1999 self-made short film by Shinkai Makoto, which put the auteur in the public eye and helped launch the director’s animated feature film career. Shinkai’s films feature some of the highest production value and most detailed background artwork in the history of animation. While this adaptation is working within a TV budget and does not appear to involve Shinkai in production, the young studio Linden Films and director Sakamoto Kazuya have tried to incorporate some elements of Shinkai’s unique style, such as complex lighting and reflections, atypical camera angles, rack focus and dolly movements, and detailed tight shots. I’m looking forward to see what they can do with this.

Episode 1

Myriad Colors Phantom World

(無彩限のファントム・ワールド Musaigen no Fantomu Wārudo)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 9.

Episode 9

I’m not familiar with the light novel source material, but it’s not uncommon for Kyoto Animation to inject a little Kyoto history into an anime adaptation. We got a heaping dose of it this week.

The episode opens mid-narrative, placed in a version of Kyoto as conjured up by the phantom. Given the use of the Ikedaya Incident (池田屋事件) as the basis for the play-within-the-narrative, we’re most likely looking at Sanjō Ōhashi (三条大橋) around the end of the Edo period.

We jump back to the real world for a spell, near Shōnan-Enoshima Station (湘南江の島駅).

Itabashi Shinsengumi cenotaph (板橋新選組慰霊碑) in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo Metropolis

Ikedaya (池田屋)

The play version is a loose interpretation of the Ikedaya Incident, in which rōnin (masterless samurai) loyal to the emperor fought with other rōnin and Shinsengumi (the latter two in the service of the shogun). However, it takes some pretty wide creative liberties, such as including Sakamoto Ryōma (坂本龍馬), who in reality plotted against the shogunate and was hunted by Shinsengumi, not a collaborator with them. He also died two years prior to Ikedaya. History buffs can roll their eyes while the rest of us enjoy the hijinks.

The Ikedaya Incident occured on July 8 and the Gion Festival (祇園祭) occurs throughout July every year, so this part is not entirely implausible.

Nōryōyuka (納涼床), colloquially referred to as yuka when talking specifically about the Kamo River in Kyoto, is a long-running practice of temporary dining platforms setup over running water in summer months that continues to this day.

Ikedaya

One of Ryōma’s favored accessories, the Smith & Wesson Model 2 Army, is a bit much for Kurumi-chan to handle. It’s also a blending in of the Teradaya Incident (寺田屋事件), which occurred two years prior to Ikedaya. In the attack by rōnin loyal to the Satsuma daimyo on imperial loyalists including Ryōma at the Teradaya inn on 1862 May 21, Ryōma famously discharged this weapon but was also fatally injured in the scuffle.

Girls Beyond the Wasteland

(少女たちは荒野を目指す Shōjotachi wa Kōya wo Mezasu)

Episode 9

Shibuya (渋谷) scramble crossing

Jinnan Studio (神南スタジオ) in Jinnan, Shibuya Ward. Voice tracks for many of your favorite anime were probably recorded here.

[Credit: @LR_Mihuka, Twitter]

The high school in Shokomeza uses Yokohama City University (横浜市立大学) in Seto, Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama as its location model. It’s adjacent to the Keikyū Main Line trainyard between Kanazawa-Bunko Station and Kanazawa-Hakkei Station, which is why we so often see trains in these shots.

PSA: Don’t do this.

Because this.

Shibuya scramble crossing

Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū

(昭和元禄落語心中)

Episode 9

Streetcar crossing the Sumida River via Azuma Bridge (吾妻橋)

Haruchika – Haruta & Chika

( ハルチカ 〜ハルタとチカは青春する〜 Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@habusan (updated Field Guide) made a pilgrimage to Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture for Episode 9.

Episode 9

Tokai University Shizuoka Shoyo Junior and Senior High School (東海大学付属静岡翔洋高等学校・中等部) in Orido, Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka

Dagashi Kashi

(だがしかし)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to the Shibuya central business district in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo for Episode 8.

@fureshima made a pilgrimage to (post 1) Takeoka and Kyonan for Episode 4; and (post 2) Kanayakō lighthouse for the OP from Episode 3 and later (all Chiba Prefecture).

Episode 8

Shibuya Center-gai (渋谷センター街)

Durarara!! X2 Ketsu

(デュラララ!!×2 結 Durarara!!x2 Ketsu)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@tianlangxing made a pilgrimage to Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 33 (Ketsu 9).

Episode 9

Ikebukuro (池袋), Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis

Active Raid

(アクティヴレイド 機動強襲室第八係 Akutive Reido Kidō Kyōshūshitsu Dai-Hakkei)

Episode 9

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎)

Other Pilgrimage

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Kichijōji, Musashino, Tokyo Metropolis for Mahō Shōjo Nante Mō Ii Desu Kara.

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Ōhashi, Meguro Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Owarimonogatari.

@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Higashi-Ōizumi, Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Noragami Aragoto.

@keihi49 (post 1, post 2) made a pilgrimage to Machida, Tokyo Metropolis for Gekijō-ban Date A Live: Mayuri Judgement.

@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Mount Tanigawa in Gunma Prefecture for Yama no Susume Second Season.

@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture for Hello! Kin’iro Mosaic.

@donko824 (post 1, post 2) made a pilgrimage to Kure and Etajima, Hiroshima Prefecture for Kantai Collection.

@tsumuri_f5 made a pilgrimage to Venice, Italy for the Aria series.

@Twittist2 made a pilgrimage to the former Toyosato Elementary School in Shiga Prefecture for K-On!