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
Numazu Love Live seichijunrei
Asahi Shimbun published an article about anticipated seichijunrei to Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Love Live! Sunshine!!, premiering 2016 July. Local residents and business owners are using the OpenStreetMap platform to create a guide for anime pilgrims, with particular emphasis on using the bus system.
Eupho fan volunteer concert band
Kyoto Shimbun published an article about fans of Hibike! Euphonium that formed and recruited members for an Uji-based, volunteer concert band inspired by the work.
Keihan Eupho collaboration
Netorabo published an article about the promotional collaboration between the Keihan Electric Railway and Hibike! Euphonium running from March 31 to August 31.
Flying Witch
(ふらいんぐうぃっち Furaingu Uitchi)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
Aiamu made a pilgrimage to Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture for the manga source material.
Episode 2
Mount Iwaki (岩木山)
There isn’t as much movement this week as in the opening episode, but we do drop in on several new locations around Hirosaki (弘前), Aomori Prefecture.
Hirosaki Apple Park (弘前市りんご公園)
Iwakiyama Jinja (岩木山神社)
Hirosaki Castle (弘前城)
Hirosaki Park (弘前公園)
Shimoyuguchi bus stop (下湯口バス停)
Looking down from the grounds of Saishō-in (最勝院) and Yasaka Jinja (八坂神社)
Shimoyuguchi bus stop
In Makoto’s dream, she watches the waterfront from a bench in Yamashita Park (山下公園) in Naka Ward, Yokohama.
Ishiba Residence (石場家住宅)
Kuromukuro
(クロムクロ)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@inoue1024 made a pilgrimage to central Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture for Episode 2.
@ankou_anko made a pilgrimage (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4, tweet 5, tweet 6) to Imizu, Tateyama and Toyama City (all Toyama Prefecture) for Episode 1 and Episode 2.
Episode 2
P.A. Works founder and president Horikawa Kenji mentioned that, before Kuromukuro had been planned, he used to tell people that he wanted to have a giant robot stand on Kurobe Dam and “for some reason, it just should just attack Toyama”. (The studio headquarters is in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture.) They’d ask if he was serious and then laugh at him. This week in the second episode, he made it clear he really wasn’t kidding about that, and seems to enjoy having the last laugh.
A large, yellow robot comes ashore first in Kataguchi (片口), moving across other parts of Imizu (射水) on the way to Toyama City, the capital of the prefecture.
It doesn’t look like he came for farming work.
Kuromukuro breaks out of containment at the Kurobe Dam.
Yeah, that’s a rail viaduct. You’ll have to go over or under it.
What’s with that look on your face?
Hokuriku Shinkansen (北陸新幹線)
Hey! No! Bad robot! Don’t break the shinkansen! The extension to Toyama has only been online since 2015.
Crossing the Jinzū River (神通川). This is already inside Toyama City (富山市).
On the right and behind the cloud of smoke is Toyama City Hall (富山市役所).
Kenchōmae Park (県庁前公園)
On the left is the headquarters of the Kitanippon Shimbun (北日本新聞).
Lost a sword, but no problem. Just grab something handy.
Hey, wait. Not the streetcar!
Never stood a chance.
What did we learn about transit and urban commons in this week’s episode? Not so much. Was it still fun to watch them smashed to bits by giant robots? Definitely.
Tanaka-kun is Always Listless
(田中くんはいつもけだるげ Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge)
Episode 2
Asakusa Fuji Sengen Jinja (浅草富士浅間神社) in Asakusa, Taitō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
[Credit: @ssslocation, gallery]
floresta Hiroshima Hatchōbori shop (フロレスタ広島八丁堀店) in the Hiroshima Chūō-dōri Shōtengai (広島中央通商店街)
The doughnut shop with a great view of the grand thoroughfare through the center of Hiroshima is used as third place.
Shin-Hakushima Station (新白島駅) is shared by JR West trains and the Hiroshima Rapid Transit Astram Line (アストラムライン). The Astram Line section features this unusual, above ground atrium ceiling and day-lighting over the platform, which is just below street level.
Hiroshima Motomachi High School (広島市立基町高等学校)
Concrete Revolutio
(コンクリート・レボルティオ～超人幻想～ Konkurīto Reborutio: Chōjin Gensō)
Episode 15
Shinjuku (新宿)
@sivuchllow mentioned during the first season that this shot reminded him of the Keio Plaza Hotel (京王プラザホテル) when just completed (1971).
Hokōsha tengoku (歩行者天国 lit. pedestrian paradise) in Ginza (銀座), Chūō Ward, Tokyo
Update 2016/4/21: Former headquarters of Dentsu (電通本社ビル) from 1967 to 2002, then headquarters of DentsuTec (電通テック本社ビル) from 2003 to 2014, now owned by Sumitomo Realty & Development (in Tsukiji, Chūō Ward, Tokyo)
[Credit: @sivuchllow, Twitter]
And you thought there is never a girl online?
(ネトゲの嫁は女の子じゃないと思った? Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta?)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@q87dt commented on last week’s review and then made an on-site visit to confirm the Episode 1 eyecatch does indeed come from Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof.
Episode 2
Shin-Kashiwa Station (新柏駅)
Merlion Park in Singapore
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@Minky_j made a pilgrimage to Izumo, Shimane Prefecture for the manga version of Big Order.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Kōta, Aichi Prefecture for Haruchika ~Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru~.
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Takeoka Station in Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture for Dagashi Kashi.
@522858A made a pilgrimage to Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Shōjotachi wa Kōya o Mezasu.
@mikkatatsu made a pilgrimage to Ueno, Taitō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Sekkō Boys.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Ikeda, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru.
@ngwrb made a pilgrimage to Mimomi, Narashino, Chiba Prefecture for Hello!! Kin’iro Mosaic.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3) to Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to Kanda Sudachō, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Love Live!
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Obihiro, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Gin no Saji.
@ktism1228s made a pilgrimage to (post 1) Demachi Masugata Shōtengai and Nishiki-yu; (post 2) Fujinomori; and (post 3) Kyoto Station (all Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) for Tamako Market and Tamako Love Story.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Takayama, Gifu Prefecture for Hyōka.
@donko824 made a pilgrimage to Komoro, Nagano Prefecture for Ano Natsu de Matteru.
