Welcome to this week’s review of notable instances of transit, place and culture as rendered in anime currently broadcast in Japan and simulcast internationally via the web. For a detailed outline of the approach, please refer to the explanation in the inaugural issue. Links to streaming sources are included when available, though not all may have current episode available at the time this column is published.
Love Live! Sunshine!!
(ラブライブ！サンシャイン!! Rabu Raibu! Sanshain)
Watch: Crunchyroll • Funimation • Daisuki
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Episode 6.
@keihi49 made pilgrimages to Numazu for Episode 4, Episode 5. and Episode 6.
@tenohira17 made a pilgrimage to Numazu for Episode 5.
Episode 6
Fountain at the Awashima Hotel (淡島ホテル)
[Credit: @obsidiana_verde, Twitter; @keihi49, Twitter]
Awashima Jinja (淡島神社)
Mito swimming beach (三津海水浴場)
Remains of Nagahama Castle (長浜城跡)
This week, Aquors tasks itself with creating a promotional video for their school. They throw themselves into searching for places they think will convey the attractiveness of Numazu to high school students.
Numazu Sannoura Tourist Information Center (沼津三の浦観光案内所)
Mikan (蜜柑) are an orange variety and one of Numazu’s commercial products. They’ve been sneaking into most episodes prior, but now they’re out front and center.
Mito swimming beach
Numazu Station (沼津駅) south exit
Numazu Nakamise Shōtengai (沼津仲見世商店街)
Cycling up to Izu-Nagaoka Station in Izunokuni (伊豆の国), Shizuoka Prefecture. This is the first area location outside of Numazu city limits, though it’s not far to the east.
[Credit: @k_in_JolShika, Twitter]
Izu-Nagaoka Station (伊豆長岡駅)
Shōgetsu (松月) bakery/cafe in Numazu
Rikō-dōri Shōtengai (リコー通り商店街)
Mito Post Office bus stop (三津郵便局バス停)
Awashima Hotel (淡島ホテル)
[Credit: @obsidiana_verde; Twitter]
Numazu Deep Sea Aquarium (沼津港深海水族館)
[Credit: @obsidiana_verde, Twitter]
Ultimately, their emphasis on physical places and conventional tourism attractions results in an uninspiring first attempt at the video. But a newcomer to the city helps them see the significance of the entire community coming together each year to clean up the shoreline on the first day of beach season. Sometimes the software is more important than the hardware.
Mito swimming beach
Orange
(オレンジ Orenji)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture for Episode 5, and visited the special Orange art exhibition at Matsumoto Parco department store.
Episode 6
This week depicts Matsumoto Bonbon (松本ぼんぼん). The popular summer festival featuring many groups of bon odori (盆踊り) dancers is the largest annual event in the city.
Publicly accessible greenspace in the embankment along the Ta River (田川), near Yohashira Jinja
Yohashira Jinja (四柱神社)
Matsumoto Castle (松本城)
Agata no Mori Park (あがたの森公園)
New Game!
(ニューゲーム Nyū Gēmu)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@626shin made a pilgrimage to Mitaka and Asagaya, Sugnimi Ward (both Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 1 through Episode 4.
Episode 6
Shinjuku Wald 9 (新宿バルト9) cinema in Shinjuku 3-chōme (新宿3丁目), Shinjuku Ward
The view from the elevator is curious. They’ve shifted Takashimaya a bit north, so as to line up with the Tokyo Metropolitan Govenment Building, then dropped Shinjuku Central Park in where Shinjuku 3-chōme would be.
Ōme-kaidō (青梅街道) in Asagaya Minami (阿佐谷南), Suginami Ward
Sweetness and Lightning
(甘々と稲妻 Amaama to Inazuma)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@626shin made a pilgrimage to Musashi-Sakai, Musashino, Tokyo Metropolis for the OP and Episode 1.
Episode 6
The shōtengai that appears this week is not the Sukippu-dōri, but it may be nearby. I’ll update if I learn more.
ReLIFE
(リライフ Riraifu)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Arai, Nakano Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 6.
Episode 6
North entrance to Nakano Broadway (中野ブロードウェイ), at the border of Nakano (中野) and Arai (新井) municipalities, Nakano Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Yakushi Ai Road Shōtengai (薬師あいロード商店街) in Arai
Kuromukuro
(クロムクロ)
Episode 18
Amanchu!
(あまんちゅ！)
Watch: Crunchyroll
Episode 5
Itō High School bus stop (伊東高校バス停) in Itō, Shizuoka Prefecture
Atami (熱海), Shizuoka Prefecture
Planetarian
(planetarian ～ちいさなほしのゆめ～ Planetarian: Chiisana Hoshi no Yume)
Watch: Funimation • Daisuki
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Hamamtsu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Episode 4 and Episode 5.
Special Items
Media and General Interest
KAI-YOU published an interview with Higashiji Kazuki, who has served as art director on many P.A. Works anime series, as well as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Kon Satoshi film Paprika. The interview goes into considerable depth on the creative and technical aspects of designing anime backgrounds.
Saitama Shimbun published an article about pop culture tourism special events held in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture for Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda. (The Anthem of the Heart), which drew approximately 6,000 fans for the one day event.
Daily Mail published an article about pop culture tourism to the Russel Hotel in Sydney, Australia for Free! -Eternal Summer-.
Future Season Pilgrimage
@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Shinjuku Ward and Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Shinkai Makoto film Kimi no Na wa. (Your Name).
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture for Momokuri.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@tenohira17 made a pilgrimage to Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture for Flying Witch, including the Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri.
@donko824 made a pilgrimage to Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture for Hai Furi.
@habusan made a hiking pilgrimage to Mount Fuji for Yama no Susume Second Season.
@yomikatajiyu made pilgrimages to Kita-Akabane Station, Ikebukuro Station, Komagome Station, Ochanomizu Station, Shinjuku, Sangūbashi Station and Sangūbashi Park for Shinkai Makoto film Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru (5 Centimeters Per Second).
