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
Kanazawa Hakkei Shokomeza map
Kanagawa Shimbun published an article about an official location map for Shōjotachi wa Kōya o Mezasu, produced by shopping district and business cooperatives in Kanazawa Hakkei in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, with the explicit aim of town revitalization through contents tourism.
Code for Numazu
WEB Kankō Seisaku Forum published an article about a project by Code for Numazu to calculate bicycle travel times between the main Love Live! Sunshine!! pilgrimage locations in the city. The Code for Numazu website published a full explanation and released the time table under a Creative Commons license.
Love Live! Sunshine!!
(ラブライブ！サンシャイン!! Rabu Raibu! Sanshain)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Numazu for Episodes 3/5/6.
@mi_kawana made a pilgrimage to Numazu for multiple episodes.
Episode 8
Tokyo Tower (東京タワー)
Tōkaidō Main Line (東海道本線)
Numazu Station (沼津駅)
The plaza outside the rail station becomes a receiving venue for Aquors upon their return to Numazu.
Awashima Hotel (淡島ホテル)
Terraced embankment between the Kano River and Numazu Central Park
Numazu Central Park (沼津中央公園)
[Credit: @obsidiana_verde, Twitter]
Raikō-ji (来迎寺)
[Credit: @tyukyu2, Twitter; @obsidiana_verde, Twitter]
Awashima Marine Park (あわしまマリンパーク)
Numazu Central Park
Mito swimming beach (三津海水浴場)
Amanchu!
(あまんちゅ！)
Episode 7
Izu-Kōgen Station (伊豆高原駅) in Itō, Shizuoka Prefecture
When there are product placements of consumer goods in media, most people can pickup quickly on the extra time and attention to an object. When the product is a place, it can be harder to detect, but Amanchu! makes it fairly easy to spot. When the show’s somewhat generic background art suddenly drops into sharp detail, there’s usually a reason behind it. The Izukyū Corporation (伊豆急行株式会社), operator of the Izu Kyūkō Line (伊豆急行線), is one of several commercial entities with which the production committee has entered a formal marketing collaboration, this one including Amanchu! themed commemorative tickets. This week’s episode gives spotlight in-show treatment to the rail operator’s assets.
Katori-sensei follows Pikari from school to the rail station, curious to know where the student is headed alone after class.
I was confused by the Tokyu logo for a moment, but a quick search reveals that Izukyū is a subsidiary of Tokyu Corporation (東京急行電鉄株式会社), the large rail operator and real estate developer.
@Little_Tutti (Twitter) notes that not only are the trains rendered with a high level of detail and accuracy, the door chime and train mechanical sounds appear to be on-site recordings from the Izu Kyūkō Line.
Pikari reveals the purpose of the trip after spotting Katori: a momentary glance at a cluster of hydrangeas in bloom on the track side as the train rolls past.
Tension resolved, the remainder of the journey is an opportunity for Katori to connect with and assess the emotional state of her student.
Kinomiya Station (来宮駅) on the JR Itō Line (伊東線) in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture
[Credit: @touyoko_com, Twitter]
Izu Kyūkō Line has through service onto the JR Itō Line, so this is a realistic train trip, and does not require a transfer at Itō Station, where the lines meet.
Pikari exchanges greetings with the station kiosk staff. This is not the first time she has made this trip.
New Game!
(ニューゲーム Nyū Gēmu)
Episode 8
Hitotsubashi University (一橋大学) main campus library in Kunitachi (国立), Tokyo Metropolis
Ōme-kaidō (青梅街道) in Asagaya Minami (阿佐谷南), Suginami Ward
Nakasugi-dōri (中杉通り) in Asagaya Minami
Sweetness and Lightning
(甘々と稲妻 Amaama to Inazuma)
Episode 8
Sukippu-dōri Shōtengai (すきっぷ通り商店街) in Musashi-sakai, Musashino, Tokyo Metropolis
Orange
(オレンジ Orenji)
Episode 8
Matsumoto (松本), Nagano Prefecture
On-grounds covered bicycle parking
Jōyama (城山) area
Susukigawa Ryokuchi Park (薄川緑地)
Kuromukuro
(クロムクロ)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@inoue1024 made a pilgrimage to Kurobe, Tateyama and Toyama City (all Toyama Prefecture) for Episode 13/14/16.
Future Season Pilgrimage
@los_endos_ continues his pilgrimage (part 2, part 3) to Ōgaki, Gifu Prefecture for the Koe no Katachi manga.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Hida-Furukawa Station in Hida, Gifu Prefecture for promotional visuals for Shinkai Makoto film Kimi no Na wa.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture for Kumamiko.
@cairn_07 made a pilgrimage to Ōarai and Daigo, Ibaraki Prefecture for Girls und Panzer Gekijōban.
@ktism1228s made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Tōyako and Sōbetsu, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Sora no Method.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Imagawa and Momoi, Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Girls und Panzer.
@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Aomori, Yomogita, Sotogahama and Imabetsu (all Aomori Prefecture) for Shinkai Makoto film Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho (The Place Promised in Our Early Days).
