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
Kimi no Na wa.
I had thought the media buzz over Kimi no Na wa. was finally entering a gradual cool down, but recent events have spurred renewed attention to Shinkai Makoto’s latest work and the real locations that appear in it.
This week there was a special screening of Kimi no Na wa. at the Hida Cultural Exchange Center. Locations in Hida, Gifu Prefecture feature in the film setting, but the city no longer has an operating movie theater.
- Segments on the screening appeared on NHK (national broadcast television news), as well as Japan News Network and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting CBC.
- Stories were published by the Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Kyodo News, NHK News Web, Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun published an article about the special exhibition of artwork from Shinkai films held in the creator’s hometown Koumi, Nagano Prefecture.
Sankei Shimbun published an article about a lecture given by Shinkai in nearby Saku, which also has locations that were incorporated into Kimi no Na wa.
The mayor of Saku was excited to share news from the event.
【新海誠監督講演会in佐久市①】
『千年前。隕石の落下によって糸守湖が出来ました。当時の人は、その衝撃のメッセージを残しました。それがあの組み紐のデザインであり三葉と四葉の舞なのです。』監督の解説に合わせ映像を辿るという今、日本で一番聞きたい話でした。
佐久市親子文庫の皆さんと。 pic.twitter.com/jMwdbeH3Rw— 佐久市長 柳田清二 (@Seiji_Ya) November 5, 2016
【新海誠監督講演会in佐久市②】
新海誠監督にご無理願いました。
たくさんの皆さんの思いを受け止めて頂いて感激しました。#新海誠 #君の名は #君の名はの好きなシーン pic.twitter.com/naSYuwSHi0— 佐久市長 柳田清二 (@Seiji_Ya) November 5, 2016
2016 Shōkei no Michi
@makotomatic (post), @framents_sue (post) and @ewi (post 1, post 2) published photo essays on the 2016 Shōkei no Michi (憧憬の路) in Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture, depicted in depth in Tamayura.
Machi okoshi seminar
Sanspo.com published an article about a recent seminar held in Nakano, Tokyo on machi okoshi (town development) through contents tourism, including anime seichijunrei.
Takamatsu Udon no Kuni seichijunrei
Asahi Shimbun published an article about seichijunrei to Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture for Udon no Kuni no Kin’iro Kemari.
Ōgaki Koe no Katachi seichijunrei
Gifu Shimbun published an article about seichijunrei to Ōgaki, Gifu Prefecture for Koe no Katachi, specifically mentioning the pilgrimage exchange notebook.
Amagasaki Sakamoto desu ga? map
Asahi Shimbun published an article about the official seichijunrei map released by Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture for Sakamoto desu ga?
Sound! Euphonium 2
(響け！ユーフォニアム2 Hibike! Yūfoniamu 2)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ye_bi_su made a pilgrimage to Uji, Kyoto Prefecture and Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture for Episode 5.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3, post 4, post 5) to Uji, Kyoto Prefecture for the OP and Episode 1 through Episode 3.
Episode 5
Uji (宇治), Kyoto Prefecture
Keihan Rokujizō Station (京阪六地蔵駅)
Keihan Uji Line (京阪宇治線)
Kitajima (北島), between Rokujizō Station and Kowata Station
Ōbaku Station (黄檗駅)
Above Hadoyama Ryokuchi Park (羽戸山緑地)
Hadoyama Third Childrens Park (羽戸山第3児童公園)
Todō Senior High School (莵道高校)
Small island in the middle of the Uji River
Amagasaki Cultural Center (尼崎市総合文化センター) in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture
March comes in like a lion
(3月のライオン Sangatsu no Raion)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Tsukuda and Shinkawa, Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 5.
Episode 5
Tsukuda (佃)
Tsukuda (small) Bridge (佃小橋)
Shinkawa (新川)
Shinkawa
Chūō Bridge (中央大橋)
Tsukuda
Chūō Bridge
Shinkawa
Shinkawa
Chūō Bridge
Kamejima River flood gate (亀島川水門)
The Great Passage
(舟を編む Fune o Amu)
Episode 4
Munatsukizaka (胸突坂) in Hongō Kikuzaka (本郷菊坂), Bunkyō Ward
I missed it earlier, the model for Sōun-sō is also in this location. The old house was used in the preceding live-action film version of Fune no Amu. Thanks to @sivuchllow (tweet) for pointing it out.
Ōkuma Lecture Hall (大隈講堂) at Waseda University (早稲田大学) in Shinjuku Ward
Munatsukizaka
Kanda?
I think this is the University of Tokyo (東京大学) main campus in Hongō (本郷). The iconic tree-lined walk leads from the main gate to Yasuda Auditorium.
Yasuda Auditorium (安田講堂) at University of Tokyo main campus
Kanda (神田), Chiyoda Ward
Munatsukizaka
Tokyo Dome City (東京ドームシティ) in Bunkyō Ward
Poco’s Udon World
(うどんの国の金色毛鞠 Udon no Kuni no Kin’iro Kemari)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
Not a pilgrimage, but the official Twitter account for the show has been sharing a lot of interesting location hunting material from production and promoting the local businesses that appear in the show, such as Reigan Teahouse on Yashima and Busshōzan Onsen.
Episode 5
Ikkaku Yashima shop (一鶴 屋島店)
Honetsukidori (骨付鳥), a local specialty of bone-in roasted chicken leg
Busshōzan Onsen (仏生山温泉)
Kaname Jun (要 潤) introduces Tokyo Tower (東京タワー)
Yuri!!! on Ice
(ユーリ!!! on ICE Yūri on Aisu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@sky_dj_ made a pilgrimage to Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture for Episode 5.
@taiyaki0628 made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Karatsu, Saga Prefecture for Episode 1 through Episode 3. Taiyaki did some great detective work and was able to find that the onsen interiors are modeled on the Kagamiyama Onsen (鏡山温泉) in Karatsu.
Episode 5
Okayama International Skating Rink (岡山国際スケートリンク) in Okayama City (岡山市), Okayama Prefecture
In the next episode preview, Victor mistakenly thinks they’re headed to Shanghai, begins singing about eating hairy crab (大闸蟹 dazhaxie) and xiaolongbao (小笼包).
It’s the height of crab season now, so I see these whenever I head out of my apartment.
Xiaolongbao you can get anytime you like!
WWW.Wagnaria!!
(WWW.WORKING!!)
Episode 6
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Hadano, Isehara and Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture; and Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture for Long Riders!
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Ōme, Tokyo Metropolis for Stella no Mahō.
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Kita-Senju Station in Adachi Ward; Kameido, Kōtō Ward; and Hirai, Edogawa Ward (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Stella no Mahō.
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Aoyama, Minato Ward; Akihabara, Chiyoda Ward; and Igusa, Suginami Ward (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Girlish Number.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Akihabara and unspecified other locations for Girlish Number.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@nagatoyukito made a pilgrimage to Yōrō, Gifu Prefecture for Koe no Katachi.
@thunder_cycle (post) and @626shin (post) made pilgrimages to Hida, Gifu Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to Yamashita Park in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Flying Witch and Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai.
@habusan published a Field Guide to Ōsakishimajima, Onomichi and Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture for Tamayura ~Sotsugyō Shashin~ Dai 3 bu: Akogare.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Ōme, Tokyo Metropolis for Subete ga F ni Naru: The Perfect Insider.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to Chiba Station for Hello!! Kin’iro Mosaic.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to (post 1) Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture; and (post 2, post 3) Kodaira, Tokyo Metropolis for Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture for Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Urayamaguchi, Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture for Non Non Biyori (both seasons).
@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Takayama, Gifu Prefecture for Hyōka.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Oyama and Iwafune, Tochigi Prefecture for Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru (5 Centimeters Per Second).
