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
2016 Ōarai Ankō Matsuri
Netorabo published an article about the 2016 Ōarai Ankō Matsuri. The festival in the coastal Ibaraki city has been held since 1998, but saw attendance numbers explode following the broadcast of Girls & Panzer.
あんこう祭メインステージ、人いっぱいなのです＾＾（名物あんこう吊るし切り） まいわい市場もガルパン関係列が出来てます。 #あんこう祭 pic.twitter.com/jH7L8WyuIh
— 刑部伊月（いづき） (@bluetwintail) November 13, 2016
2016 Yuwaku Bonbori Matsuri
@fragments_sue published a photo essay from the 2016 Yuwaku Bonbori Matsuri in Yuwaku Onsen, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. This event began as a fictional festival in Hanasakau Iroha.
Seichijunrei practices
AbemaTIMES published a very detailed article explaining seichijunrei practices, extensively quoting Hokkaido University professor Okamoto Ryosuke and using examples from Kimi no Na wa. and Shin Godzilla.
Kita-Akita Hida Kimi no Na wa. seichijunrei
Yomiuri Shimbun published an article about seichijunrei to Maeda-Minami Station in Kita-Akita, Akita Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa. The rail operator printed an additional run of 2000 commemorative tickets after the first 1000 sold out.
Cinemas by Shochiku published an illustrated article about seichijunrei to Hida, Gifu Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.
Gifu seichijunrei
Gifu Shimbun published an article about the economic boost, estimated at 25.3 billion yen, from seichijunrei to Gifu Prefecture induced by Kimi no Na wa., Koe no Katachi and children’s film Rudorufu to Ippaiattena.
Kimi no Na wa. art director
Asahi Shimbun published an interview with the art director for Kimi no Na wa.
Kimi no Na wa. Tokyo tour
RocketNews24 (article) and Anime News Network (article) published stories about a Kimi no Na wa. walking tour offered by travel agency H.I.S.
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 for Episode 6.
@nagatoyukito made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Kyoto and Uji for Episode 1.
@ktism1228s made a pilgrimage to the Nagoya Congress Center in Nagoya, Aichi Precture for the Season 1 OP.
Episode 6
Todō Senior High School (莵道高校)
Prefectural Uji Park intersection (府立宇治公園前交差点)
In front of Keihan Uji Station (京阪宇治駅), this electronic message board warns not to enter the sandbar islands in the Uji River, due to high discharge volume from upstream Amagase Dam (天ヶ瀬ダム) during the typhoon.
Near Agata Jinja-mae intersection (県神社前交差点)
Right side: Ryokan Tōmi Cha-ya (旅館 塔見茶屋)
Agata Jinja sandō (県神社参道). The modern street takes its name from what was once the approach path to the shrine.
Agata Jinja-mae intersection (県神社前交差点)
Right side: Agata Jinja (縣神社)
Prefectural Uji Park intersection
You can never have enough lens flare and ghosting.
Near the Hadoyama assembly hall (羽戸山集会所), in the residential neighborhood on the slope above Hadoyama Ryokuchi Park (羽戸山緑地) and below Todō High School
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 Shinkawa, Tsukuda, Tsukishima and Sendagaya, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 6.
Episode 6
Shinkawa (新川)
Chūō Bridge (中央大橋)
Japan Shōgi Association (日本将棋連盟) in Sendagaya (千駄ヶ谷)
Takabashi (高橋)
Shinkawa
Tsukishima Station (月島駅)
Tsukishima (月島)
Fast food restaurant used as third place.
The Great Passage
(舟を編む Fune o Amu)
Episode 5
I’m making an assumption that most, if not all of these street scenes with bookstores are from Kanda (神田), Chiyoda Ward.
Munatsukizaka (胸突坂) in Hongō Kikuzaka (本郷菊坂), Bunkyō Ward
Yuri!!! on Ice
(ユーリ!!! on ICE Yūri on Aisu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@sky_dj_ made a pilgrimage to Karatsu, Saga Prefecture for the OP, ED and Episode 1 through Episode 5.
Episode 6
Capital Indoor Stadium (首都体育馆) in Beijing, China
Shenxiangzi hotpot, Baishiqiao shop (深巷子老灶火锅 白石桥店). This is about an 800 meter walk from the stadium.
Jianbing (煎饼)
Hole-in-the-wall around the corner from my apartment makes a mean jianbing.
Poco’s Udon World
(うどんの国の金色毛鞠 Udon no Kuni no Kin’iro Kemari)
Episode 6
Tokyo Tower (東京タワー)
Kaname Jun (要 潤) introduces the Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園)
WWW.Wagnaria!!
(WWW.WORKING!!)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Chūō Ward and Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Episode 1 through Episode 6.
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@Bf109K1 made a pilgrimage to Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture for Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni (In This Corner of the World).
@rimatai made a pilgrimage to Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Long Riders!
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Ōme, Tokyo Metropolis for Stella no Mahō.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Mitaka Station in Mitaka, Tokyo Metropolis for Watashi ga Motete Dōsunda.
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture for Keijo!!!!!!!!
Past Season Pilgrimage
@ktism1228s made a pilgrimage to Ōgaki, Gifu Prefecture for Koe no Katachi.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Saku, Koumi and Iida, Nagano Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.
@lilysis08mai made a pilgrimage to Hida, Gifu Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Tomakomai, Hokkaido Prefecture for Boku Dake ga Inai Machi.
@MatsuYan made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Shōjotachi wa Kōya o Mezasu.
@mikkatatsu made a pilgrimage to the Sunflower Sapporo, a cruise ship that travels between Ōarai, Ibaraki Prefecture and Tamakomai, Hokkaidō Prefecture, for Girls und Panzer Gekijōban.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3) , post 4, post 5, post 6, post 7) to Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.
@bFhe2zUu1VPqZ8l made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3) to Toyosato, Shiga Prefecture for K-On!
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Sangūbashi, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru (5 Centimeters Per Second).
6 comments
q87dt says:
Nov 18, 2016
Just in case you were wondering about the car Taki-sensei is driving in episode 6 of Hibike! Euphonium: It’s a Citroen Ami 8 Berline (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_Ami). Judging by the interior design probably the initial version from around 1969/1970.
Michael says:
Nov 18, 2016
Thanks! Saw that on Twitter. Not really a key detail for my scope, but certainly very interesting.
Linda says:
Nov 18, 2016
Do you have any idea why they don’t use the real Metro logo in that shot from Sangatsu? I’m sure you’ve posted a million screenshots that use the real JR logo.
Michael says:
Nov 18, 2016
Anime tend to err on the side of caution/CYA with using real trademarks. If they don’t have any kind of agreement or cooperation relationship with the owner, they’ll often do that. I’ll look closely at the end credits when I have a minute. Since JR is mentioned by name in the dialog, that could mean they got approval for that.
Linda says:
Nov 19, 2016
I could be remembering a million JR screenshots from other shows… but because of that, I feel like I’ve never seen a fake one?
Michael says:
Nov 19, 2016
It’s often done very surreptitiously. They’ll use the same color scheme and typefont, just changing a small detail, like having “JB” or “LR” instead of “JR”. I’d put money that you’ve seen them before, just didn’t notice. (^^)