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
Jiyūkokuminsha 2016 words
Japan Times published an article about the candidate list of 30 buzzwords for 2016 created by publishing house Jiyūkokuminsha, which includes both the term seichijunrei and film title Kimi no Na wa. (Ranking on Jiyūkokuminsha site)
2016 Ōarai Ankō Matsuri
dot. published an article about the record 130,000 attendance at the 2016 Ōarai Ankō Matsuri. The growth from 40,000 when the festival was first held in 1998 is attributed in large part to fans of Girls & Panzer. The article quotes Hokkaido University professor Yamamura Takayoshi, a preeminent researcher in anime tourism, explaining his hypothesis that anime pilgrimage locations across the board have benefited from a knock-on effect from Kimi no Na wa., which has induced pilgrimage behavior beyond the niche base into broader, more casual practice.
Hiroshima Kure Konoseka AR seichijunrei
Nikkei Style published an article about early pilgrimage to Hiroshima and Kure for Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni (In This Corner of the World). It talks about using augmented reality smartphone apps to facilitate touring, which is not a new thing, but may be particularly meaningful in this case. The film uses historical photographs as a basis to depict the city before it was destroyed by atomic bombing. While pilgrims can track down GPS coordinates, many of the locations may only have a few remaining clues that link them back to scenes from the film.
Gifu seichijunrei
EconomicNews 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.
Karatsu Yūri!!! on Ice locations
Saga Shimbun published an article about use of Karatsu, Saga Prefecture as a model for the setting of Yūri!!! on Ice.
Anime Tourism Association
Mantanweb published an article about Kadokawa’s Anime Tourism 88-Stop Pilgrimage. There aren’t any new developments, but the article does include a high level explanation of pop culture tourism and uses examples from Lucky Star and Slam Dunk, two titles that have appeared high on the preliminary ranking results. It also describes the strong and rising interest by tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China, groups that will be likely be targeted in Japan’s push to increase inbound tourism.
Sound! Euphonium 2
(響け！ユーフォニアム2 Hibike! Yūfoniamu 2)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ye_bi_su (post) and @kbt_tigers1985 (post) made pilgrimages to Uji and Kyoto Station for Episode 7.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage (new: post 1, post 2; updated: post 3, post 4, post 5) to Uji and Kyoto Station through Episode 7.
@R_ada_cchi (post) made a pilgrimage to Kyoto Station for Episode 7.
Episode 7
The contemporary Kyoto Station (京都駅) design by Hara Hiroshi met with significant opposition when announced, its imposing and very modern aesthetic felt to be out of character with Kyoto’s history and sensibility. Now approaching its twentieth anniversary, it’s the only Kyoto Station I’ve ever known, and it’s hard for me to imagine a trip to the city without the mental image of this structure.
Back when I started blogging about cities and transit years ago, one of my earliest approaches was based on the thinking that world class transit infrastructure was not just about connectivity and convenience (both of which are prerequisites), but also highly visible and frequently utilized civic space. Kyoto Station is a good exemplar of a transit hub that gets this right, with its multiple plazas and platforms that can be converted to event space. I’ve often been munching on a morning sugar burst in front of the second floor Mister Donut, unwittingly becoming audience to a concert or wedding from my balcony perch.
Keihan Rokujizō Station (京阪六地蔵駅)
Uji National Highway fumikiri (宇治国道踏切), the last grade level railroad crossing before Keihan Uji Station
Todō Senior High School (莵道高校)
Kyoto Station
The Kita Uji concert is setup on an upper level plaza, but with the wide open central space and vaulted glass ceiling, sound from here will reverberate throughout the station.
Prefectural Uji Park intersection (府立宇治公園前交差点)
Flip Flappers
(フリップフラッパーズ Furippu Furappāzu)
@fureshima compiled a Street View tour of locations in Motomiya and Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture for Episode 7.
Opening Credits
Possible: Nunobiki Highlands Wind Farm (郡山布引高原風力発電所) in Kōriyama (郡山), Fukushima Prefecture
I’ve been watching Flip Flappers just out of enjoyment. Given the heavy fantasy element, I had intended to leave it alone with regard to the weekly, even should a few real locations pop up. That changed this week, with some really interesting material, almost all of which was identified by @fureshima, who pays particular attention to works with settings based in Fukushima Prefecture.
Director Oshiyama Kiyotaka (押山清高) indicates he is from Motomiya (本宮), Fukushima Prefecture on his Facebook page. Most of the real locations used in Episode 7 are found in Motomiya.
For clarity, only the screen captures with likely or confirmed identifications have captions under them in this entry.
Episode 7
This cake is from the Romio Kaisei shop (Romio 開成店) in Kōriyama.
Mizuiro Park (みずいろ公園) in Motomiya
The cream and jam filled hot dog bun is believed to be from Murayama Bakery (ムラヤマベーカリー) in Motomiya.
[Credit: @pyonkichi_f, Twitter]
Mizuiro Park
The “Café au lait” milk drink is produced by Rakuō Nyūgyō (酪王乳業), based in Kōriyama.
Mizuiro Park
Fashion Center Shimamura Motomiya shop (ファッションセンターしまむら本宮店)
Fashion Center Shimamura Motomiya shop
Fukushima Prefectural Route 17 Kōriyama Railyard Line scramble crossing (福島県道17号郡山停車場線スクランブル交差点). That’s a mouthful.
Adatara Jinja (安達太良神社) in Motomiya
Adatara Jinja
Adatara Jinja
Overpass crossing the Tōhoku Main Line (東北本線) is a connecting road that links the Motomiya Interchange (本宮インターチェンジ) and Ōshū Kaidō (奥州街道), one of the five routes of the Edo period.
Motomiya Station (本宮駅)
Motomiya Station
Gohyakugawa Station (五百川駅). These are adjacent stations on the Tōhoku Main Line.
Embankment along the Abukuma River (阿武隈川), on the north side of the Prefectural Route 73 (県道73号線) viaduct in Motomiya
Abukuma River
Poco’s Udon World
(うどんの国の金色毛鞠 Udon no Kuni no Kin’iro Kemari)
Episode 7
Sōta and Poko return from Tokyo back to Takamatsu (高松), Kagawa Prefecture, traversing the Great Seto Bridge (瀬戸大橋) by train en route.
Uehara-ya head shop (上原屋本店) in Ritsurin-chō (栗林町), Takamatsu
[Credit: @tetsuya_0427, Twitter]
Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園)
The printed towel with local train lines is a real souvenir sold in Takamatsu.
[Credit: @tetsuya_0427, Twitter]
Kaname Jun (要 潤) introduces Angel Road (エンジェルロード) and Shōdoshima (小豆島)
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, Tsukishima and Tsukuda, Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 7.
Episode 7
Takabashi (高橋)
Shinkawa (新川)
Tsukishima (月島)
Tsukuda (small) Bridge (佃小橋)
Chūō Bridge (中央大橋)
Kamejima River flood gate (亀島川水門)
Tsukuda (small) Bridge
Tsukuda Bridge (佃大橋)
Yuri!!! on Ice
(ユーリ!!! on ICE Yūri on Aisu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@taiyaki0628 made a pilgrimage to Karatsu, Saga Prefecture for Episode 4.
Episode 7
Capital Indoor Stadium (首都体育馆) in Beijing, China
Hotel Nikko New Century Beijing
Palais des Sports in Paris, France
The Great Passage
(舟を編む Fune o Amu)
Episode 6
Munatsukizaka (胸突坂) in Hongō Kikuzaka (本郷菊坂), Bunkyō Ward
Munatsukizaka
WWW.Wagnaria!!
(WWW.WORKING!!)
Episode 8
Game Panic Kōfu (ゲームパニック甲府) in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture
[Credit: @animeseichi, Twitter]
Bikkuri Donkey, Date shop (びっくりドンキー 伊達店) in Date, Hokkaidō Prefecture
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@mikehattsu encountered the Yamanote Line train outfitted with advertising for the Love Live! μ’s Final Love Live! ~μ’sic Forever♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪~ Blu-ray release. He rode from Akihabara all the way to Yoyogi in order to explore each car. Good job!
@Bf109K1 made a pilgrimage to Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture for Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Nogata, Nakano Ward; Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward; and Tokyo Station for Girlish Number.
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Ebisu and Daikanyama, Shibuya Ward; Nogata; Ikebukuro; and Tokyo Station (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Girlish Number.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@ewi made a pilgrimage to Hida, Gifu Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.
@626shin made a pilgrimage to Tokyo for Kimi no Na wa.
@keihi49 made a pilgrimage to Kanda, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Love Live! Sunshine!!
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3, post 4, post 5, post 6) to Sakura and Narashino, Chiba Prefecture for Kin-iro Mosaic and Hello!! Kin-iro Mosaic.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to Narita International Airport for Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai.
8 comments
Allan says:
Nov 23, 2016
In Poco’s Udon World, the lunch in the peach-shaped box is Momotaro no Matsuri-zushi ekiben from JR Okayama Eki. The food is bara-zushi, a variant, I suppose, of chirashi-zushi and a local speciality. I’ve seen this before in anime and in books about Japan; it’s obviously fairly famous.
Full details here: http://shun-gate.com/en/power/power_style_19.html
Michael says:
Nov 23, 2016
This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing with us (^^)
Mini-skate says:
Nov 23, 2016
Woo!
Linda says:
Nov 23, 2016
This has nothing to do with your main interests, but I’m complaining about it here because I blame you for making me aware that Poco’s Udon World exists. I am annoyed about getting sucked into this show on the assumption that it would be about a tanuki and udon, when so far it’s actually a show about a guy who unexpectedly gets responsibility for taking care of a toddler. I guess that pitch didn’t sound interesting enough, but if they are going to hide it under the facade of tanuki and udon they really need to make more use of the tanuki and udon. Grrr.
Michael says:
Nov 23, 2016
I also wanted a show about tanuki and udon. I second this complaint.
Linda says:
Nov 24, 2016
The cruelest part is that I still have hope it will turn into a show about tanuki and udon, even though part of me is sure I am bound to be disappointed. But it helps to know I am not alone.
Carlos Ross says:
May 19, 2019
Late to the party, but I love it when fellow travelers end up at literally the same locations over time. Usually it’s the “big name tourist attractions” like, say, Kinkakuji or Itsukushima Shrine, but … the Mister Donut on the second floor of Kyoto Station? Heck yeah.
I can’t imagine getting this excited over a chain donut shop in, say, Austin or Orlando, but I guess hat’s the magic of a proper built environment with a sense of place.
Michael says:
May 20, 2019
That Mister Donut is my leaving Kyoto ritual. Unless it’s lunch time already, then either Daiichi Asahi or Shinpuku Saikan (^^)