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.
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 9.
@ewi made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Uji for the OP, Episode 1, Episode 7 and Episode 9.
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Uji for Episode 8.
@kuriserver made a pilgrimage to Uji for Season 1.
Episode 9
Keihan Rokujizō Station (京阪六地蔵駅)
Keihan Uji Line (京阪宇治線)
Prefectural Uji Park intersection (府立宇治公園前交差点)
Todō Senior High School (莵道高校)
Extra credit: The photo on Taki’s desk was taken near the southern end of the Philosopher’s Walk (哲学の道), near Nanzen-ji in Kyoto.
Keihan Uji Line
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
The manjū Kaori gives to Kumiko come from Kōeidō (幸栄堂). This traditional confectioner has two shops, both in Uji. Kaori’s earlier note to Natsuki describes the shop as near the station, so this probably refers not to the head shop, but the second one near Mimurodo Station in Todō-Tanaka (莵道田中). Yes, Tanaka Asuka lives in Todō-Tanaka, or somewhere near it. It’s not uncommon for character names to be plucked right from real places the creator has used as inspiration or included explicitly in the setting, particularly in Kyoto Animation works. Kitashirakawa Tamako comes to mind.
Well Home (ウェルホーム), real estate agent in Todō-Maruyama (莵道丸山)
Uji River water viaduct (宇治川水管橋)
Now we’ve all figured out many of us guessed incorrectly. That’s probably not Reina but Asuka sitting with Kumiko under the viaduct in the OP!
Backside of Keihan Uji Station (京阪宇治駅)
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; and Sendagaya, Shibuya Ward for Episode 8.
Episode 8
Tsukuda (佃)
Chūō Bridge (中央大橋)
Japan Shōgi Association (日本将棋連盟) in Sendagaya (千駄ヶ谷)
Hatanomori Hachiman Jinja (鳩森八幡神社)
Sendagaya Station (千駄ケ谷駅)
Takabashi (高橋)
Tsukuda
Chūō Bridge
View from Shinkawa (新川)
The Great Passage
(舟を編む Fune o Amu)
Episode 8
IC transit card swipe
Kagurazaka Station (神楽坂駅)
Poco’s Udon World
(うどんの国の金色毛鞠 Udon no Kuni no Kin’iro Kemari)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@lidges previously made a pilgrimage to Shōdoshima, Kagawa Prefecture for Volume 3 and Volume 4 of the manga version, which correspond with Episode 8.
Episode 9
Takamatsu (高松), Kagawa Prefecture
Takamatsu-Tonoshō Ferry (高松・土庄フェリー航路)
Shōdoshima (小豆島)
Angel Road (エンジェルロード)
Chikiri Jinja (ちきり神社) in Busshōzan (仏生山)
There are quite a few large reservoir in Takamatsu. We’ll have to tune in next week to figure out which one this is.
Yuri!!! on Ice
(ユーリ!!! on ICE Yūri on Aisu)
Episode 8
Aerostar Hotel in Moscow, Russia
Sheremetyevo International Airport (Международный Аэропорт Шеремéтьево)
Luzhniki Small Sports Arena (Малая спортивная арена Лужники)
Fukuoka Airport (福岡空港)
Flip Flappers
(フリップフラッパーズ Furippu Furappāzu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Kōriyama and Motomiya, Fukushima Prefecture for Episode 7.
Future Season Pilgrimage
@etesuke made a pilgrimage to Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture for the PV to Kamiyama Kenji film Hirune Hime ~Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari~, premiering 2017 March.
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Minato Ward and Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis; and a ride on the Yamagata Shinkansen for Girlish Number.
@tesra1141 made a pilgrimage to Awajishima, Hyōgo Prefecture for Keijo!!!!!!!!
Past Season Pilgrimage
@nagatoyukito made a pilgrimage to Hida, Gifu Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.
@mikehattsu concludes his pilgrimage series (post 1, post 2, post 3, post4, post 5, post 6, post 7, post 8, post 9, post 10) to Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture for Flying Witch.