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 holy land pilgrimage) and butaitanbou (舞台探訪 scene hunting), which are pop culture tourism and place-based engagement induced by the use of real locations in show settings.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid
(小林さんちのメイドラゴン Kobayashi-san Chi no Meidoragon)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@ssslocation (gallery) and @626shin (post) made pilgrimages to Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture; and Higashi-Nihonbashi and Nihonbashi-Ningyōchō, Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 1.
@tesra1141 and @unimaru_ additionally contributed a large amount of research and information to the location finding group effort.
Opening Credits
This new and atypical Kyoto Animation work has its protagonist commuting into central Tokyo from an apartment in Koshigaya (越谷), Saitama Prefecture. The studio has eschewed the usual photo-realistic backgrounds and effects heavy animation of its recent series for something that returns to fundamentals. But it’s not a revamp of the art style in Nichijou, which was more polished and borrowed from its manga source. The rougher, pencil sketch and watercolor backgrounds have echoes of the Munto OVAs, from the early days when KyoAni was transitioning away from contract work for other studios and experimenting with its own style for the first time. I furrowed my brow a bit the first time I saw the previews, worrying about the substance of the story. It’s definitely silly, but not dumb. It’s also the first Kyoto Animation work with an adult age main cast. There are a lot of interesting things to like here.
Episode 1
It isn’t mentioned, but Tōru flies over the Akihabara (秋葉原) commercial district in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Metropolis as she seeks Kobayashi after their meeting in the mountains. Surreptitious otaku reference, check.
Commuting by dragon is probably faster than the subway.
Koshigaya Station (越谷駅)
The office where Kobayashi works is in a fictional building drawn at the Higashi-Nihonbashi intersection (東日本橋交差点) in Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis.
The three walk southeast along Kiyosubashi-dōri (清洲橋通り) after work.
They round the corner onto Amazake Yokochō (甘酒横丁), a 400 meter street lined with restaurants and shops selling alcohol and traditional confections in Nihonbashi-Ningyōchō (日本橋人形町). Tourism sites describe this area as a small slice of Shitamachi in otherwise modernized central Tokyo, but to be honest, little of that flavor remains here. Kotobuki-dō, the model for the confectioner in 3-Gatsu no Lion, is nearby.
The model for the izakaya is actually back on Kiyosubashi-dōri, directly facing Meiji-za (明治座), a large theater. However, the buildings that flank it are modeled loosely on those on Amazake Yokochō at the location depicted in the previous cut.
Amazake Yokochō
When the second dragon observes the sky clearing after Tōru’s outburst, this is also Amazake Yokochō.
Koshigaya
Koshigaya Station west exit intersection (越谷駅西口交差点)
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 (post 1) Shinkawa, Chūō Ward; Jingūmae, Sendagaya, Shibuya Ward; Kita-Aoyama, Minato Ward; and Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku Ward; and (post 2) Shinkawa, Hatchōbori and Kyōbashi, Chūō Ward; and Sendagaya for Episode 13.
Episode 13
3-gatsu covers a large amount of new and old ground in a series of walks. The first follows Smith’s match morning routine, as he mindlessly inhales breakfast before a meandering walk to the shōgi hall.
Jingūmae (神宮前), Shibuya Ward
Sendagaya (千駄ヶ谷)
Kan’nonzaka (観音坂), a slope in Sendagaya
Japan Shōgi Association (日本将棋連盟)
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (東京体育館)
Aoyama 3-chōme intersection (青山三丁目交差点) in Kita-Aoyama (北青山), Minato Ward
Smith contemplates the outcome of his match as he passes through Kasumigaokamachi (霞ヶ丘町), Shinjuku Ward. Much of this area is comprised of Meiji Jingū Gaien, a park built around multiple sports facilities and which is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment as part of preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Rei begins his commute as usual from Shinkawa (新川), Chūō Ward. It has been alluded to many times before, but this is the first we see imagery of the entire walking route he takes from his apartment in Shinkawa to Tokyo Station.
Sumida River Terrace (隅田川テラス) is a riverside paved walk that spans Kōtō, Chūō, Taitō and Katsushika wards.
Minami-Takabashi (南高橋), the oldest iron truss bridge in Tokyo
Rei crosses Takabashi (高橋) from Shinkawa into Hatchōbori (丁堀), Chūō Ward.
Kyōbashi (京橋), Chūō Ward
Chūō Line (Rapid) (中央線快速)
Sendagaya Station (千駄ケ谷駅)
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
Japan Shōgi Association
Shōwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjū: Sukeroku Futatabi-hen
(昭和元禄落語心中 -助六再び篇-)
Episode 2
Snow Pilgrimage!
While many hunkered down indoors as a heavy storm brought up to 80cm of snowfall and the coldest temperatures of the winter across Japan, not a small number of seichijunrei fans and butaitanbou practitioners saw a unique opportunity to capture their favorite anime pilgrimage locations during and following the winter blast. Though there were some train delays, thankfully everyone made it back safely and without getting frostbitten. They also produced some stunning images.
Uji (Hibike! Euphonium)
Daikichiyama
麗奈探検隊は展望台は屋根があるから余裕だろうと慢心していた。しかし雪が降ってるだろう白い塊が北の方から街を飲み込んで近づくにつれて山の上特有の暴風が吹いてきて屋根は意味がなく、その後ろでかがんで傘をさし、ただ嵐が去るのを待つしかなかったのだ pic.twitter.com/oSkDEduPcv
— あんこう ﾐ´ω`ﾐ (@ankou_anko) January 14, 2017
夜明けを待って再び宇治にいるという幻の美しく白い麗奈を探して大吉山という雪山を登った探検隊だったがやはり見つけることはできなかったのだ… #anime_eupho pic.twitter.com/FihMoMIs3T
— あんこう ﾐ´ω`ﾐ (@ankou_anko) January 15, 2017
Uji Bridge
宇治橋の積雪が凄い‼#anime_eupho#響けユーフォニアム2 pic.twitter.com/rfxYVfkYHQ
— 吉川ラムレーズン (@sshigeki1467) January 14, 2017
JR Nara Line
雪の中の103系 pic.twitter.com/KMyucfCjxS
— あんこう ﾐ´ω`ﾐ (@ankou_anko) January 14, 2017
雪の中の103系再び pic.twitter.com/5Wcxl7nMFM
— あんこう ﾐ´ω`ﾐ (@ankou_anko) January 14, 2017
Uji Station
第１３５回響け!ユーフォニアム聖地巡礼＼(^o^)／ 雪の宇治駅♪#anime_eupho#響けユーフォニアム2 pic.twitter.com/y6VARQ8oKG
— 吉川ラムレーズン (@sshigeki1467) January 14, 2017
Uji River and bridges
雪の久美子ベンチと久美子麗奈花火鑑賞ポイント pic.twitter.com/1un0F11a78
— あんこう ﾐ´ω`ﾐ (@ankou_anko) January 15, 2017
雪と朱色の建築物の組み合わせはどうしてこんなに美しいのか… pic.twitter.com/HfS5bFrl5k
— あんこう ﾐ´ω`ﾐ (@ankou_anko) January 15, 2017
Keihan Rokujizō Station
京阪六地蔵駅なう。雪止んでます。 pic.twitter.com/mEU6fN6tSW
— ひでさん (@HidesanYamasiro) January 14, 2017
京阪六地蔵駅は雪模様です。 pic.twitter.com/q87eaMQTYt
— ひでさん (@HidesanYamasiro) January 14, 2017
Toyosato (K-On!)
Many fans ventured out to Toyosato, but the best images came from the local tourism association’s official Twitter account, which tracked the storm over two days as it piled on a white blanket.
おはようございます！今日の豊郷は少し雪が積もりました⛄お越しの際は、お車の方は冬タイヤで！お気を付けてお越しください(><) pic.twitter.com/4fbRtQZLb4
— 豊郷町観光協会 (@toyosato_kankou) January 14, 2017
【お知らせ】
今シーズン初の雪被り鉄治郎さんです！
こちら豊郷は昼過ぎから雪が断続的に降り続き、只今約15cmの積雪です。明日のご来訪予定の方は、しっかり雪対策をしてお越しくださいm(_ _)m
※カフェは臨時休業となります。何卒ご理解くださいます様、お願いします。 pic.twitter.com/1EvWnu7PYz— 豊郷町観光協会 (@toyosato_kankou) January 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/toyosato_kankou/status/820440986031558656
https://twitter.com/toyosato_kankou/status/820807015685496832
Kyoto
Fujinomori (Tamako Market)
帰った時のたまこの小道冬ver. pic.twitter.com/4TIaVOUKLH
— 最近總是沒有好好按時服藥的YC (@2428093655Yc) January 14, 2017
Momoyama-Minamiguchi Station (Clannad After Story)
京阪・桃山南口駅よりクラナドASの「白い闇」をお届けします。 pic.twitter.com/fycZVb2hyL
— ひでさん (@HidesanYamasiro) January 14, 2017
Kamo River delta (Tamako Market, K-On!, Uchōten Kazoku)
鴨川デルタの飛び石 #kyoto pic.twitter.com/hwlS7wgapm
— ふじいあつひろ (@Wanogoo) January 15, 2017
Ōtsu (Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai!)
In addition to Chūnibyō locations, Ōtsu is popular among fans for the frequent anime promotional collateral featured on Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line trains. @ewi regularly captures the rotating marketing material and published a set of images from the storm.
この後に晴れるとは思いにもよらなかった・・・。#anime_eupho #とろうよユーフォニアム pic.twitter.com/BCM29MX6ku
— ewi（いーうぃ）@0122よしさみ (@ewi) January 15, 2017
Takayama (Hyōka)
氷菓のカット (@ 宮川朝市 in 高山市, 岐阜県) https://t.co/vD34qHBiz6 pic.twitter.com/KNWE5lpSHp
— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 14, 2017
高山きたらこれを撮らんと始まらないでしょ (@ 弥生橋(やよいばし) in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture) https://t.co/9bi14GZj32 pic.twitter.com/wI8fpJU3cB
— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 14, 2017
雪の街並み (@ 古い町並 in 高山市, 岐阜県) https://t.co/2aSghdZ4dh pic.twitter.com/FHPiPAJWmm
— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 14, 2017
opの猫なはず・・・ pic.twitter.com/2ySOxmz9aD
— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 15, 2017
今日はお休みなのかな！？ (@ バグパイプ in 高山市, 岐阜県) https://t.co/moEjWyjLVI pic.twitter.com/tUFG2oxWoT
— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 15, 2017
Hida (Kimi no Na wa.)
雪の名は。 #きみひだ #飛騨市 #君の名は #737 pic.twitter.com/WjmzBvxtwN
— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 15, 2017
カット回収！？
#737 #きみひだ #君の名は pic.twitter.com/UsZHVN3Had— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 15, 2017
カット回収 #飛騨図書館 (@ 飛騨市図書館 in 飛騨市 w/ @tym_akira) https://t.co/nUzkSBvp4H pic.twitter.com/eq2xBZO4qg
— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 15, 2017
バスの関係上日が暮れる前に離脱しなければならないという鬼畜仕様(ｰｰ;)
最初は大雪でしたが、日が傾くに連れ雪も弱まりお祭り日和では。#きみひだ #君の名は #三寺まいり
737より。 pic.twitter.com/ObR5ucvlyA— 横 毎週金曜セイレン探訪 (@touyoko_com) January 15, 2017
Yuwaku Onsen (Hanasaku Iroha)
今日の湯涌温泉 #yuwaku #hanairo pic.twitter.com/HKdifntvBv
— しるうぃ (@shilwi) January 15, 2017
Komoro (Ano Natsu de Matteru)
冬も待ってる#あの夏で待ってる pic.twitter.com/chjWV4OuDJ
— ふあり@1/3秩父鷲宮/8宇治/14小諸 (@Fu_a_ri_) January 14, 2017
Takehara (Tamayura)
Even parts of Hiroshima Prefecture got a good dusting.
竹原
西方寺からの雪化粧カット回収♪ヽ(´▽｀)/#tamayura #たまゆら #takehara #竹原 pic.twitter.com/MCjH7vOIom— りょうすけ たまゆら～ももねこーら～ (@ryousukemarumin) January 15, 2017
西方寺と普明閣辺りの雪景色#tamayura #たまゆら #takehara #竹原 pic.twitter.com/n7RLmMQWPs
— りょうすけ たまゆら～ももねこーら～ (@ryousukemarumin) January 15, 2017
ももねこ様#tamayura #たまゆら #takehara #竹原 pic.twitter.com/3XcJnSdPut
— ねこねこのこねこのこねこね (@gatch000) January 15, 2017
普明閣からの雪景色 #takehara #竹原 pic.twitter.com/Urok4BYJu7
— ねこねこのこねこのこねこね (@gatch000) January 15, 2017
雪の竹原。とても素敵でした。#takehara #竹原 pic.twitter.com/8Y4hDvFvx1
— ねこねこのこねこのこねこね (@gatch000) January 15, 2017
Special Items
Media and General Interest
TV Tokyo program YOU wa Nanishini Nihon e? (Why Did You Come to Japan?) broadcast a segment featuring an American on pilgrimage to Ikebukuro, Tokyo for Durarara!! @fiathissia captured the entire segment in a series of short videos. Otapol published an article analyzing the segment.
Ascii published an interview (part 1, part 2) with Sakata Atsushi from the Kuki City Commerce and Industry Association and Matsumoto Shinji from the association’s Washimiya branch, reflecting on ten years of pop culture tourism for Lucky Star. This is a long discussion and there are many humorous stories of how the pair had to feel their way as they went, at a time when there were few models for how a municipality should respond to fervent fan interest, but a few key themes emerge. One is that, though sales of anime goods has been part of the many campaigns over the years, these items are intentionally priced little over their cost to engender goodwill, and management has always emphasized responding to fans’ desires and creating a high quality experience for them over revenue generating opportunities. They joke that, comparing the cost of managing special events and the profit from goods, they probably lose money. In addition, the cost of managing special events is defrayed greatly by enthusiastic and sustained volunteer help. At the time of the Lucky Start broadcast, and still to some extent today, otaku in Japan are stigmatized as having poor social skills, yet contrary to this prejudice, the fans visiting Washinomiya Jinja have largely demonstrated affinity for organization and courtesy, the extent of which has surprised even local police.
Keihan Electric Railway, Uji City and Hibike! Euphonium will collaborate on a promotional campaign featuring limited run anime goods and a digital stamp rally using augmented reality smartphone app Butaimeguri, beginning January 21. A special event featuring Eupho creator Takeda Ayano is scheduled for April 8. Butaitanbou community leading figure @ye_bi_su assisted Butaimeguri with creating the content for the app. This is the first instance of Kyoto Animation directly authorizing one of its works through Butaimeguri. (Lucky Star and Hyōka also appear on the platform, but publisher Kadokawa is the primary rights holder for these works.) More information: Keihan press release, Hibike! Euphonium website announcement, Keihan campaign information website, coverage in Kyoto Shimbun.
Nikkei Technology Online published an article about how Ōarai, Ibaraki Prefecture (Girls und Panzer) and Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (Wake Up, Girls!) have leveraged augmented reality smartphone apps that facilitate anime pilgrimage to sustain pop culture tourism interest.
Gentousha plus (article) and animate Times (article) published stories about the January 12 special event at Shimogamo Jinja in Kyoto to promote the second season of Uchōten Kazoku, including appointment of a special ambassador of goodwill designation for cultural works that promote the city.
animateTimes published an article about Yūri!!! on ICE creator Kubo Mitsurō visiting Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. Most of the information is translated to English in an article by Anime News Network.
Izu Shimbun published an article introducing pilgrimage locations in Shizuoka Prefecture for multiple anime series.
Tōō Nippō published an article introducing pilgrimage to Aomori Prefecture for Shinkai Makoto film Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho (The Place Promised in Our Early Days).
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@Surwill compiled a Street View tour of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Minami Kamakura Kōkō Joshi Jitensha-Bu Episode 1.
@aga3104_keyaki made a pilgrimage to Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Gabriel DropOut Episode 1.
@tenohira17 made a pilgrimage to Mitaka, Tokyo Metropolis for Masamune-kun no Revenge OP, Episode 1 and Episode 2.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Demi-chan wa Kataritai Episode 2.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage (updated: post 1, post 2, post 3) to Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, completing season coverage for Hibike! Euphonium 2.
@golgo_juusou (post 1, post 2) and @lidges (post) made pilgrimages to Karatsu, Saga Prefecture; and Iizuka and Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture for Yūri!!! on Ice.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture for Udon no Kuni no Kin’iro Kemari.
@ktism1228s made a pilgrimage to Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture for Orange.
@anime_pq made a pilgrimage to Kumano and Kihoku, Mie Prefecture for Nagi no Asukara.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to (post 1, post 2) Iwami and (post 3) Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture for Free!
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to former town of Kasumi, now part of Kami, Hyōgo Prefecture for Air.
