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
Nishinomiya Cafe Dream relocation
@keyboar (post) and @urazumi (post) published reports, photography from the final day of service at the original location and retrospective on the presence of anime pilgrims at Cafe Dream.
Kobe Shimbun published an article about the closing of the current location of Cafe Dream in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture on May 10, as it prepares to move to a smaller, nearby location. The article describes the sudden appearance of younger customers resulting from the anime adaptation of Suzumiya Haruhi, their mingling with the established older customer base, and fans’ sustained interest in traveling to and meeting others at the location, resulting in 10 volumes of the pilgrimage exchange notebook. The shop plans to reuse much of its furniture and tableware, will preserve most of the existing menu, and will reinstall the notebook at the new location. It welcomes Haruhi fans to continue using the new location as a meeting place.
Saitama seichijunrei
Davinci News published an article about strong, sustained domestic and inbound tourism to Saitama Prefecture for Lucky Star and other anime works, despite Saitama not ranking highly with regard to accommodations for visitors.
Hamamatsu Gavudoro collaboration
Shizuoka Shimbun published an article about an official marketing collaboration intended to induce more tourism to Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Gabriel DropOut. The city entered a one year agreement to license intellectual property from the show, and has produced posters and a pilgrimage map.
Kinki Nippon Tourist seichijunrei itineraries
Asahi Shimbun published an article about domestic travel agency Kinki Nippon Tourist offering anime pilgrimage itineraries.
Sakura Quest
(サクラクエスト Sakura Kuesuto)
Episode 6
A film crew arriving in Manoyama for an on-location movie shoot gives us more opportunities to explore the setting as they go about location scouting.
Likely location model for the stone wall and street found in Jōhana (城端), Nanto:
低いほうから高いほうを見ているんだぁ てっきり逆だと思ったhttps://t.co/BxkEZatfSp
サクラクエスト pic.twitter.com/raWBFfodxy— テスラ (@tesra1141) May 10, 2017
Possible candidate for watermill found in outskirts of Jōhana:
この前の #サクラクエスト に水車小屋がちらりと出てきたんだど、過去に城端町の郊外で水車で村おこししようとしたところがあって…ただ、メンテする人（おじいちゃん）たちがいなくなると一気に廃れちゃったな。曳山やこきりこ踊りの人形をカタカタ動かしていたんだが… pic.twitter.com/K8SCo55Sa5
— タカシ（仮） (@JRWEC419) May 15, 2017
The key point about these abandoned houses, that taxation of property incentivizes owners to leave structures abandoned, comes straight from real life. There’s no shortage of reporting about the issue, which grows in severity each year. New York Times (article) has a good explanation of the phenomenon, and Japan Times covers it so often they gave the topic its own tag: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/vacant-houses/
Likely model for the wooden bridge found at Sakuragaike (桜ヶ池) in Tatenohara-Higashi, Nanto:
6話劇中の橋のモデルは桜ヶ池のショートカット出来る橋だったな
見覚えあったのよねぇ#サクラクエスト pic.twitter.com/lTmu9PRFst— 時々チッと皮肉混じりに妬む隣のなちさん (@y_n_erobia) May 10, 2017
The Eccentric Family 2
(有頂天家族2 Uchōten Kazoku 2)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
I think they’re having a little too much fun with the Uchōten Kazoku stuffed animals at Shimogamo Jinja.
明日の御蔭祭奉仕の為、参籠中です。 pic.twitter.com/yxLXb8K1Dt
— 下鴨神社 (@kamomioyajinja) May 11, 2017
いよいよ、御蔭祭です。 pic.twitter.com/I0uwyOrFaM
— 下鴨神社 (@kamomioyajinja) May 11, 2017
明日はついに、賀茂祭です。 pic.twitter.com/eGdFpSeajt
— 下鴨神社 (@kamomioyajinja) May 14, 2017
In addition to Yajirō’s face, Eizan Electric Railway has also added Yaichirō, Gyokuran and Yashirō to the Dena 21 shell at Kurama Station.
【京だより】鞍馬駅といえばデナ21。今は偽叡山電車に変身中です。矢一郎・玉瀾のカップルも矢四郎と一緒に出迎えてくれました。コラボベンチも同じペアで熱々ですね！(*^^*) #有頂天 pic.twitter.com/G5oo98To15
— アニメ「有頂天家族２」公式アカウント (@Uchoten2_Anime) May 16, 2017
Episode 6
Shimogamo Jinja (下鴨神社)
Yodogawa interrupts the Friday Fellows as they hold a dinner on a wooden platform over running water—kawayuka (川床)—a practice common in Kyoto and Osaka during summer months . This is frequently read as kawayuka (川床), particularly in Osaka, but it’s just called yuka (ゆか) along the Kamo River, and kawadoko (かわどこ) in other parts of Kyoto.
In the episode, they refer to the location where Yodogawa is sequestered as the Kyoto University Research Forest (京都大学演習林). My hunch is this is based on the Kyoto University Ashiu Forest Research Station (京都大学芦生研究林) in Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture.
Arima Onsen (有馬温泉) in Kita Ward, Kōbe, Hyōgo Prefecture
Shimogamo Jinja
When Yasaburo is first thrown into the painting, we see what appears to be a generic depiction of Hell, with dead trees, polluting factories and derelict structures. But before long some familiar locations come along.
I’m not sure about the identity of the crumbling stadium, but the rest of the recognizable locations come from Tokyo.
Here we’re in Kanda, looking west along the Kanda River from Shōhei-bashi (昌平橋). Part of the former Manseibashi Station (万世橋駅) building is on the left, viaducts for the Chūō Main Line (中央本線) and Sōbu Main Line (総武本線) intersect in the center, and Hijiri-bashi (聖橋) is in the background.
This transitions to Inokashira Park (井の頭恩賜公園), where Yasaburo passes under the viaduct for the Keiō Inokashira Line (京王井の頭線).
There are two things a bit off with the train that passes overhead. The obvious one is that it’s pulled by a steam locomotive. The less obvious is that the blue and fuchsia markings are used on the Keiō Line, which runs between Shibuya and Hachiōji, not the Keiō Inokashira Line.
Inokashira-kōen Station (井の頭公園駅)
Parts of this location were used recently in Hinako Note.
We finally transition to Ryōgoku Kokugikan (両国国技館), the arena in Sumida Ward where sumo matches are held, for the scene with Benten wrestling the oni.
The suspended roof over the ring is called a tsuriyane (吊り屋根).
Tsuki ga Kirei
(月がきれい)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Kawagoe and Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture; and Fujimi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 6.
@fureshima made a pilgrimage to Hachiōji, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 3.
Akane’s voice actress Kohara Konomi posed for a photo in front of the confectioner used as the model for the bookstore in Taishō Roman Yume-dōri.
本日11日（木）深夜24時～TOKYO MXにて第6話「走れメロス」が放送！先日、茜役の小原さんにご協力頂き、川越のアニメイトさん＆ソフマップさんを訪店した際、少し遠回りをし、舞台となった場所で撮影もしました！こちらは、小太郎と茜がこっそりあっているところですね～！じゃっく pic.twitter.com/GSiXukvWxZ
— 「月がきれい」アニメ公式 (@tsukigakirei_tv) May 11, 2017
Episode 6
Kawagoe Kumano Jinja (川越熊野神社)
Shingashi River (新河岸川)
Tayazeki (田谷堰) is a sluice gate on the Shingashi River, to the northeast of the Hikawa-bashi.
The steps in this scene are adjacent to Tayazeki.
Hon-Kawagoe Station (本川越駅)
Seibu isn’t listed in the credits, but with the extensive amount of detail in the station and trains, particularly the accurate rendering of the corporate logo and branding, it wouldn’t surprise me if there was a formal collaboration with the production.
IC transit card swipe
Seibu Shinjuku Line (西武新宿線), Seibu 6000 series (西武6000系)
Kumagaya Station (熊谷駅) in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture
Kumagaya Athletic Stadium (熊谷陸上競技場) in Kumagaya Sports Cultural Park (熊谷スポーツ文化公園)
Iidabashi Station (飯田橋駅) in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Ushigome-bashi (牛込橋)
Kadokawa Third Headquarters Building (角川第３本社ビル)
Kumagaya Athletic Stadium
Seibu Shinjuku Line
Neighborhood near Hoshino High School (星野高等学校) in Suehirochō (末広町), Kawagoe
[Credit: @ssslocation, Twitter; @fureshima, Twitter]
Hikawa-bashi (氷川橋)
To the northwest of Hikawa-bashi, closer to Tayazeki
Takushi Park (濯紫公園)
CAFE ANTI (カフェ アンティ)
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat
(冴えない彼女の育てかた♭[フラット] Saenai Hiroin no Sodatekata Furatto)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Nishitōkyō; Takada, Toshima Ward; and Nishiogikita, Suginami Ward (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 5.
@ssslocation made first discovery (tweet 1, tweet 2) of the neighborhood in Nishiogikita in Episode 5.
Episode 5
Fujimizaka (富士見坂) in Takada
Komeda Kissaten, Hōya shop (コメダ珈琲店保谷店) in Fujimachi, Nishitōkyō, Tokyo Metropolis
Gakushūin-shita tram stop (学習院下停留場) on the Toden Arakawa Line (都電荒川線) in Takada, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Nishiogikita (西荻北), Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis. Tomoya and Megumi cross the Iogi-bashi (井荻橋).
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@anime_pq made pilgrimages to (post 1) Saginomiya, Nakano Ward; Shibuya Station; and Ogikubo, Suginami Ward; and (post 2) Tateishi, Kamakura and Yotsugi, Katsushika Ward; and Harajuku, Shibuya Ward (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Re:Creators Episode 3 through Episode 6.
@anime_pq made a pilgrimage to Kichijōji, Musashino, Tokyo Metropolis for Hinako Note Episode 2 through Episode 6.
@kimchi_fuji made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Tachikawa, Tokyo Metropolis for Frame Arms Girl Episode 5 and Episode 7.
@ssslocation made a pilgrimage (updated: gallery 1, gallery 2) to Tachikawa for Frame Arms Girl Episode 4 and Episode 7.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@taiyaki0628 made a pilgrimage to Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu-hen.
@11922911Rinngo made a pilgrimage to Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture for Flying Witch.
@gonta0822 made a pilgrimage to Kamishihoro, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Girls und Panzer Gekijōban.
@yamagishi made a pilgrimage to Colmar, France for Gochūmon wa Usagi Desu ka??
@taiyaki0628 made a pilgrimage to Kyoto Station for Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru. Zoku.
@miyaken46 made a pilgrimage to Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture for Wake Up, Girls!
@Surwill compiled a Street View tour of locations in Tokyo for Hataraku Maō-sama!
@_lrdr made a pilgrimage to Ninomiya, Kanagawa Prefecture for The Idolmaster.
@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Aomori Prefecture for Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho.
