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.

Media and General Interest

@kbt_tigers1985 published a report about Suzumiya Haruhi location and fan meeting place Cafe Dream in Nishinomiya, including photos and clippings from newspaper print edition stories about the closing of the old location on May 10, as well as an update on preparations at the soon to open new location nearby.

Sakura Quest

(サクラクエスト Sakura Kuesuto)

Episode 8

This week returns to local agriculture and foodstuffs. Shiori’s family has a farm, but it’s more of a side business, as they have other sources of income.

At the family dinner table, discussion turns to what Yoshino calls C-class gourmet (C級グルメ). I was already familiar with B-class gourmet, foods that are well made but inexpensive, commonly eaten, popular and have local characteristics. Ramen, gyoza, yakitori, etc. can be B-class gourmet. I hadn’t heard of C-class, so did a quick search. Most of discussion seems to be people making things up. The only consensus is that it’s even less sophisticated. Make of that what you will.

Yoshino is inspired by the homemade dishes to explore promoting Manoyama agricultural products through a C-class gourmet exhibition.

Meanwhile, Kadota has unilaterally made an additional order for chupacabra manjū. This new batch is less expensive, but does not use local ingredients as the original batch did.

The team tries to come up with ideas for C-class gourmet dishes. As usual, rather than first asking around for guidance, they throw themselves at the task without really thinking through the requirements or spirit of the project.

Kumano, a local chef who went off to study cooking abroad before returning home has opened a restaurant.

Kumano offers to help them with sourcing local ingredients.

Oribe, the shōtengai head, is irate that the tourism board scheduled its exhibition without informally consulting with the merchants association, resulting in conflicting events.

The Eccentric Family 2

(有頂天家族2 Uchōten Kazoku 2)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

Uchōten Kaozku now fully integrated into life and community obligations of Shimogamo Jinja:

御田植祭の様子を見に、ついて来ました。 pic.twitter.com/PhkNUmy0g3

— 下鴨神社 (@kamomioyajinja) May 28, 2017

調子に乗っていたら捕まりました。 pic.twitter.com/tf36aSArht

— 下鴨神社 (@kamomioyajinja) May 28, 2017

禰宜さんに絡まれました。 pic.twitter.com/r56zZrmccs

— 下鴨神社 (@kamomioyajinja) May 29, 2017

Episode 8

Akitsuki-bashi (秋月橋)

Cafe Woody Town (カフェウッディタウン) on Shimogamo-hondōri (下鴨本通), just outside Shimogamo Jinja on the west wide

Cafe used as third place

Shimogamo Jinja (下鴨神社)

Sannen-zaka (三年坂)

North end of Matsubara-dōri (松原通)

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)

Teramachi Senmontenkai Shōtengai (寺町専門店会商店街)

This building, near the Ebisugawa power plant, was once part of the flood control infrastructure for the canal system. It’s now a swimming club, the Kyoto Tōsuikai (京都踏水会).

Rojioku Nagomiya (路地奥 なごみや) on Kiyamachi-dōri

Izakaya used as third place

Rokudō Chin’nō-ji (六道珍皇寺)

Shimogamo Jinja

Tanukidanisan Fudō-in (狸谷山不動院)

Tsuki ga Kirei

(月がきれい)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Kōraku, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 7.

@fureshima made pilgrimages to Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture for Episode 6 and the second OP.

Episode 7

Almost the entire episode is set in Tokyo Dome City (東京ドームシティ), a large entertainment complex in Bunkyō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis, specifically the amusement park Tokyo Dome City Attractions (東京ドームシティアトラクションズ).

Hakusan-dōri (白山通り), just north of the Suidōbashi intersection (水道橋交差点)

Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (東京地下鉄丸ノ内線) pulling into Kōrakuen Station (後楽園駅)

LaQua is a spa across the street from the amusement park.

Seibu Shinjuku Line (西武新宿線)

We’re fairly certain that Seibu is involved with the production to some extent, hence the reappearance of the Shinjuku Line. The funny thing is, for a trip between Kawagoe and Tokyo Dome City it makes more sense to take the Tōbu Tōjō Line. For the same price, the trip time is about 15 minutes shorter, even after adding a 10 minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station to Kawagoeshi Station.

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

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Nishi-Waseda, Shinjuku Ward; Nishiogikita, Suginami Ward, Minami-Ōtsuka, Toshima Ward; and Nishitōkyō (all Tokyo Metropolis) for Episode 7.

Episode 7

Toden Arakawa Line (都電荒川線)

Waseda tram stop (早稲田停留場)

Nishiogikita (西荻北), Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis

Tully’s Coffee, Ōtsuka shop (タリーズコーヒー 大塚店) in Minami-Ōtsuka, Toshima Ward

Cafe used as third place

Ōtsuka-ekimae tram stop (大塚駅前停留場) in Minami-Ōtsuka

Fujimizaka (富士見坂) in Takada, Toshima Ward

Nozokizaka (のぞき坂) in Takada (高田), Toshima Ward

Komeda Kissaten, Hōya shop (コメダ珈琲店保谷店) in Fujimachi, Nishitōkyō, Tokyo Metropolis

Other Current Season Pilgrimage

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Harajuku, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis; and Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture  for Alice to Zōroku Episode 7.

@Surwill compiled a Street View tour of locations in Harajuku and Yokohama for Alice to Zōroku Episode 6 and Episode 7.

@keihi49 made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3) to locations in Shinjuku Ward and Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Alice to Zōroku Episode 1 through Episode 6.

@ssslocation made pilgrimages for Re:CREATORS to (updated post 1) Tateishi, Kamakura and Yotsugi, Katsushika Ward for Episode 6; (post 2) Yotsugi, and Asagaya and Kōenji, Suginami Ward for Episode 7; (post 3) Akihabara, Chiyoda Ward and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward for Episode 8.

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage (updated gallery) to Tachikawa and Hino, Tokyo Metropolis for Frame Arms Girl Episode 9.

Past Season Pilgrimage

@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Yokohama, Aomori Prefecture for Clannad After Story.

@yomikatajiyu made a pilgrimage to Zōshigaya, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Clannad.

@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture for Omoide Poro Poro (Only Yesterday).