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.

Special Note: This issue compresses two weeks into one post.

Media and General Interest

Anime News Network published an article exploring studio P.A.Works’ history of community engagement and regional revitalization through incorporation of rural settings in its original anime productions.

@Surwill published a report from the 2017 Bonbori Matsuri, the fictional festival from Hanasaku Iroha that became a real annual event, now in its seventh iteration, held in Yuwaku Onsen, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Tetsudō Channel published a review of a special edition of magazine Tabi to Tetsudō, titled Anime to Tetsudō, which will be released in 2017 December. The entire issue devoted to trains and railroad assets that appear in anime follows popular special features on the topic that appeared in earlier issues of the magazine.

Animate Times (article), Cinema Today (article) and Akiba Sōken (article) published stories about an official Yūri!! on ICE course in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture by Tasci Tours to be offered over several days in 2017 November.

Love Live! Sunshine!! Season 2

(ラブライブ! サンシャイン!! Rabu Raibu! Sanshain!!)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@habusan (updated Story Guide) made pilgrimages to Izunokuni and Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Episode 2 and Episode 3.

Episode 3

Numazu Nagaisaki Junior High School (沼津市立長井崎中学校)

Kanō Dome (狩野ドーム) in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shuzenji Niji no Sato (修善寺虹の郷), a theme park in Izu

Numazu Nagaisaki Junior High School

Episode 4

Awashima (淡島)

Plaza Verde (プラザヴェルデ)

Central Park (中央公園)

Numazu Ōtemachi Shōtengai (沼津大手町商店街)

Izu Mito Sea Paradise (伊豆・三津シーパラダイス)

March comes in like a lion

(3月のライオン Sangatsu no Raion)

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@Roan_Inish made pilgrimages to Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis; and Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 24; and Tsukishima, Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 25.

Episode 24

Kasumigaokamachi (霞ヶ丘町), Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis

Much of this area is undergoing extensive redevelopment in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but these scenes are captured in Street View images from the past.

Hakone-Yumoto Station (箱根湯本駅) in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture

Yumoto Fujiya Hotel (湯本富士屋ホテル) in Hakone

My guess is Ginza, Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis.

Hakone-Yumoto Station

Episode 25

Japan Shōgi Association (日本将棋連盟) in Sendagaya (千駄ヶ谷), Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Metropolis

Tsukuda (佃)

Kotobuki-dō in Nihonbashi-Ningyōchō (日本橋人形町), Chūō Ward

One of the possible models for Fujimori Pan is Home Bakery Minami-ya (ホームベーカリー　みなみ屋) in Tsukishima (月島). There is a closed bakery in Bunkyō Ward called Fujimori, but Minami-ya visually appears much closer to the shop in the art, its location makes sense, and it sells an egg salad sandwich.

Tsukuda

Tsukuda Park (佃公園)

Tsukuda-ōhashi (佃大橋)

Chūō-ōhashi (中央大橋)

Tsukuda-kobashi (佃小橋)

Just Because!

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Kamakura and Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture for Episode 3.

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Kamakura and Fujisawa for Episode 2.

Episode 3

Yuigahama Beach (由比ヶ浜海岸)

Shōnan-Enoshima Station (湘南江の島駅) in Katase, Fujisawa

In front of the Gourmet City Kamakura shop (グルメシティ 鎌倉店) in Tokiwa (常盤), Kamakura

Fukasawa (深沢),  Kamakura

Gourmet City Kamakura shop

Seven Eleven Kamakura Tokiwa shop (セブン-イレブン 鎌倉常盤店)

Fukasawa

Along the Sakai River (境川), near Kanagawa Prefectural Fujisawa Seiryū High School (神奈川県立藤沢清流高等学校)

In front of Shōnan Bowl (湘南ボウル) in Tokiwa

Fujisawa Station (藤沢駅)

Seven Eleven Fujisawa Fujigaoka shop (セブン-イレブン 藤沢藤が岡店)

Restaurant used as third place

Fujisawa-bashi (藤沢橋)

In front of the Gourmet City Kamakura shop

Episode 4

Seven Eleven Kamakura Tokiwa shop (セブン-イレブン 鎌倉常盤店)

Shōnan-Fukasawa Station (湘南深沢駅)

Restaurant used as third place

Shirahata Jinja (白旗神社) in Fujisawa (municipality), Fujisawa

Gourmet City Kamakura shop (グルメシティ 鎌倉店) in Tokiwa (常盤), Kamakura

Kuzuharaoka Jinja (葛原岡神社) in Yamanouchi, Kamakura

Shirahata Jinja

Kuzuharaoka Jinja

Shirahata Jinja

Kuzuharaoka Jinja

Yuki Yuna is a Hero: Washio Sumi Chapter

(結城友奈は勇者である -鷲尾須美の章- Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru -Washio Sumi no Shō-)

Episode 3

Nijō Castle (二条城) in Kyoto

Zentsūji City Pool (善通寺市民プール) in Zentsūji, Kagawa Prefecture

Sakaide Station (坂出駅)

Kamata Lake (鎌田池)

Kasuga Jinja (春日神社)

Great Seto Bridge (瀬戸大橋)

Episode 4

East of the Goshikidai Tunnel (五色台トンネル), which links Sakaide and Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture

Takamatsu Nishi interchange (高松西インターチェンジ)

Takamatsushi Mineyama Park (高松市峰山公園) in Takamatsu

The observation tower is part of the park.

Great Seto Bridge (瀬戸大橋)

Kamata Lake (鎌田池)

Wake Up, Girls! New Chapter

(Wake Up, Girls! 新章 Wake Up, Girls! Shin Shō)

Episode 3

Sakuragaoka Park (桜ヶ丘公園)

[Credit: @dejiboo1, Twitter]

Famiresu used as third place

Kumagai-ya (熊谷屋)

Cafe Bijou (喫茶ビジュゥ)

Cafe used as third place

Sendai City Youth Cultural Center (仙台青年文化センター)

Episode 4

Gyōza no Tenpari (餃子の天ぱり)

Nakayama Yon-chōme bus stop (中山四丁目バス停留所)

Tokyo Station (東京駅)

Future Season Pilgrimage

@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Shimoigusa, Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis; and Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture for Fate/stay night: Heaven’s Feel.

Other Current Season Pilgrimage

@habusan made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Yama no Susume Omoide no Present.

@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Shakujii-kōen Station in Shakujii, Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Inuyashiki Episode 3.

@miyaken46 made apilgrimages to Shakujii, Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 1; and Akihabara (Soto-Kanda), Chiyoda Ward (all Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 2 of Anime-Gataris.

@momokomint made a pilgrimage to Hong Kong for ROBOMASTERS.

Past Season Pilgrimage

@nadukari_h made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3, post 4, post 5) to Nanto, Toyama Prefecture for Sakura Quest.

@lidges made a pilgrimage to Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture for Hirune Hime ~Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari~.

@paffue made a pilgrimage to Sapporo Station for Sagrada Reset.

Kyoto Cmex published articles (post 1, post 2) exploring locations in Kyoto for Tsuki ga Kirei.

@york21c made a pilgrimage to Kurobe and Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture for Kuromukuro.

@nadukari_h made a pilgrimage (post 10) to Sapporo for Sora no Method.

@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to multiple locations in Tokyo Metropolis and Kanagawa Prefecture for I My Me! Strawberry Eggs.