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.

2018 Winter Season Overview

Welcome back (belatedly) to a new season of anime settings and background art! This season we are spoiled for choice, with a handful of interesting shows and even larger group of standard sitcoms, all featuring real location use to one degree or another. Despite the number of options, I only plan to review two shows each week, and only one of those from the new batch. In the short run, I need to weather my personal storm for a few more months before my younger child transitions to a daycare and I get my quiet home office back. Additionally, with the large number of shows this winter, I’d like to have the mental space to look at them from a macro view, which I can’t do if I’m bogged down with the details of too many series. Long term, I want to make more time for writing articles about first-hand experience with seichijunrei, as well as preparations for my documentary film about the same.

Sora Yorimo Tōi Basho (Madhouse) is billed as a journey to Antarctica, but begins with a generous helping of scenes of daily life in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture. Out of the crop of new shows, I feel it has the best balance of interesting places, interesting story, production value, and butaitanbou community interest.

Sangatsu no Lion (Shaft) has been one of my favorite shows over the past year and I plan to see it through to the end, though I’ve started omitting some of the most frequently recurring locations from the weekly review. It still has a few tricks up its sleeve, as we’ve seen it visit new places at the end of the third cour and beginning of the fourth.

There is a group of shows that I plan to watch both for butaitanbou awareness and just to enjoy:

Yuru Camp (C-Station) is a very close second behind Yorimoi across all dimensions. If I had a surplus of time and attention span I would have reviewed this as well. It feels like a close relative to Yama no Susume, only this time we’re following burgeoning camping enthusiasts as they use this as a means by which to explore the world around them. Thus far there are locations in Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures.

Mitsuboshi Colors (Silver Link) plants its flag in Ueno, Taitō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis and on the surface is for and about children. This would normally get a show sent to the bottom of the list, except that in this work Ueno is explored in far more depth than the typical perfunctory shots of Ueno Station and Ameya Yokochō, and there is an undercurrent of clever humor clearly aimed at the adults watching. I find myself ogling the artwork of the shōtengai, and laughing out loud as the Colors create mischief with the help of obliging members of the community.

Koi wa Ameagari no You ni (Wit Studio) is set in Kawasaki and Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Though it takes a few shortcuts with the animation, I enjoy the scenes that linger on the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line.

Violet Evergarden (Kyoto Animation) is, as far as we can tell at this point, not set in a real location. It draws on architectural and design elements of European cities, even giving the main setting a German name, but I think it’s unlikely that we’ll find any part of the setting taken whole cloth from a real place. @mikehattsu and I stood behind KyoAni staff working on a street scene of Leiden last October, using photographs of a theater facade as the basis for a background design. There’s a clearly identifiable landmark, the Château de Chenonceau in Episode 1, and a possible use of an historic building in Aichi Prefecture as the basis for a design in Episode 3. It will be fun to see if there are any more points of interest like this over the course of series, however it seems unlikely anyone will be making a pilgrimage to Leidenschaftlich.

Finally, there is an additional group of works that may be of interest, though your mileage may vary:

Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san (Shin-Ei Animation) — Shōdoshima, Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture
Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (Satelight) — Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Ryūō no Oshigoto! (Project No.9) — Osaka
Slow Start (A-1 Pictures) — Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture
Kokkoku (Geno Studio) — Tokyo
Citrus (Passione) — Tokyo
Toji no Miko (Studio Gokumi) — Tokyo
Märchen Mädchen (Hoods Entertainment) — Tokyo
Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san (Studio Gokumi, AXsiZ) — Tokyo, US

Media and General Interest

Anime Anime published an article that unpacks the meaning of the word butai (舞台)—as in butaitanbou—offering three main definitions: 1) A real location explicitly used as the setting of an animated work; 2) A real location used as a model for the fictional setting of a work, which may have significant parallels but diverge at points; 3) A country or region that inspired a wholly fictional setting that does not exist anywhere in real life. The article begins with an example of the third type in the Finnish work Moomin, then cites examples of Japanese anime that span the gamut.

Yomiuri Shimbun published an article about Saga Prize, a marketing campaign that includes formal collaboration with anime productions to promote local products and drive tourism traffic in Saga Prefecture. In 2016, the initiative generated a boost of 2.64 billion yen to local revenue, surpassing its target of 2.1 billion.

Enoshima Maji Aishiteru published an interview with Akioka Eriko (秋岡恵利子), manager of the Aburaya tea house in Enoshima, reflecting on five years of visits by fans of Tari Tari on anime pilgrimage. The article features extensive photography of the pilgrimage exchange notes, art objects and gifts left by fans, and anime cast members and staff.

Asahi Shimbun, published an article about persistent pop culture tourism interest in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Love Live! Sunshine!!

Trend News published an article about anime pilgrimage to campgrounds and other locations that appear in Yuru Camp.

A Place Further Than the Universe

(宇宙よりも遠い場所 Sora Yorimo Tōi Basho)

Series Introduction

Though the series’ hook—a journey to Antarctica—had me curious, what really pulled me in was the lush depiction of the humble starting point of Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, particularly the trains and stations on the Tōbu Isesaki Line. I sat up a second time when what I though was going to be yet another perfunctory inclusion of Shinjuku turned into a playful romp (the clean kind) around the entertainment district, conveying the mix of trepidation and wonder of a handful of kids from Gunma trying to act like they aren’t from Gunma. Though the camera work is for the most part conventional for a high-middle production value show, at times it hints at cinematic aspirations, with forced perspective and sweeping, energetic dolly shots. The credits would seem to confirm that the cast will indeed make it to their intended final destination, but I look forward to more scenes set in Japan as they prepare for the journey, and perhaps a stop in Australia on the route south. This is a keeper.

The series is produced by Madhouse and directed by Ishizuka Atsuko.

Background Art

Art Director Yamane Saho (山根 左帆) has previously served as art director for Hanayamata and Prince of Stride: Alternative, and worked on background art for Noein: Mou Hitori no Kimi e, Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat and Sagrada Reset.

In the Art Setting role, Hirasawa Akihiro (平澤 晃弘) has previously worked on background art for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (all).

Kusanagi (草薙) in Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan has previously worked on background art for Sora no Method, Durarara!!, Flying Witch, Girls und Panzer Gekijōban, In This Corner of the World, Shōjotachi wa Kōya o Mezasu, Hanayamata, Love Live! (all), Love Live! Sunshine!! (all), Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari, Non Non Biyori (all), Noragami, Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (all), Saekano (all), Steins;Gate, Tamako Market, Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge, Tokyo Ghoul (all), Ano Natsu de Matteru. and Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta.

Nam Hai Art Company, a sub-studio of Kusanagi in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, has previously worked on background art for Sora no Method, Flying Witch, Golden Time, Long Riders!, Love Live! (all), Love Live! Sunshine!! (all), Non Non Biyori (all), Orange, Saekano (all) and Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta.

Cosmos Arts (コスモスアーツ) in Saitama Prefecture, Japan has previously worked on background art for Ano Natsu de Matteru, Hanayamata, Natsuyuki Rendezvous and Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta.

Fan Pilgrimage Update

@miyaken46 made pilgrimages to (post 1) Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture for the OP and Episode 1; (post 2) Tatebayashi and Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 2; (post 3) Tatebayashi and Tachikawa, Tokyo Metropolis for Episode 3; (post 4) Tachikawa for Episode 4.

@touyoko_com made pilgrimages to Tatebayashi and Tachikawa for Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4.

@ssslocation made pilgrimages to Tatebayashi, Shinjuku, Tachikawa and Kure for Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4.

Tatebayashi Kurashi, which appears to be a local promotion and news site for Tatebayashi and its surrounding area, published articles exploring some of the locations that appear in Episode 1 and Episode 2.

@Surwill compiled a Street View tour of locations in Tatebayashi and Shinjuku for Episode 1 and Episode 2.

Opening Credits

Behind Yokotsuka Flower shop (よこつか花店)

Suzuki Store Tanikoshi Beer shop (スズキストア谷越ビル店)

South Mole Lighthouse in Fremantle, Australia

[Credit: @animeseichi, Twitter]

Shōwa Kichi (昭和基地), Antarctica

Ending Credits

Tatebayashi Station (館林駅) east side

Left: Lawson Tatebayashi Honchō Itchōme shop (ローソン 館林本町一丁目店)

Right: Shin Chitose Airport (新千歳空港) [Credit: @unimaru_, Twitter]

Episode 1

In front of Tatebayashi Station (館林駅)

Tatebayashi Station

IC transit card swipe

Tōbu Isesaki Line (東武伊勢崎線)

Morin-ji (茂林寺)

Morinjimae Station (茂林寺前駅)

IC transit card swipe

Lawson Tatebayashi Honchō Itchōme shop (ローソン 館林本町一丁目店)

Gunma Prefectural Tsutsujigaoka Park (群馬県立つつじが岡公園)

In front of real estate agent Sanwa Jisho (三和地所)

Tōbu Isesaki Line

Tokyo Station (東京駅)

Tōkaidō Shinkansen (東海道新幹線) with through service to Hakata as the San’yō Shinkansen (山陽新幹線) beginning at Shin-Osaka Station. Kimari and Shirase will disembark at Hiroshima Station.

Tanna Tunnel (丹那トンネル) in Shizuoka Prefecture

[Credit: @animeseichi, Twitter]

Dai-san Hamana Kyōryō (第三浜名橋梁), a shinkansen viaduct in Kosai, Shizuoka Prefecture

[Credit: @animeseichi, Twitter]

Icebreaker Shirase (AGB-5003)

Although her homeport is Yokosuka, in this scene she is docked at the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force base in Kure (呉).

Episode 2

Minatomachi Coffee Shop (港町珈琲店) in Kure (呉)

[Credit: @lidges, Twitter]

Icebreaker Shirase (AGB-5003)

Shōwa Kichi (昭和基地), Antarctica

Gunma Prefectural Tsutsujigaoka Park (群馬県立つつじが岡公園)

Tatebayashi-eki-iriguchi intersection (館林駅入口交差点)

Tsutsujigaoka Park

In front of Lawson Tatebayashi Honchō Itchōme shop (ローソン 館林本町一丁目店), at the Honchō Nichōme intersection (本町二丁目交差点)

Morin-ji (茂林寺)

Morinjimae Station (茂林寺前駅)

Double IC transit card swipe

Tōbu Isesaki Line (東武伊勢崎線)

Shinjuku

Studio Alta (スタジオアルタ) building, outside Shinjuku Station (新宿駅) east exit

Kabukichō (歌舞伎町)

Robot Restaurant (ロボットレストラン)

Doutor Coffee Shop Shinjuku Yasukuni-dōri shop (ドトールコーヒーショップ新宿靖国通り店)

[Credit: @animeseichi, Twitter]

Omoide no Nukemichi (思い出の抜け道)

Shinjuku Golden Gai (新宿ゴールデン街)

Shinjuku Subnade parking garage (新宿サブナード駐車場)

[Credit: @animeseichi, Twitter]

Japan Fresh Fish Crustacean Association, Shinjuku Ebi-dōri head shop (日本鮮魚甲殻類同好会 新宿えび通り本部)

(What an awful name for a restaurant.)

Not pictured here, the street front entrance depicted before this group meeting is the Teahouse Renoir Shinjuku Ward Office adjacent shop (喫茶室ルノアール 新宿区役所横店), but the shop interior is the Teahouse Renoir Shinjuku Minamiguchi Kōshū-kaidō shop (喫茶室ルノアール 新宿南口甲州街道店). <Head explodes>

[Credit: @animeseichi, Twitter]

Tōbu Isesaki Line

Episode 3

Morinjimae Station (茂林寺前駅)

Lawson Tatebayashi Honchō Itchōme shop (ローソン 館林本町一丁目店)

Tatebayashi Station (館林駅)

Tōbu Isesaki Line (東武伊勢崎線)

Kiryū Municipal Commercial High School (桐生市立商業高等学校) in Kiryū, Gunma Prefecture

Tatebayashi Grand Hotel (館林グランドホテル)

Famiresu used as third place

The wall with decorative swirls is here: Street View, and although there is a Coco’s at a nearby intersection, this scene wouldn’t be viewable from its windows.

[Credit: @ssslocation, Twitter]

National Institute of Polar Research, Polar Science Museum (国立極地研究所 南極・北極科学館) in Tachikawa (立川), Tokyo Metropolis

Episode 4

Tachikawa Station (立川駅)

Kuraigahara Sansō (位ヶ原山荘) in Matsumoto (松本), Nagano Prefecture

[Credit: @ssslocation, Twitter]

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 Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture for Episode 37.

Opening Credits 4

Tsukuda-kobashi (佃小橋)

Sumida River Terrace (隅田川テラス), Shinkawa (新川) section

Chūō-ōhashi (中央大橋)

Episode 34

Torii marking the beginning of the path to Sumiyoshi Jinja (住吉神社) in Tsukuda (佃)

Tsukuda-kobashi (佃小橋)

Kamejima River flood gate (亀島川水門) from Minato (湊), Chūō Ward

Sumida River Terrace (隅田川テラス), Shinkawa (新川) section

Tsukishima Station (月島駅)

Sumida River Terrace, Tsukuda section

Tsukuda-kobashi

Tsukishima Nishi-Naka-dōri Shōtengai (月島西仲通り商店街)

Sumida River Terrace, Tsukishima (月島) section

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

Tsukuda-kobashi

Episode 35

Tsukuda-kobashi (佃小橋)

Sumida River Terrace (隅田川テラス), Tsukishima (月島) section

Sumida River Terrace, Tsukuda (佃) section

Sumida River Terrace, Tsukishima section

Tsukuda-ōhashi (佃大橋)

Episode 36

Sumida River (隅田川)

Ueno Station (上野駅)

Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線)

Morioka Station (盛岡駅)

Tsunagi-ōhashi (繋大橋)

Hotel Taikan (ホテル大観)

Gosho Lake (御所湖)

Tsunagi-ōhashi

Episode 37

Tsunagi-ōhashi (繋大橋)

Morioka Station (盛岡駅)

Tōhoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線)

Hotel Taikan (ホテル大観)

Shinkansen windows are used as an abstract motif to show Kiriyama’s thoughts pulling him away from his physical presence in the train carriage. He is anchored to the real world only by his seat.

Sendai Station (仙台駅)

Suspension of the shinkansen due to a typhoon creates a situation where Kiriyama and Souya, neither of whom does well with uncertainty or communication, must quickly figure out how to work together and handle the emerging challenges.

JR issues refunds for the unused portion of trips in the event of a service cancellation.

Kiriyama and Souya use information and wayfinding aids in the station to find a hotel for the night.

Kiriyama traces a route on the map to find the path through the underground concourse that will get them closest to the hotel before they need to walk through the heavy rain.

Newdays Sendai-eki Nishi-guchi shop (ニューディズ仙台駅西口店)

Tōyoko Inn Sendai-eki Nishi-guchi Chūō (東横INN仙台駅西口中央)

Other Current Season Pilgrimage

Yuru Camp

Fuji no Kuni Yamanashi, a promotion site published by the Yamanashi Tourism Association, has produced a very polished Yuru Camp subsite highlighting Yamanashi locations featured in the show, with detailed, butaitanbou-style posts released each week almost as soon as the episodes are broadcast. Netorabo published an article reviewing the site, noting the content and appearance would appear to be the result of a formal collaboration with the anime production. I’ll add to that, that historically from the perspective of the butaitanbou community, a site like this treads on thin ice. Being so thorough and released concurrently, it usurps a space seen as the purview of otaku. Combined with a clear intent to drive tourism, an overly proactive approach like this may spur a short term boost in casual visitors, but deter long-term organic interest growing spontaneously out of the butaitanbou-seichijunrei community. My two cents.

@nadukari_h made pilgrimages to the Kōan campground and Motosu Lake area in Minobu, and Nanbu (all Yamanashi Prefecture) for Episode 1; Fumotoppara campground in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture for Episode 2; Fumotoppara, and Nanbu and Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture for Episode 3; Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture and Kirigamine in Nagano Prefecture for Episode 4; and finally Nanbu, Yamanashi City, Minobu and Kirigamine for the series key visuals.

@fureshima2223 compiled a Street View tour of the route to Kirigamine for Episode 4.

@lover_glasses (post) and @shortcut3 (post) made pilgrimages to Motosu Lake in Yamanashi Prefecture for Episode 1.

@Surwill compiled a Street View tour of locations around Motosu Lake for Episode 1.

@sbs_shinya made a pilgrimage to Nanbu, Yamanashi Prefecture for Episode 1.

Other Series

@lidges (post) and @ssslocation (gallery) made pilgrimages to Shōdoshima, Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture for Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san OP and Episode 1.

@kazupi made a pilgrimage to Honolulu, Hawaii, United States for Rāmen Daisuki Koizumi-san.

@ssslocation made pilgrimages to Ueno, Taitō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Mitsuboshi Colors Episode 1 and Episode 2.

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture for Slow Start Episode 1.

@taiyaki0628 made pilgrimages to Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture for Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens Episode 1 and Episode 2/3.

@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Fukuoka for Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens Episode 1.

@kbt_tigers1985 (post 1, post 2), @Barnirun (post) and @R_ada_cchi (post 1, post 2) made pilgrimages to Osaka for Ryūō no Oshigoto! Episode 1 and Episode 2.

@SSEBTBM883 made a pilgrimage to Hashima, Gifu Prefecture for Toji no Miko Episode 1.

Past Season Pilgrimage

@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 9, post 10, post 11, post 12, post 13, post 14, post 15, post 16, post 17) to Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture for multiple Season 1 and Season 2 episodes of Love Live! Sunshine!!

@ssslocation made a pilgrimage to Fujisawa and Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Just Because! Episode 11.

@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture for Himōto! Umaru-chan R.

@paffue made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Kimi no Na wa.

@darkflame_esper made a pilgrimage to Hida, Gifu Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.

@keihi49 made a pilgrimage to Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture for Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai.