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
J-Cast News published an article about Love Live! Sunshine!! anime pilgrims jumping in to manage traffic after a car accident in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Sankei Shimbun published an article about Izu-Nagaoka Station changing its exterior Love Live! Sunshine!! advertisements to versions with more subdued colors, after the city of Izunokuni, Shizuoka Prefecture notified the operator they were in violation of a local ordinance. The rule banning flashy advertisements was created subsequent to a site in the city, the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces, being named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 and came into effect 2017 April. The station is used as a setting in the series.
Yomiuri Shimbum (article) and Mainichi Shimbun (article) published stories about the opening ceremony for a marketing collaboration between Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru and the city of Kan’onji, Kagawa Prefecture. The campaign includes vending machine wrappings, commemorative stamps sold by Japan Post and character themed local foodstuffs.
A Place Further Than the Universe
(宇宙よりも遠い場所 Sora Yorimo Tōi Basho)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@metatetsu, a researcher at Shōwa Station in Antarctica, is publishing a pilgrimage (part 1) from the base. If you enjoyed the East Ongul Island scenes in the show, it’s worth perusing the other entries on the site index, particularly the spectacular photography of the night sky and aurora.
Episode 13
East Ongul Island, Antarctica
Shōwa Kichi (昭和基地)
Kimari takes the Keisei Main Line (京成本線) from Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 (Airport Terminal 2) Station (空港第2ビル駅).
Narita International Airport (成田国際空港)
Tōbu Isesaki Line (東武伊勢崎線)
Tōbu Isesaki Line crosses the Aogehori River (青毛堀川) as it passes through Kuki, Saitama Prefecture
Shin Chitose Airport (新千歳空港)
Outside the Lawson Tatebayashi Honchō Itchōme shop (ローソン 館林本町一丁目店) in Tatebayashi (館林), Gunma Prefecture
Morin-ji (茂林寺) in Tatebayashi
Shin Chitose Airport
March comes in like a lion
(3月のライオン Sangatsu no Raion)
Episode 43
Sumida River Terrace (隅田川テラス), Tsukuda (佃) section
Chūō-ōhashi (中央大橋), Shinkawa (新川) end
Sumida River Terrace, Tsukuda section
Sumida River Terrace, Tsukishima (月島) section
Tsukuda-ōhashi (佃大橋)
Tsukuda-kobashi (佃小橋)
Tsukuda-kobashi
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (東京体育館) in Sendagaya (千駄ヶ谷), Shibuya Ward
Episode 44
Tsukuda-kobashi (佃小橋)
Tsukishima Nishi-Naka-dōri Shōtengai (月島西仲通り商店街)
Tsukuda-kobashi
Sumiyoshi Jinja (住吉神社) torii in Tsukuda
Tsukishima Nishi-Naka-dōri Shōtengai
Kachidoki-bashi (勝鬨橋)
Sumida River Terrace (隅田川テラス), Tsukishima (月島) section
Tsukuda-ōhashi (佃大橋)
Sumida River Terrace, Tsukishima section
Tsukuda-kobashi
Kotobuki-dō in Nihonbashi-Ningyōchō (日本橋人形町), Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Tsukuda-kobashi
Sumiyoshi Jinja torii
Ginza Wakō Department Store (銀座和光)
Tsukuda-kobashi
Future Season Pilgrimage
@fragments_sue made a pilgrimage to Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture for the PV to P.A. Works series Iroduku Sekai no Ashita kara, premiering 2018 October.
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@Surwill made a pilgrimage to Kōtō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis and Kyoto for Citrus.
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Shōdoshima, Kagawa Prefecture for Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture for Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san.
@taiyaki0628 made a pilgrimage to Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture for Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens Episode 8.
@touyoko_com made an investigative pilgrimage to locations in Italy and the Netherlands thought to have inspired settings in Violet Evergarden. He didn’t find any definitive matches, though it looked like a fun trip.
Past Season Pilgrimage
Frame Out, a blog that writes about exploring locations on bicycle, published an extensive pilgrimage to Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture for Love Live! Sunshine!!
@hoe0808 made a cherry blossom pilgrimage to Ōgaki, Gifu Prefecture for Koe no Katachi.
@rica0867 made a pilgrimage to Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Demi-chan wa Kataritai.
@11922911Rinngo made a pilgrimage to Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture for Orange.
@teo_imperial made a pilgrimage to Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Yama no Susume.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Germany for Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Berlin, Germany for K-On!
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Italy for Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Germany for Ef.
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Italy for Maria-sama ga Miteru.
