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
Caron Cooper and Kin’iro Mosaic
Daily Mail published an article about Fosse Farmhouse owner Caron Cooper’s efforts to promote British-Japanese cross cultural exchange, and the most recent arc of her story as the caretaker of an anime pilgrimage destination. The bed and breakfast in Castle Combe, England is used as the model for the Cartelet home in anime series Kin’iro Mosaic. BBC News published an article on the same topic that includes an abbreviated version of the TV segment with Caron broadcast on BBC News Points West.
Yamanashi Yuru Camp tour
Yomiuri Shimbun published an article about an official tour of Yuru Camp locations on May 25 and 26, organized by the Yamanashi Tourism Promotion Organization.
Anime Tourism Association
@mikehattsu published a review of the Anime Tourism Association promotional display at Narita International Airport.
Numazu manhole vandalism
There has been additional vandalism (tweet 1, tweet 2)—this time using spray paint—of the Love Live! Sunshine!! manhole covers recently installed in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture. The city of Numazu released a statement saying that the special covers will be collected and replaced temporarily with regular ones to prevent further damage while the situation is under investigation.
Yōkoso Festival
On June 2 in Uji, an estimated 700 people attended the fan-initiated Yōkoso Festival, which included dōjinshi sales, cosplay, itasha, concert and stamp rally all related to Hibike! Euphonium.
ふこうよ発表会、楽しかった！ 自分が楽しんで演奏するのって本当に大事やわぁ。初めてのイベント参加でしたが、皆様に良くしていただき感謝です！ 次は私もコスありで(おい)。 #ふこうよ発表会 #youkosofes pic.twitter.com/3FGrh6HQQH
— まほろ (@mahorotheper) June 3, 2018
ようこそフェスティバル、じ-08にてお待ちしております！よろしくお願いします #youkosofes pic.twitter.com/PhP3oelUHZ
— 染井 (@simerike) June 2, 2018
ようこそフェスティバルにて
久美子ちゃん／model：よねこ様(@rukario888)
撮影させて頂きありがとうございました！！#youkosofes pic.twitter.com/qXudDRNRYn— ANZAI (庵齊） (@psydo_in) June 3, 2018
はじめて本物見ました。マジかんどー！#youkosofes#北宇治高校痛車部 pic.twitter.com/GCSLru89gD
— ウィズ (@wizuniverse) June 2, 2018
Uji Matsuri Festival
On June 3 in Uji, an official Hibike! Euphonium event released the key visual for upcoming sequel film Gekijōban Hibike! Euphonium: Chikai no Finale.
宇治市文化センターへ。ユーフォニアム公式イベント行きますw #anime_eupho pic.twitter.com/dvCWMftPQf
— いなずま (@thunder_cycle) June 3, 2018
宇治市文化センターのユーフォニアムイベント、入場。楽しみですw #anime_eupho pic.twitter.com/TAoJVn2QMH
— いなずま (@thunder_cycle) June 3, 2018
Usagiyama Dai Bazaar
On June 2 at the Demachi Masugata Shōtengai in Kyoto, fans came for the Usagiyama Dai Bazaar, the third time the Tamako Market dōjinshi sale and fan exchange event has been held in the shopping arcade that was the main setting of the series.
イベ被りしてもうさぎ山商店街も熱いよ！ pic.twitter.com/T3CAvn1h6x
— 夷（ゑびす）@「聖地移住」通販中 (@ye_bi_su) June 2, 2018
設営できました。
会場は商店街の阿闍梨餅んとこを折れてすぐにあります。ウチのサークルは会場入口側です。
立ち読み大歓迎、よろしくお願いします。 pic.twitter.com/7xiguDM7ZJ— 🐻❄️玄賓🐻土東ト38b🐅 (@gegegenping14) June 2, 2018
うさぎ山大バザール3に一般参加しております……
こちらも、街の中に溶け込んでおりますね……
時々、通りがかりの人がイベントについて聞いてきたりして、スタッフが丁寧に応対しております…… pic.twitter.com/NUWFfeyVxe— 萌旅調査官@グリーンエイジの交差点2020成功感謝！ (@micky1359) June 2, 2018
今年はあんこで頑張りました(^^) pic.twitter.com/eiq8SShtQN
— たっぱあ (@tappa_a) June 2, 2018
Kyoto Uchōten Matsuri
On June 3 at Shimogamo Jinja in Kyoto, the UNESCO World Heritage site and cast and staff of P.A.Works series Uchōten Kazoku held the Kyoto Uchōten Matsuri, an event to recognize their mutually beneficial relationship. In the series, based on novels by Morimi Tomihiko, the protagonist family of tanuki live at Shimogamo, which has boosted awareness of the site through anime pilgrimage to the already famous shrine.
https://twitter.com/kamomioyajinja/status/1003069574969901056
For detailed report of the event, we have to wait for the Japan side to create official event report but few things happened during this event. pic.twitter.com/Jrb3zYpek4
— Anime: Eccentric Family 2🐾 (@Uchoten2_EN) June 3, 2018
To celebrate this event, the Eccentric Family Committee has donated Shimogamo with this giant emma (graphic tablet) which will be displayed perpetually at the side of Shimogamo Shrine main gate. pic.twitter.com/xHZZvj8hrX
— Anime: Eccentric Family 2🐾 (@Uchoten2_EN) June 3, 2018
Agata Matsuri
On June 5 in Uji, as has become tradition, Hibike! Euphonium fans journeyed to the city for Agata Matsuri (県祭 or 縣祭), which was depicted in the first season of the series.
4年目にして初めてあがた祭に来た！ pic.twitter.com/KJU9St6svg
— セキ@次走未定 (@seki_saima) June 5, 2018
麗奈「ねえ、お祭りの日に山に登るなんて馬鹿なこと、他の人たちはしないよね。」
久美子「うん、まぁ…（今年の縣祭りの大吉山は雨だし例年より少ないかな…）」 #anime_eupho pic.twitter.com/HXtcztdlsA— みか探〜みかん探訪記〜 (@mikantanbouki) June 5, 2018
縣祭りフェスティバル〜傘は川のように〜 pic.twitter.com/t2kO1zQcCR
— みか探〜みかん探訪記〜 (@mikantanbouki) June 5, 2018
Uma Musume Pretty Derby
(ウマ娘 プリティーダービー Uma Musume Puritī Dābī)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
There was a a breakthrough in locating the settings of Special Week’s Hokkaidō hometown. @hiphaist discovered that although the station building model is Ginzan Station, the scene around it comes from Hidaka-Mombetsu Station (日高門別駅), blended together to create Special Week’s home station. The station area and the driveway from the OP—which belongs to the Hidaka Taiyō Ranch (日高大洋牧場)—are both in the town of Hidaka. Not in the work but also of interest, the grave of Silence Suzuka is nearby in Biratori, Hidaka Subprefecture.
@keihi49 followed up with visits to all of the known Hokkaido locations—Taiyō, Hidaka-Mombetsu Station, Ginzan Station (tweet 1, tweet 2, tweet 3, tweet 4). I’m hoping he turns all of these into a full article.
Episode 11
Tokyo Racecourse (東京競馬場) in Fuchū (府中), Tokyo Metropolis
Yunika Building in Shinjuku 3-chōme, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Tokyo Racecourse
Amanchu! Advance
(あまんちゅ！〜あどばんす〜 Amanchu Adobansu)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@QgrlVszS4b2Ordg (tweet thread) and @minato_708 (tweet) made pilgrimage to Arai Jinja in Itō, Shizuoka Prefecture for Episode 9.
Episode 9
Izu-Kōgen Station (伊豆高原駅) in Itō (伊東), Shizuoka Prefecture
Arai Jinja (新井神社) in Ito
Crossing Time
(踏切時間 Fumikiri Jikan)
Episode 9
Gakushūinshita tram stop (学習院下停留場) in Takada 2-chōme, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Toden Arakawa Line (都電荒川線)
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@Surwill published a combined Street View tour and on-location pilgrimage to Akihabara (Soto-Kanda), Chiyoda Ward; Ikebukuro and Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward (preceding all Tokyo Metropolis); and Wakō, Saitama Prefecture for Steins;Gate 0.
@unimaru_ made a pilgrimage to Ogikubo, Suginami Ward; Shinjuku; and Yushima, Bunkyō Ward for Comic Girls Episode 9.
@paffue made a pilgrimage to Obihiro, Hokkaidō Prefecture for Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Episode 6.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@11922911Rinngo made a pilgrimage to Tendō, Yamagata Prefecture for Ryūō no Oshigoto!
@flyingbird1124 made a pilgrimage to Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Citrus.
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Tsurugisan in Tokushima Prefecture for Yūki Yūna wa Yūsha de Aru: Yūsha no Shō.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Tokyo Station and Kitashinagawa, Tokyo Metropolis for Gekijōban Haikara-san ga Tōru Zenpen – Benio, Hana no 17-sai.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 2, post 3) to Kyoto for Uchōten Kazoku.
@11922911Rinngo made a pilgrimage to Dōdairasan in Ogawa, Saitama Prefecture for Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3) to Tokyo for Kimi no Na wa.
@flyingbird1124 made a pilgrimage to Nerima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.
@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to Kōenjikita, Suginami Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso.
