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
The torii at Washinomiya Jinja in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture collapsed on August 11. It is suspected that the wooden pillars of the shrine gate became brittle with age and rain exposure, and a beehive was found inside the base of one pillar. The story was carried widely in mainstream media, all of which included the connection to anime pilgrimage for Lucky Star in the headlines. The image of the torii and adjacent tea house is emblematic of the series and anime tourism generally. Media coverage: NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Yahoo News Japan, Saitama Shimbun, Netorabo, Daily Sports, Washimiya News
To mark two-year-old Japanese national holiday Mountain Day (山の日 Yama no Hi) on August 11, BS11 broadcast a special program featuring Hikasa Yōko—the voice of Kaede in Yama no Susume—climbing Kirigamine in Nagano Prefecture. Kirigamine is featured in Episode 14 of the second season.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun published an article about domestic and inbound tourists venturing out to the abandoned Ochiai bus stop on the outskirts of Hida, Gifu Prefecture for Kimi no Na wa.
Comiket 94
Butaitanbou and seichijunrei were well represented at Summer Comiket, including Tanbouro (探訪路) Volume 3—the official dōjinshi of the Butaitanbou Community (BTC)—as well as various circles comprised of scene hunters and pilgrimage fans:
C94 2日目 東R60a つればし様にて、BTC出版部の発行の探訪路vol3(ラブライブ!サンシャイン‼︎特集)を委託頒布いたします。
是非ともお越しください！！ pic.twitter.com/9tQPrbDqBH— 【公式】舞台探訪者コミュニティ(BTC) (@BTC_info__) August 11, 2018
グダグダでしたが東G24b日々是妄想設営完了しました。新刊ユーフォ本お求めの際はクリアファイル「セット」1500円か「本誌単品」1200円でご注文いただけますとスムーズにお渡しできます。 pic.twitter.com/IhefYuEbkH
— 夷（ゑびす）@宇治ユーフォ本通販中 (@ye_bi_su) August 11, 2018
設営完了！
それでは東館2ホール P-21b HBTでお待ちしております！！ pic.twitter.com/iYsoSMrqoM
— セキ@C97 12/28土 南3リ13b (@seki_saima) August 12, 2018
2日目(土) 西も-18b みゆる〜む
らき☆すた＆艦船擬人化ゲーム本で参加中です〜＾＾
#C94 #夏コミ #コミケ #らきすた #鋼鉄少女 #艦これ #戦艦少女R #アズールレーン pic.twitter.com/3mHpuBfV0f— 伊月（いづき）@C97 1日目(土)E-06b「みゆる〜む」 (@bluetwintail) August 11, 2018
【東2 P24a】#ゆるふわダイビング部 設営完了しました！
あまんちゅ!ダイビング&聖地巡礼本『あまんちゅ!DIVER』、新刊700円、既刊500円、同時購入1000円になります、ぜひご覧になってください！委託で「ラッピー's Bar」の『聖地巡礼の旅』1000円、「つればし」『たびラブ』1500円もあります！ pic.twitter.com/9rtO9ZlBb6
— 常夏@11/9-10 デレ7thナゴド現地 (@tokonatu1224) August 12, 2018
さざなみ壊変 東ヤ37b でお待ちしております。
本人がいるときのみアリペイと微信支払いも可能です！
ピクシブペイもできます！たぶん pic.twitter.com/Lx9KbteiLh— かずぴー@夏コミ新刊委託中 (@kazupi) August 12, 2018
Free! Dive to the Future
Episode 5
Update 2018/08/22: Kurahashi-jima (倉橋島) in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture
Jūjōdai Elementary School Heated Pool (十条台小学校温水プール) in Nakajūjō, Kita Ward, Tokyo Metropolis
Encouragement of Climb Season 3
(ヤマノススメ サードシーズン Yama no Susume Sādo Shīzun)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@habusan made a pilgrimage to Lockheart Castle in Takayama, Gunma Prefecture for Episode 5; and published a detailed guide to Tsukabasan in Ibaraki Prefecture for Episode 1.
@fureshima2223 made a pilgrimage to Ōtakayama in Hannō, Saitama Prefecture for Episode 3.
Episode 7
Yumesaika Suzuki (夢彩菓すずき) in Hannō
Seibu Ikebukuro Line (西武池袋線)
I don’t have it to hand, but I’ve heard multiple mentions of a list of all the train stations from which Fujisan is visible.
From left to right: Toyota Auto Salon Amlux (トヨタオートサロンアムラックス), which closed in 2013, Sunshine 60 (サンシャイン60) and Sunshine City (サンシャインシティ) in Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward, Tokyo Metropolis. Hinata visits the Konica Minolta Planetarium “Manten” (コニカミノルタプラネタリウム“満天”) in Sunshine City.
Hannō Ginza Shōtengai (飯能銀座商店街)
Future Season Pilgrimage
@touyoko_com made a pilgrimage to Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture for the PV to film Kimi no Suizō o Tabetai, premiering 2018 September.
@yamagishi made a pilgrimage to Italy for promotional images for Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow, premiering 2019 January.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@fragments_sue published a photo report from the 2018 Enmusubi Fūrin (縁むすび風鈴 marriage wind chimes) at Hikawa Jinja in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture. The annual display is depicted in Tsuki ga Kirei.
