Fruits Basket フルーツバスケット

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

Usagiyama Dai Bazaar 4
Tamako Market dōjinshi circles and fans gathered for Usagiyama Dai Bazaar 4 (うさぎ山大バザール４), a spot sale and fan exchange event held June 1 in the DeMachi (Ｄｅまち) event space at Demachi Masugata Shōtengai—the shopping arcade that was the main setting of the series—in Kyoto. @tomomasa25 returned with his Tamako Market itasha and afterward published an event report.

https://twitter.com/rash148654/status/1134736827221286913

https://twitter.com/kyo_soku/status/1134737943090700288

 

Uji Matsuri Festival
Hibike! Euphonium fans attended the fifth convening of the Uji Matsuri Festival (宇治でお祭りフェスティバル), an official event held June 1 at the Uji Cultural Center, at which it was announced a new work in the series has been greenlit. Media coverage: Comic Natalie, Anime News Network

Quite a few fans hit up both the Usagiyama Dai Bazaar in the afternoon and Uji Matsuri Festival in the evening.

 

Zombie Land Saga fans at Kashima Gatalympics
The 35th Kashima Gatalympics were held June 2 in Kashima, Saga Prefecture. The lighthearted physical competition on the muddy flats of the Ariake Sea tidal basin was featured in Zombie Land Saga in 2018 Fall. According to the executive committee, there was significant interest in the event by seichijunrei-sha as a result of the series. Media Coverage: Asahi Shimbun (with video), Saga Shimbun

Future Season Pilgrimage

@touyoko_com (post) and @nadukari_h (post) made pilgrimages to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Minato, Nakano, Toshima and Kita wards (all Tokyo Metropolis) for the Tenki no Ko (Weathering with You) PV.

Current Season Pilgrimage

@miyaken46 made a pilgrimage to Uji and Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, supplemented with archive images, for Gekijōban Hibike! Euphonium: Chikai no Finale.

@flyingbird1124 made a pilgrimage to Motoizumi and Higashiizumi, along the Tama River in Komae, Tokyo Metropolis for Fruits Basket (2019) Episode 9.

@Roan_Inish (post) and @tianlangxing (updated post) made pilgrimages to Asakusa, Taitō Ward and Eitai Bridge on the Sumida River in Kōtō Ward (both Tokyo Metropolis) for Sarazanmai Episode 8.

@krissy297_ph made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2) to multiple locations in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Mayonaka no Occult Kōmuin.

Past Season Pilgrimage

@hiro_senritu made a pilgrimage to Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture for Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara.

@kimamanidance made a pilgrimage to Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture for Yurucamp.

@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to Arima Onsen in Kōbe, Hyōgo Prefecture for Uchōten Kazoku.

@rica0867 made a pilgrimage to Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Tari Tari.

@rica0867 made a pilgrimages to Mihama, Fukui Prefecture and the former Iba family house in Ōmihachiman, Shiga Prefecture for Chūnibyō demo Koi ga Shitai! The house is an historic building designed by William Merrell Vories, the same architect as the former Toyosato Elementary School, used in K-On!

@flyingbird1124 made a pilgrimage to Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Aoi Hana.

@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage (post 1, post 2, post 3, post 4) to Toyosato, Shiga Prefecture for K-On!

@mikehattsu made a pilgrimage to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto for Aria the Natural.

Related posts:

Fruits Basket フルーツバスケットWeekly Review of Transit, Place and Culture in Anime 313 Fruits Basket フルーツバスケットWeekly Review of Transit, Place and Culture in Anime 311 Sarazanmai さらざんまいWeekly Review of Transit, Place and Culture in Anime 317 Sarazanmai さらざんまいWeekly Review of Transit, Place and Culture in Anime 314