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
Monzennakachō Miyashita monja
Fans of Love Live! Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Dōkōkai character Miyashita Ai, having earlier deduced the location of her home as a monja shop in Monzennakachō, Kōtō Ward from the game, have been visiting Monzennakachō Sankyū (門前仲町 三久) for group meetups, making reservations under the name Miyashita. Sankyū proprietress Ījima Yuri was at first unaware of the background, until she began asking parties what the purpose was for the Miyashita meetings. Though Sankyū doesn’t appear directly in either the game or anime, fans have come to the shop since the past summer, from all over Japan, some becoming repeaters. Comedian Shimura Ken had been a regular at the shop before passing away due to Covid-19 in 2020 March. Ījima says she felt a sense of loss, but the presence of Love Livers coming to visit has helped fill that empty space. Media coverage: With News
Minobu Yuru Camp event
With extra precautions in place for Covid-19 mitigation, Yuru Camp fans gathered at former Shimobe elementary and junior high schools in Minobu, Yamanashi Prefecture on November 7 and 8 for an overnight camping meetup organized by the Gojōgaoka Activation Promotion Council (五条ヶ丘活性化推進協議会).
#ゆるキャンΔ 校庭キャンプ 編
11月7日実施したゆるキャンΔコラボ企画 #校庭キャンプ に多くの方々に御参加いただき無事に終了しました。
全ての方々に感謝申し上げます。
コロナ禍で色々な制約がありますが皆で共に頑張って行きましょう！
次回は12月19日に #イルミネーションキャンプ の予定。 pic.twitter.com/PKQfCvYAWm
— たかよでぃ△ (@takayody1000) November 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/299star/status/1325277961814040581
The Day I Became a God
(神様になった日 Kamisama ni Natta Hi)
Fan Pilgrimage Update
@nadukari_h made a pilgrimage to Yamanashi City and Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture for Episode 5.
@fureshima2223 made a pilgrimage to Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture for Episode 2.
Episode 5
The episode begins with returning and new locations in Yamanashi City (山梨市), Yamanashi Prefecture.
Yamanashi City Library (山梨市立図書館)
Yōta’s residential neighborhood
New this week, and we see it more clearly later in the episode, but in the background near Izanami’s home is a grade-level railroad crossing, the Manriki Shindō fumikiri (万力新道踏切), where the Chūō Main Line (中央本線) passes.
Yamanashishi Station (山梨市駅)
From Yamanashi, Hina, Yōta and Izanami’s father travel by Chūō Main Line to neighboring Kōfu, which takes 14 minutes by local service, 10 minutes by limited express.
Kōfu Station (甲府駅) in Kōfu (甲府市), Yamanashi Prefecture
There are several shōtengai clustered in Kōfu’s central business district, a few minutes walk south of Kōfu Station and Kōfu Castle. The first we see is Kasuga Mall (春日モール), originally called Kasugachō Shōtengai (春日町商店街), a 100m shopping arcade along a traffic bearing street.
Berume Sakurachō-dōri Shōtengai (ベルメ桜町通り商店街) is a covered pedestrian arcade in the same area as Kasuga Mall.
This arcade hangs wind chimes from the roof during the summer.
Back in Yamanashi City, Nezu-bashi (根津橋)
Manriki Park (万力公園)
Cutaway shot, presumably near the library
Manriki Park
Manriki Shindō fumikiri
Chūō Main Line
Other Current Season Pilgrimage
@ritu01238 made pilgrimages to Kakamigahara (post 1, post 2) for Adachi to Shimamura Episode 1; Motosu for Episode 3. He investigated an Inari Jinja in the area as a possible match for Episode 3, though there is another candidate for this location. All locations Gifu Prefecture.
@kbt_tigers1985 made a pilgrimage to Motosu and Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture for Adachi to Shimamura Episode 1 through Episode 4.
@fureshima2223 made a pilgrimage to Koganei, Tokyo Metropolis for Ochikobore Fruit Tart OP and Episode 2.
@626shin made pilgrimages to Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture; Koganei, Tokyo Metropolis for Ochikobore Fruit Tart OP, Episode 1 and Episode 2.
@_xckb made a pilgrimage to Fujisawa and Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture for Assault Lily Bouquet Episode 1 and Episode 5.
@flyingbird1124 made a pilgrimage (updated post) to Harajuku and Yoyogi, Shibuya Ward; Roppongi, Minato Ward; Shinjuku Ward for Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 3, Episode 5 and Episode 6.
Past Season Pilgrimage
@lidges made a pilgrimage to Tonoshō, Kagawa Prefecture for Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture for Gekijōban Mazinger Z: Infinity.
@Roan_Inish made a pilgrimage to Taimeken in Nihonbashi, Chūō Ward, Tokyo Metropolis for Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san.
@ritu01238 made a pilgrimage to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture for Hanasaku Iroha: Home Sweet Home.
@hiro_senritu made a pilgrimage to Kinugawa Onsen in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture for Mirai Nikki.
@USO9000 made a pilgrimage to Cape Tappi in Sotogahama, Aomori Prefecture for Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho and Clannad After Story.
@USO9000 made a pilgrimage to the Shimokita Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture for Saki and Clannad After Story.
