hontou ni sou omou?

Based on some research and guesswork, I took a Tokyo Metro Hibiya line train (terminating at Tobu Doubutsukoen) to Kasukabe, got out via the West exit and gawked.

Taking a photograph of a town map outside the station (and using Zoom to refer to it along the way), I made another guess that KyoAni’s penchant for realism would lead the Ryoumo High School to based on an actual Kasukabe High School and that it should be on the side from the West of the station; this made Building No.59 the prime candidate. After a 35 minute walk in the baking sun, I arrived at here:

Looks like KyoAni has taken the most liberties with this background but I was relieved to find at least some resemblance. If anyone knows if this isn’t the model that the OP scene is based on, please let me know. [Add: Comparison image for the school from down the road. Also I have no idea which station one should stop to see Konata's house so I didn't make that trip.]

Along the way back to the station, I somehow ended up having a conversation with an elderly man on a bicycle. He wondered why anyone would want to visit this part of Saitama (other than the tourist town of Kawagoe) but I had a cover story ready: I had stopped because Kasukabe was the largest townlet along on my way to Washinomiya which is home to Saitama’s oldest Shinto shrine. More importantly, the inspiration for Kagamin and Tsukasa’s home. Though I didn’t say anything about that.

The train ride there was rather more complicated. Taking the Tobu Isesaki line to Kuki, changing to another platform but staying on that line to reach Washinomiya (via a train terminating in Ota, passing through Hanyu).

But once I exited the station, it was much smoother sailing. There was ad hoc maps plastered in the station itself and an official town map outside. Probably left by previous pilgrims via Akiba, using the Newtype guide (which I wasn’t able to find online). There was also a steady stream of otaku, I counted at least five, who were making the trip.

Oh I can so see a cosplayer recreating the OP scene with Kagamin strutting her stuff!

In any case, I do like visiting old shrines and Washinomiya Jinja has plenty of official recognition and a full festival calendar.

Venturing further in, I saw more signs of previous visits by the denizens of Akiba. Around a tree was some woodwork to tie fortunes and wooden plaques with prayers. The former consisted of two racks that were filled with knots of fortunes probably with the word that Konata uses to describe Kagami, the latter had four racks: two for normal prayers and another two were filled with Lucky Star related prayers.

Left: “My wish is for Konata to be my bride.”

[Edit: 2007-11-10: Comparison screen shot added.]

Pretty evenly split between Konata and Kagami. I didn’t see any for Miyuki. LOL But the most prominent Tsukasa one was written in Korean! Can someone please translate?

[Edit: 2007-10-06: Added comparison screenshot.]

So prior to offering my respects to the kami of Washinomiya, I went to perform my ablutions - complete with loli-guidance.

You know the drill. Ring the bell, toss in the coins, bow twice deeply, clap twice, prayed for everything under the sun, bow deeply once and take my leave. Beyond a plastic sheet, the kami is represented by a magnificient highly polished metal mirror. And the shrine has had some VIPs - the photos on either the side of the main shrine opening shows a visit by Emperor Akihito and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

I then went to buy a charm for my research work. Every little bit helps! The girl who attended to my request was pretty sweet and I think would look very cute indeed in her miko fuku. Her hair isn’t long enough for twin tails but she seems more like the Tsukasa type anyway. The Wikipedia entry cites press reports of local concern about the influx but I think the shrine wardens don’t really mind. More worshippers mean more money (fortunes, wooden prayer plaques, charms, offerings) and from what I observed, the Akiba visitors were quiet, respectful, well behaved and quite generous with their spending.

My pilgrimage at an end, I headed back to Akiba for A Second Raid.
[See also:

• Orion's post at Epic Win
• Hakase's most excellent comparison shots
• Kawasumi Hirito's photos from June 2008 trip

]

Slices of Life

The local stationery store gets in the spirit of L*S. / But this town seems so laidback and agricultural that it could very well come out of Kamichu!

Fill in the blanks…

There was this wonderful fragrance in the air. I thought it was the wisteria flanking the walkways along the main road out of the rail station but then I realized it was the rice fields!

Quite a pity no one harvested this bitter gourd before it yellowed. Being so wrinkly, it would added a real kick to an omelette or a charhan!

Afternoon rations - MOS burger’s Chicken Curry burger [add: JPY 250]. The patty was a whole piece of breast rather than mashed up unidentifiable factory made bits. The cabbage balanced out the heaviness of the batter and curry sauce while the spice opened up my appetite that had been stifled by the blazing heat. I think I bought and drank almost two litres of bottled tea!

Would have loved to grab a melonpan or two but I was on the wrong side of the station gates, rushing for the train to Kuki.

Partly because I had dallied at this Wonder Goo. No special L*S display but I did buy a D.C. Da Capo Nemu drama CD for Stripey at a bargain JPY 780 (vs RRP JPY 2,800). OST purchases continued later in Akiba!