Japan Trip Day Two: The Town KyoAni Made "Holy" – Part I
For some reason, some signs drop the "no"
I have an abiding fascination with the town of Washinomiya. The changes wrought as a result of being made into otaku "holy ground" (via alafista) suggest stories about a clash of world views and then a curious hybridization, of the cultures of surbania and small town (as opposed to State) Shinto with the sub-culture of Akiba, mediated by capitalism, red-tooth-and-claw. [30 large images follow]
Record of the first and second festival-pilgrimages
The man in the black Washimiya Location Services jacket told me that the mikoshi had just been used for this year's festival and was being set up as an exhibit in the train station, also welcoming exhibit of sorts for the New Year's visitors.
Otaku at the gates
Directions and an exhortation to visit *in English*!
Should have used my lens hood...
Don't the K-ON! girls wish for a hometown too
The Hiiragi Sisters immortalized in stone
I didn't visit the Lucky Star exhibition on the second floor - anyone did?
Neither was I tempted by Tsukasa's Balsamic Vinegar Softo Creamu
Where's the choco coronet stall?
Carrying wishes to Raspberry Heaven?
Rebirth of animation
Happiness and good health to all
Spanish? Translation please
Power for the test and the kendo
Top signatory is a Suigintou fan
Wishing for manga Vol 7 and OVA ep 2
May the star of happiness shine on me too
Does the world really need more moe?
Penny for that new thought in your heart?
The Premium, I Got It
Thank you for this year / For the health of my doujin circle members
Oh crap, I am an otaku!?
Japan's summer, Lucky Star's summer
Konata x Kagami FTW
I'm sure kochoko would approve wwwwwwww
An aspiring illustrator and manga author
But we know that the grubby reality is that not many make a decent living wage in this industry and that conditions are getting worse rather than better. And yet, even if the shrine cannot make life better for anime-manga industry aspirants, perhaps enough of them coming to visit can make life better for this town.
I have come to visit because of love
Lack of ema makes Kagami cry
The above two plaques, methinks, captures the essence of what is happening in this town. Fans are coming to show their love for this series - by making this journey, perhaps, simply demonstrate it to no one but themselves. And to leave behind proof of their passing by. And the town, apprehensive at first, realizes the visitations of the strangers from the Kingdoms of Akiba and Ariake bring coins - feeding the shrine offering boxes of their local deity regardless of whether the worshipful fervour is directed hitherto. I counted almost a total of 150 ema (wooden prayer plaques) of which roughly 120 were anime-related. Each costs JPY 1,000. That's a total of almost USD 1,200 for the month of December or, more significantly, 80% of total turnover.
More photos, recollections and reflections in Part II.
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January 6th, 2010 - 18:00
Spanish: “Although I don’t know how this works and the drawing might be bad, I pray for happiness, affection and love for me and my friends.”
January 6th, 2010 - 18:30
Where are the people? It looks like you’re in countryside or village.
January 6th, 2010 - 18:44
Nosgoroth, thanks!
Anon, it is in the countryside. But it got really crowded on New Year’s – see the first link at the top.
January 6th, 2010 - 21:16
Damn these awesome plaques are so amazing. I am smitten with jealousy at how sweet they are!
January 7th, 2010 - 15:20
Not all of them display godly drawing skill though – you’ll see them in the next post (including mine! LOL)
January 7th, 2010 - 01:05
I almost wonder if in the future towns will get in bidding wars to compete to be the setting, so they can reap the rewards of otaku tourism – probably not, but I’m sure Washinomiya doesn’t mind the extra cash, and it’s not like otaku go on drunken rampages, flipping over cars and burning piles of Endless Eight DVDs in the streets
January 7th, 2010 - 15:26
Suguru, I seem to be under the impression that KyoAni has done this (which anime/towns?) before but without having the kind of impact that it has had on Washinomiya. It’s reachable from Akiba by train (2 hours plus minus) so it’s near enough but far away enough at the same time. And the jinja (which doesn’t figure in Kasukabe) enables the melding of otaku and Shinto worship through the fervour of the former and the rituals of the latter mediated by the profit motive!
January 7th, 2010 - 10:30
OMG, that’s some awesome following Lucky Star has. I’m jealous, I would love to actually go there and see if I could recognize some of the sights and stuff. And those enma are freaking awesome, though I’m thoroughly biased towards the Miyuki one :3
January 7th, 2010 - 15:27
Naz, I’m all about KonaGami.
Just found out they should be spelt ‘ema’…
January 8th, 2010 - 10:19
Oh right, you would watch Lucky Star for that. :p
January 7th, 2010 - 14:51
I does look like the type of place for a casual visit, doesn’t it? I’d love to drop by the temple myself, looks fun (despite me being Catholic and all, ahaha).
January 7th, 2010 - 15:28
Myssa Rei, if you do visit, you must definitely wow them with your own ema art!!