In the Tokyo Stroll series, we take you on a trip to various locations around Japan’s capital. One of the frequent locations are shrines where our navigator Ellie adds to her goshuin collection.   In this entry, Ellie visits Azabu Hikawa Shrine which is located in the district of Azabu-Juban known for being referenced many times in the Sailor Moon series. Azabu-Juban station is the closest station to the shrine. Naoko Takeuchi, the author of Sailor Moon, actually lived in Azabu-Juban when the series was being serialised in Nakayoshi from 1991 to 1997. The shrine was used as a model for Hikawa Shrine where Rei, or Sailor Mars, worked as a shrine maiden. The shrine can be found just a 10-minute walk from the station past the rich residential area where the embassy is. It's enveloped in a bright green oasis of trees. The main shrine is a vivid vermilion. Enshrined there are the deities Susanoo-no-Mikoto―the young brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and the universe―and Yamato Takeru no Mikoto. The shrine is seen as lucky for many reasons. People pray there for increased luck, business prosperity, warding off evil, better fortune, success in life, wealth, safe childbirth, protection against misfortune, academic achievement, exam success, family safety, marriage, national security, and more. When Ellie visited the shrine was decorated for Sendai tanabata. There are many Inari shrines in Japan which are erected to worship the god Inari. There is one here too as pictured above. It was originally located at a nearby daimyo residence for the Sendai domaign Date clan during the Edo Period but was relocated to Azabu Hikawa Shrine at the beginning of the Showa Period. For this reason it has strong ties with Sendai, hence the tanabata decorations, which will be there until August 8. It was time for Ellie to head to the chozuya (also known as temizuya) to cleanse herself before praying which is part of shrine etiquette. Take the ladle with your right hand, scoop up plenty of water, and rinse your left hand first. Next, switch hands. Hold the ladle with your left hand and rinse your right. Then take the ladle with your right hand once more, pour some water into your left hand and rinse your mouth. Never bring the ladle directly to your mouth, and do not swallow the water or spit it back into the basin. There will be an area below the basin, like a bed of rocks, where you can spit the water out. After rinsing your left hand one more time, pour out any remaining water into the rocks (never back into the basin), and return the ladle. Having cleansed herself, Ellie headed to the main shrine. When praying, remember this: two bows, two claps, one bow. Straighten your posture and begin with two bows. Clap twice, pray, and bow one final time to finish. It's time for the main event. Getting that goshuin! It costs just ¥300. This goshuin includes a stamp of Azabu Hikawa Shrine as well as blue and pink Sendai tanabata decorations. It's a very colourful goshuin and is only available for a limited period of time. Not only is Azabu Hikawa Shrine loved by locals as a place of worship, but because of its Sailor Moon references. Fans flock to the shrine, as do the staff of the ongoing Sailor Moon musical.   The number of people visiting the shrine from Japan and overseas is increasing. If you're in Tokyo, make a trip to this iconic spot.     Outfit HEART HIT HAT：￥8,000　One-piece Dress：￥16,000 *all prices include tax (Aymmy in the batty girls)

Anna loves anime, and so she is bringing a new series to our “Tokyo Stroll” feature where she takes us on a pilgrimage to visit real life anime locations! The theme chosen by Anna for this first entry is a solo trip to Okigubo which appears in the anime series Penguindrum (which she is a huge fan of!) Just what kind of encounters will be waiting for her there?   Anna puts on the same hat as the anime’s protagonist Himari Takakura (from her own collection) and meets at the station. You can tell she is in high-spirits from behind. The train station too is exactly the same as in the anime!       The first location on the list was Ogikubo Second Children's Park. Anna did get a little lost on the way there, but she managed to find the giraffe and pig park installations. In the anime, the Takakura brothers live in the house right next to this park.   Anna said solemnly “I think the colourful house is a symbol of happiness for the brothers” while confirming that this was the location the house should be if it was the anime. Upon basking in the afterglow, one of the staff members that was with Anna cried out as if to cling onto something!   “Survival strategy! I’ll tell it to you lowlifes who will never amount to anything.* Time to go to the shopping district and get my hands on the Penguin Drum!”   [*Translator’s Note: This is a quote from the anime series Penguindrum.]   Anna was taken aback by this remark. “I wanted to go there because that appears in the anime too!”   And with that, off they went. But just what is the Penguin Drum...?   Here’s the shopping street archway that you see in the anime! It’s pretty exciting. Ogikubo is a kidn and friendly place. While strolling the streets, Anna was asking people “Where’s the Penguin Drum?!” to passers-by. Along the way, there was a shop that caught her eye! It was a kebab shop that had a deliciously inviting smell.     “I’m glad because I was reaaally hungry.”     The man’s Japanese was very good. Anna went in for the kill, asking, “Please show me your artefact that’s associated with your fate!” He kindly showed her his charm from Turkey that’s preciously decorated in the shop. Does fate relate to the Penguin Drum?! Maybe the Penguin Drum something that each person possesses... Our trip isn’t over yet!   The next location can be found on the roof of Town Seven, a shopping center at the north entrance of Ogikubo Station. It’s a wide and open space where a lot of children were playing.   This is the scene when the older of the Takakura siblings, Kanba, is talking to his ex-girlfriend, when a memory-erasing red ball comes flying and hits her on the forehead.   The playground equipment that appears in the background was very impressive to look at.     The children became interested in Anna’s hat. She was completely surrounded!   The next place Anna headed to was the shrine where the heated fight between the brothers unfolds. The younger brother, Shoma, becomes aware of the events surrounding his older brother, so presses him with questions. Kanba declares that he was playing parent. Anna prayed by herself in the grounds. And don’t forget to take a commemorative photo.     Next is the scene with the pedestrian bridge where Kanba blows up a car. We took the photo at the same angle as in the anime.   Anna told a story with a serious expression. “He [Kanba] wasn’t always a bad guy. The fact that he did something like that. That scene shocked me.”     Anna also passed under the arch to Hakusan Towns shopping district. It seems like it has changed a little since the anime aired, but you can tell it’s the place immediately! Anna tottered over and shouted, “Survival strategy!” again to a lady passing through. She then made her way to a ramen shop as the lady had also mentioned which is famous among fans.   “Sanchan Ramen” is a restaurant with a 60-year history that has continued to be loved by locals in Ogikubo.   This is the place used as a location for handing over money between Kanba and the evil organisation. There’s a lot of fans that imitate the anime and slide envelopes with money inside on the tabe.   Of course, Anna had a bowl of ramen too. And gyoza!   And beer!!   By the way, why do you like this anime, Anna?   “Penguindrum is a very deep series, it makes you think about things like love and fate. The art is cute and the music and presentation are gorgeous. I really want everyone else to watch it.”   Today’s article will be broadcast on “Kawaii JAPAN-da!!” on MBS (Kansai Local). It will go on air on March 13^th! Don’t miss out on Anna’s solo travel!      

Anna Yano is a full-blown anime freak, and this feature lets her feed that passion as she visit real life locations of her favourite anime series.

 

The location for this second entry was Ikebukuro. When people think of Ikebukuro, there’s no other series that springs to mind quite like Durarara!! The opening video of the anime is immensely popular amongst fans for how cool it is, so Anna challenged herself to recreating it with help from people on the street who love Ikebukuro!

 

We begin in front of Tokyu Hands. What kind of pose is this all of a sudden, lifting your phone up in the air like that?!

 

“I’m gathering people to recreate an Anna Yano version of various scenes in the opening!”

 

This is actually the place where the Dollars first met in the show. It’s when Mikado Ryugamine called his pals on his mobile and found out most of the people he knew were members.

 

“This one scene I thought was pretty relevant to today – using your mobile phone as a tool to move people.”

 

First up, this place! The music note monument along Sunshine Street. Anna called over two cute ladies who were in the middle of shopping in Ikebukuro. This is the best photo ever with everyone lined up in the same order – from the right Mikado Ryugamine, then Anri Sonohara, and finally Anna as Masaomi Kida!

 

Anna gave a gleaming smile as she said, “I wanted to try coming here!” Everything’s going great from the get go. Thank you, ladies!

 

Moving on to the next scene, we have Russia Sushi which appears in the anime. Anna caught a nice guy who had come from Russia to visit Japan. “What a miracle to meet someone Russian in front of Russia Sushi!” The anime gods must be smiling at Anna right now.

 

Anna was thankful for such a nice encounter! Have a nice trip～♪

 

Next, the scene where the The Headless Rider rides her bike in front of Cinema Sunshine. Anna too ran with all her might!

 

KFC too.

 

Getting drenched in front of Aoyama. Anna is stretching her body.

 

The sky faded into twilight at Mutsumata Bridge with the the orange coloured setting sun.

 

Be sure to check Anna’s version of the Durarara!! opening video on Kawaii JAPAN-da!! on MBS.

 

Next on the list is the food portion of the scenes. Anna was able to ask the staff to recreate the sushi they eat in the anime at Russia Sushi, a type of Edomae Sushi.

 

“Tada! I actually like sushi toppings that don’t usually go with rice on normal sushi. I actually just ate hamburger sushi yesterday!”

 

From the left: sour cream, borscht, and mapo!

 

Cheese, then karaage!

 

After filling her stomach, Anna left Ikebukuro to go to another certain place.

 

Smile Cafe Roots was used as a model for a place that appears in the anime. It’s a bar in Higashi-Nakano.

 

She was also able to get a cocktail like the one from the show. Anna was in a world of her own as she drank the cocktail of her beloved Shizuo. After her getting a little intoxicated, we asked Anna about the appeal of Durarara!! once more.

 

I love Durarara!! It’s had an influence on me, so much so that I used to live in Ikebukuro. It’s been fun to go around all the places and recreate the opening. When I imagine replacing the place I live with Ikebukuro and living life keeping that a secret even from people close to me, I think they’ll gradually come to be able to like it!”