Patrolling in the real Capital: discovering the real-life places featured in Ayakashi RR
So this all started when I found out that Kanda Shrine exists. When I discovered more, I decided to make a post about this. Since the Capital is just another name for early Tokyo, most of the places exist in reality, mainly those in the main patrols. In this post, I’ll go along everything one by one, sorted in order by character. I’ve never been in Tokyo so I’ve got to do everything with the information the internet lends me. Firstly I’ll post the place how it is featured in the game, then how it looks now and, sometimes, how it looked during the time Ayakashi RR takes place.
Koga - Asakusa District
There’s no place like Asakusa. You gotta love how lively it is here.
The Asakusa district has been an entertainment district for quite long, and yes, also during the time Ayakashi RR takes place. And yes, it is a geisha district, and I highly persume that Kagemaru is working there, if it is not confirmed. Even now there are still 45 geishas active.
Kuya - Shinobazu Pond
…It’s so spacious here. Perfect spot for an afternoon nap.
This lake is actually pretty big like Kuya says, and the part of the lake you are seeing here, is just one pond, the Lotus Pond, as Shinobazu is split up. The lotus leaves you see here, are pretty known for covering the surface until one can’t see the water anymore.
Ginnojo - Twelve Stories Tower
There is no finer view of the Capital than from atop this tower.
Now for this one I had to do some Googling. Apparently its actual Japanese name is Ryounkaku, and it is known as being the first skyscraper in Japan, as far as you can speak of a ‘skyscraper’, of course. However, it was destroyed in the great Kanto earthquake that takes place after the time period of the game. I kind of feel bad for Ginnojo.
Aoi - Tokyo School for the Arts
This is where I study at. If there’s one thing humans are good at, it’s art.
I had to do some digging for this one as well, but there is only one university for the arts in Tokyo and it is this one. It looks quite different now but this is the same building - the bottom image is the entrance to the Department of Arts.
Yura - Kanda Myoujin Shrine
How my heart doth find respite among such hallowed places.
This is the first place from which I knew it was real. But don’t look up the enshrined deity if you have to read Aoi’s route yet. The current shrine is a bit different (the bottom image is somewhat closer as you view it from the torii) but the roof is nearly identical.
Toichirou - Imperial Hotel
I happen to enjoy the tea served at the Imperial Hotel. You humans…such foodies.
This hotel also looks quite different from what it is now, the bottom image shows what it looked like during the time Ayakashi RR takes place, and you can hopefully see some similarities.
Shizuki - Kabukiza
Master Toichirou appreciates high-brow entertainment, so I often accompany him to the theater.
The Kabukiza is at the Ginza, another well-known entertainment district (Lupin is at Ginza). The old Kabukiza was destroyed and then rebuilt; the bottom picture shows the Kabukiza as it should have looked during the Ayakashi RR time.
Kurou - Hibiya Park
There are tons of people in Hibiya Park! It’s the perfect spot to practice my routine!
Now this park still exists and also has an open-concert venue. And if you look closely, yes, that bird statue is the very same.
Oji - Headquarters
This is where the top brass of the military gather. Ooh, look how fancy everyone’s dressed.
For this one I haven’t got something, the closest thing I have is the link, but I haven’t got a photo of the military base as it is now. I don’t know if this is a real location even.
Gaku - Shinbashi Station
Steam trains are amazingly convenient. I’m surprised humans thought of them.
This station isn’t used anymore although it is more modern looking now. The bottom image is how it should have looked during the Ayakashi RR time.
Nachi - Finishing School
So, this is where you go to school. And you study EVERY day? Color me impressed!
I couldn’t find the school where Futaba studies, as it isn’t specified and I don’t know if it exists.
Kagemaru - Nezu Shrine
Compared to my beauty, the azaleas here look like rotting garbage.
This is the shrine you go to with Kagemaru, and the picture below is actually not the main gate (honden) but the roumon, as it is the actual gate Kagemaru is standing in front of. It is just like Kagemaru not to stand in front of the main gate (honden) but the other one just to confuse me. This is one of the ones that’s been preserved pretty well, and Nezu has an azalea festival, so they are actually there too in the right time of the year.
Akiyasu - Gokokuji Temple
I spend a lot of time here practicing Divine Arts. Stop by if you want to ask me something!
It’s actually spelled Gokoku-ji, I discovered. Although this one is pretty much exactly the same, there are no traces of it being the base of an evil onmyouji…yet.
Tatsuomi - Botanical Gardens
These gardens are part of the Imperial University. Their beauty shines in every season.
Tatsuomi himself says that the gardens are part of the university and he’s right, there are botanical gardens on the campus. Judging by the second pic, they are pretty large too.
Yakumo - Imperial University
This is where I teach. It would be my pleasure to show you around, if you like.
The university is still there, although I don’t know which building is shown in the game. Below is the current main hall. Funfact: Lafcadio Hearn taught English Literature at this school until 1903.
I made a Google Map here with all the locations as they currently are on the map, and one thing immediately struck me. You know how the patrols are parted in eastern (Dawn), southern (Twilight) and northern (Night) districts, right? If you look at the map, you can see that the locations I managed to track down are all placed close to eachother, depending on faction, exactly matching the direction they are given in the game. They could make for a fun visit/tour through Tokyo this way.
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『千年廻り唄/Sen'nen Meguri Uta』結楽(CV.永塚拓馬)&楽久(CV.野上翔)」Lyrics and Translations
Title: 千年廻り唄/Sen'nen Meguri Uta (A thousand-year-old Song)
Singer: 結楽/Yura (CV.永塚拓馬/Nagatsuka Takuma) & 楽久/Gaku (CV.野上翔/Nogami Sho)
By: ボルテージ(Voltage Inc.)
LYRICS
時代は廻りし
Toki wa meguri shi
繰り返す泡沫
Kurikaesu utakata
約束の鈴の音に
Yakusoku no suzu no ne ni
動き出す運命
Ugokidasu sadame
あの日の願い
Ano hi no negai
あの日交わした誓い
Ano hi kawashita chikai
魂に刻まれた
Tamashī ni kidzamareta
記憶 呼び覚ます
Kioku yobisamasu
悠久のような(ふたりきりで)
Yūkyū no yōna (futari kiri de)
日々泳いでは(暮れなずみ)
Hibi oyoide wa (kure nazumi)
待っていた(待っていた)
Matteita (matteita)
信じてた(信じてた)
Shinjiteta (shinjiteta)
君に逢える時を
Kimi ni aeru toki o
今一度結び合う
Ima ichido musubi au
縁はつよき絆へと
Enishi wa tsuyoki kizuna e to
千年(千年)
Sen'nen (Sen'nen)
前から(続く)
Mae kara (tsudzuku)
揺るがぬ想い
Yuruganu omoi
ここからまた始まりゆく
Koko kara mata hajimari yuku
新しい物語
Atarashī monogatari
瞼を(瞼を)
Mabuta wo (mabuta wo)
閉じれば(清か)
Tojireba (sayaka)
風に凛、と響いた
Kaze ni rin to hibiita
遠きに別れ
Tōki ni wakare
幾年重ねても
Ikutose kasanete mo
魂に抱かれた
Tamashī ni daka reta
記憶は根せない
Kioku wa asenai
廻る時代と(現の世も)
Meguru toki to (utsutsu no yo mo)
変わらない空(あやかしも)
Kawaranai sora (ayakashi mo)
見上げては(見上げては)
Miagete wa (miagete wa)
描いてた(描いてた)
Egaiteta (egaiteta)
君 訪れる日を
Kimi otozureru hi o
彼方より結ばれし
Kanata yori musuba reshi
縁をかたき絆へと
Enishi wo kataki kizuna e to
千年(千年)
Sen'nen (sen'nen)
前より(もっと)
Mae yori (motto)
確かになれ
Tashika ni nare
大きなうねりのように
Ōkina uneri no yō ni
去ってはまた来る命の
Satte wa mata kuru inochi no
利那の(利那の)
Setsuna no (setsuna no)
数だけ(煌り)
Kazu dake (kirari)
輝きがあるだろう
Kagayaki ga aru darou
風に凛、と響いた
Kaze ni rin to hibiita
鈴の歌声に導かれて
Suzu no oto ni michibika rete
あの日の(忘れぬ)
Ano hi no (wasurenu)
約束(言葉)
Yakusoku (kotoba)
さあ果たそう
Sā hatasou
今一度結び合う
Ima ichido musubi au
縁はつよき絆へと
Enishi wa tsuyoki kizuna e to
千年(千年)
Sen'nen (sen'nen)
前から(今も)
Mae kara (ima mo)
続く想い 胸に
Tsudzuku omoi mune ni
君に逢いにゆこう
Kimi ni ai ni yukou
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
The times go around,
fragile repeatedly
The sound of the promised bell,
Destined to start moving
The wish of that day,
The vows I made that day,
Was engraved in the soul
And awakens the memory
Just like eternity (only the two of us)
Waded through the days (the dark grow slowly)
I was waiting (I was waiting)
I believed (I believed)
The time when I could meet you
Now we’re tied together once again
The fate becomes a strong bond
A thousand years (a thousand years)
From back then (continued)
My feelings are unwavering
It will start again from here,
with a new story
If I close (if I close)
My eyelids (so fresh)
It echoed in the wind
Farewell in the distance
No matter how many years
It was embraced by the soul,
The memory never fades
As the times go around (so does the present world)
The sky doesn’t change (so does the ayakashi)
When I looked up (when I looked up)
I pictured, (I pictured)
The day when you came to visit
Connected by far in the distance
Strike your fate and becomes a bond
A thousand years (a thousand years)
Than before (I’ll be more)
And more certain
Just like a big swell,
Life that leaves and comes again
The moments are (the moments are)
Just a number (glittery)
There will be shine, right?
It echoed in the wind
Guided by the sounds of the bell
That day, (unforgettable)
Promised (words)
Let’s fulfill it
Now we’re tied together once again
The fate becomes a strong bond
A thousand years (a thousand years)
From back then (even now)
This feeling continued in my heart
I’ll go to where you are
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My love letter to the queer silver lining of 2020
A lot of revolutionary, unprecedented things happened in 2020 — that... goes without saying
But among all the chaos, one thing I can be grateful for was the surge of queer representation in western animation
I feel lucky to be alive in this time of change, and I’m also excited for the younger generation who gets to grow up with these explicitly queer shows
It gives me hope that this kind of representation will make it easier for them to figure things out :’)
Here’s to a safe, happy, and loving 2021, and here’s to being seen!! ❤️🌟
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