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April 06 Byousoku 5cm Real Life Pictures - Spring Edition
Remember the Byousoku 5cm Real Life Pictures post I did last year while in Japan? I decided not to miss doing a Spring Edition as it was the main season the whole film was set in. After all, how often do you get to see the blooming of Sakura trees?
Thankfully, due to having done one of these trips last year, getting around was much easier and quicker this time, with one exception (will get to that later). Armed with my iPod Touch filled with the maps of each location, camera and a couple of energy bars, I left the hostel together with double into the direction of Shinjuku. There, we embarked on the journey of reminiscence. We had originally wanted to visit Nogi station and Iwafune station, which was northwards of Ikebukuro, but after realizing how much time and expensive it was to travel there, we had to unfortunately skip it (1hr 45 mins just to get to Iwafune station, which the trains run at an hourly interval. Ticket cost for one way: 2500 yen. Transit Information). If I did visit Iwafune station, I’d have to leave at 10 in the morning and will only return 3 in the afternoon… I shall follow the format of the “Byousoku 5cm Real Life Pictures” Post I did last year, hence saving time in thinking how to present these pictures to you.
This building is called Shinjuku Sumitomo Building 「新宿住友ビル」
I tried to imitate Takaki and get double to take a picture like how it would look like in the film itself. But double sucks at taking photos so you get a lousy photo as above ORZ With that marker down as well, we headed towards Sangubashi station, where the more exciting parts of these journey is at - The places where Akari and Takaki spent their childhood at.
Remember I didn’t know how to get there during the last trip? I thought I had it down this time, but due to me writing down the wrong train line (It’s actually Odakyu and not Odawara), we couldn’t find where Sangubashi station is. Even asking the kawaii station lady by the counter didn’t help, as she told us to take the blue lines (which there wasn’t any Sangubashi on them). Eventually, we decided to take the Yamanote line down to Harajuku, and walk through Yoyogi park. The red pin on the mark is the location of the sakura tree where Akari and Takaki kissed. I forgot to take a picture though… ORZ If only I could grab a cute girl and kiss her by the tree ^^;
The walls and structure on the left have been cleared and now it’s under construction to make way for some building. Notice how that yellow motorbike is still at the same location as it was 6 months ago?! Moving on, we headed to the two most importation train crossings in the whole film.
I originally wanted double to imitate Akari by jumping for a bit.. but I realized it would be stupid ^^; At least the construction vehicles in the same location at the film.
Me imitating Takaki by walking towards the camera. Akari, Takaki and Chobit the cat
Since I’d missed out visiting the temple where Akari and Takaki met Chobi the cat the previous trip, we headed down there for a couple of shots. I don’t have my copy of Byousoku 5cm with me at the moment so I can’t take any screencaps of the film. Will get that done once I’m back in Singapore ^^;
Here’s where Akari and Takaki meets Chobi the Cat. This is a direct reference to Makoto Shinkai’s earlier film “She and the Cat”
Post ThoughtsIt’s almost funny how this film has impacted me the longest since time knoweth, that it is no surprise that it becomes a part of who you are. Even having visited these places for the second time, the same feeling of remniscene hits you back, with an added impact. You learn new things about each character. be it the sadness, unimaginable thoughts or even just the simple days of joys they (Akari and Takaki) shared. It felt good to be there again. Phrases from the film keep running through my head, especially the prologue.
A simple dish of reality. Getting There
Here’s a note for any reader who wish to embark on this visit themselves. To get to Sangubashi station, take the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku station (It’s not a JR line, and there’s a gate to transfer to there). I wouldn’t mind visiting these places yet again, and also the remainder which I have yet to visit. It would probably be nice to visit during Winter. Especially when there’s snow on the ground. Misc
Just a picture of a cat we saw along the streets. And oh, I managed to get the hard cover copy of the novel :) Related Posts: Other Links: TrackbacksThe trackback URL for this entry is: http://project-gainax.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F6118777D28231F0!129.trak Weblogs that reference this entry
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