I may say that Japanese animation culture is developed along the JR Chuo line. There are famous animation studios such as Studio Ghibli (Sprited away), Production IG (Ghost in the shell; check this Matrix comparison video, fun), and Studio 4C(Animatrix). A famous manga shop Mandarake in Nakano and many famous manga creators live along Chuo line. (One of them is Kazuo Umezu. Recently I read the news he tried to paint this house in red and white stripes but the neighborhood strongly opposed it.) From October 6th to 14th, an animation event "Kichijoji Anime Wonderland" will be held in Kichijoji. Kichijoji is a station of the Chuo line and a sort of center of such animation culture. H.I.S Experience is a travel agency that makes Japanese tours for foreign visitors. They say they will make a "Kichijoji Anime Wonderland tour" on the tour, and you may visit the Ghibli museum, "the animate" shop "animate", a maid cafe in Kichijoji, Harmonika alley and also Studio 4C (their Genius Party is the theme of the event), etc.
Since the price of flour is going up, some products are raising their prices. Nissin will raise the price of instant noodles after 17 years without changing. (Their promotion animation "Freedom" was made by Sunrise, and they are in JR Chuo line too!) Glico isn't raising the price of Pocky but the size of one package will go down. By the way, do you know the Glico-Morinaga case is an uncleared extortion crime? I remember I was so scared to see The Fox-Eyed man on the TV.
Good post.
Posted by: Tirza | Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Ah, the fox-eyed man does look scary !
By the way, there is one more good animation studio on chuo line ! Its Madhouse, and its just next to our building ( sunrise ) in Ogikubo.
Posted by: blauereiter | Monday, September 10, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Hi Mari!
I'll be in tokyo in November and I'm a real otaku hoping to check out japan pop culture. What anime stuff can we see easily along the Chuo line?
Posted by: Squid | Monday, September 10, 2007 at 08:33 PM
I went on the Kichijoji Anime Wonderland tour in 2002 when it was held for the first time. At that time JTB were the tour operators but not so many people went on the tour. I hope they get more people this time.
I have tickets to the Ghibli Museum (in Mitaka, on the Chuo line after Kichijoji) on Saturday - I hope the typhoon is past by then!
Posted by: Chris | Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 11:50 PM
Wow, I'll remember to check JR Chuo when I came there. nakano isn't as famous as Akiba but it's a well know place for anime lovers, like Ikebukuro for "fujoshi".
Yet the best animation studio that otaku love (i love them too) is at Kyoto, it's Kyoto Animation, from far the best animation studio for the moment.
Posted by: 41nano | Thursday, September 06, 2007 at 11:49 PM