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Engaged Couple Search for a Home in Saitama's Sōka City Promotional Anime
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
In the growing industry of tourism focused anime, the city of Sōka in Saitama prefecture is hoping to draw visitors with a story that blends hopes and dreams. The "Kimi no Matsu Basho e" (To the Place Where You Wait) stars character Sōta, a man that was born in Sōka but has worked and lived in Tokyo until recently. He's engaged to Miki and decides to return to Sōka to look for a new home where the two will live together. While house hunting, he encounters a mysterious bird and begins to chase after it. He then meets a woman named Akiko.
A trailer for the anime aired at the Sōka railway station's east exit. The full anime will premiere at Sōka city's 60th anniversary celebration on November 11. The anime will also go live on YouTube at the same time.
The anime stars Junya Enoki as Sōta, Ai Kakuma as Miki, and Sōka native Yōko Honna as Akiko. Additionally, Izumi Sawada plays Sōta's mother Yūko. The anime's theme song "Kokoro ga Kaeru Basho" was performed by singer Hanako Oku. Mitsuki Kokose is credited with original work and writing the script.
The city of Sōka boasts the sixth largest population within Saitama prefecture but is only 60 years old. It wasn't until Japan established its municipal system in 1958 that the area officially became Sōka city.
The anime is one of several tourism anime Pony Canyon is helping produce. The company signed on to create four commercials for Gunma Prefecture's Kiryū city and Tochigi prefecture's Ashikaga city by mid-March. Pony Canyon produced both anime for the city of Ōgaki in Gifu this year. The second Ōgaki anime, embedded below, premiered on October 5.
Source: Comic Natalie
