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Sudakova A. The Phenomenon of Pilgrimage to Anime Holy Sites in Japan

A. Sudakova
Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences
St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
ORCID: 0000-0001-8445-5683
E-mail: sudakovaaa@kunstkamera.ru

 

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ABSTRACT. Based on the author’s field research, this article explores the phenomenon of pilgrimage to the “holy places” of anime in modern Japan, considering the influence of animation culture on tourism and spatial change. The author examines this phenomenon’s trends, dynamics, and sociocultural aspects, analyzing the motivation and behavior of anime fans and studying the impact of animation on the formation of “sacred” places in the context of modern Japanese public memory. The article explores the sacred network of anime and the role of the animation industry in developing tourism and creating new tourist routes in Japan. It also analyzes the traditional pilgrimage seal of the goshuin and its role in pilgrimages to the “holy places” of anime. Particular attention is paid to the process of copying pilgrimage traditions from the religious sphere into the context of animated culture and the issue of the identity of the pilgrims. The author analyzes pilgrimage practices, considering their sociocultural context and changes in modern society’s perception and interpretation of sacred places. The study attempts to understand the phenomenon of pilgrimage to anime holy sites through the lens of anthropology of movement, anthropology of travel, and the sociology of religion, offering clues to the interaction between popular culture and traditional pilgrimage practices. Based on an analysis of pilgrimages to anime holy sites, the article aims to expand understanding of the influence of animation culture on modern society and tourism in Japan.

 

KEYWORDS: pilgrimage, Japan, anime “holy places”, travel, popular culture, mobility

 

DOI 10.31250/2618-860 0-2024-1(23)-115-132
UDC 316.66 (520)

 

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