"Paranghyou no Yohane - SUNSHINE in the MIRROR -" was announced as an official spin-off of "Love Live! Sunshine!!". Ahead of the anime's broadcast, a manga is currently being serialized. The story centers around the protagonist, modeled after Tsushima Yoshiko, and has an atmosphere reminiscent of reincarnation in another world. All members of Aquors appear in the story, but the keyword "school idol" never appears. However, the story is set in a place called "Numazu." Is there any connection to Numazu City, the setting of the original work, or the real-life city of Numazu? We'll explain in this article!
Introduction: What kind of story is it?
The story takes place in Numazu, a port town surrounded by sea and mountains. Ever since childhood, Yohanne has struggled to fit in and has avoided interacting with those around her. However, she has dreams and hopes. What does she want to do? Where does she belong? The adventure of this clumsy, yet honest Yohanne, who is determined to move forward in her own way, begins now.
The setting is "Numazu"
The story is set in a place called "Numazu." Surrounded by the sea and mountains, it's bustling with people during the day. The protagonist, John, works as a fortune teller in this town. When the streets are quiet, he and his partner, Laelaps, spend their free time together. The setting seems to be older than modern times, with many people traveling by horse-drawn carriage and boat. However, there are some modern elements as well. The official Love Live! YouTube channel is streaming a five-episode series called "Phantom of the Sun: A Tale of Johannes," which introduces John's daily life in the form of a voice-over picture-story show. In episode 2, there's a scene where John hears a ringtone similar to a cell phone and responds to it. Is there something similar to a modern-day smartphone? There's no illustration of that scene, so we don't know what it actually looks like, but perhaps even in a fantasy world, a means of quick communication is essential.
Recommended Spots in Numazu
The aforementioned "Phantom of the Sun: Yohane's Scenery" conveys the charms of Numazu while introducing recommended spots. Episode 3 introduces a place called "Torres Wetlands Park," a beloved park among locals. Blessed with a lush natural environment and a variety of plants, it offers beautiful views of the ocean and mountains. John came to this park to give a visiting fortune-teller. Although he claims to be on a business trip, perhaps he just wanted to get away from work and take a break. Episode 4 features a place called "Mount Kinek," located southeast of the town center. It's a lush mountain popular as a hiking trail, but the mountain path is quite treacherous. John climbed the mountain, exhausted, to meet Dia. He asked Laelaps for a ride along the way, but was ignored. It seems Laelaps itself had a tough time.
The Model is Numazu City
As you probably know, Numazu is modeled after the anime "Love Live! Sunshine!!" Numazu City is the setting for the anime "Yoshinobu." Tracing its origins further, the Uchiura district and Otemachi areas of Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, are modeled after the city. The original Numazu City accurately recreated the atmosphere of the actual city. As a result, Numazu City saw the installation of character manholes and pilgrimages to Numazu's sacred sites, resulting in a significant economic impact on tourism. While it's unclear how closely Numazu will recreate Numazu City, the setting of a town rich in nature, surrounded by sea and mountains, seems perfectly suited to the city's image. If the anime broadcast brings renewed attention to Numazu City, it could once again contribute significantly to the city's tourism industry.
Summary of Numazu
Like the original work, Numazu is a town rich in nature, and it has the kind of charm that makes you want to live in such a place. What adventures will John have in this town, and how will he grow? I can't wait! That's all for today. Thank you for reading.
