Zatsu Tabi: That’s Journey – 04
I suspect this might be the logical offramp for Zatsu Tabi from a coverage standpoint. It’s still enjoyable in a low-key way, but not the series I need it to be for it to really work as a subject. I pretty much explained why last week, and this episode didn’t really do anything to move the needle either way.
As for the episode, it was one that followed paths I’ve walked, which is always an interesting experience. This is my prefecture, after all. I’ve been everywhere this ep went, including on the Tango no Umi from Kyoto to Amanohashidate. Fushimi Inari and the sake circuit I’ve done multiple times, so those experiences are very much ingrained in my memory. I do think it’s a little silly, this idea that a 19 year-old couldn’t possibly drink – there’s no way a sake brewery is going to care for starters, when she’s with two adults. And she’s a college student FFS. But that’s the way anime sometimes handles that issue, so…
The self-indulgent three-way travel thing I can take or leave – how I long for a return to Chika’s solo days. The new character (the sake lady from Aizu, though at least her presence wasn’t a coincidence) I can take or leave too. I liked the sidebars on inspiration and how different creators find it in different ways (I see some personal experience on the part of the mangaka in those scenes). But the rest of it didn’t offer much beyond nice scenery and vamping, which is ultimately why Zatsu Tabi probably isn’t a good fit going forward. It has its moments though, and a travelogue for this amazing country certainly isn’t unwelcome.
Ballpark de Tsukamaete! – 05
We’re definitely getting to that cutoff point for all the bubble shows, those on the Patron Pick ballot and otherwise. Ballpark de Tsukamaete! is a tough one, because it doesn’t exactly represent a broad appeal to Western fans – which is sort of ironic given that it’s about an American sport, but the overlap between anime and sports fans in the West is still pretty limited (though not as much as a few years ago). It’s good, though, and pretty much right in my strike zone, no pun intended. And this was one of the best episodes of the run so far.
The first chapter here finds Koutarou having an unexpected meeting at the ballpark – his kouhai Shimizu-san is a fan, too. And she knows her stuff – when Ruriko tries to throw her off by talking about Kojirou’s WRC+ (which she doesn’t understand), Shimizu counters with his UZR (which she does). Ruriko and Natsuno (checking herself in the mirror before selling Koutarou a bento made me ROFL) getting jealous over Shimizu is kind of funny given what a schlub he plays at – if he knew, maybe he’d have a little self-confidence.
Next it’s all about player-themed bentos. Yes they are a thing at Japanese ballparks, and quite popular. Young bishounen Shishio’s are selling like hotcakes (though I doubt they contain them) but oldster Kojirou and journeyman southpaw Mitsui’s are a little sluggish. Kojirou’s wife is back and tries to goose his numbers, but Mitsui’s girlfriend is there too. They wind up buying out the full stock in an effort to trump each other, only to find a couple of male fans disappointed to find their favorites sold out.
Japanese baseball and American baseball are quite different – much more than the rules, the experience itself – and I’m reminded every time I go to a game here. But there are a lot of universalities about being a baseball fan, and the rain delay chapter does a great job of bringing that home (no pun intended). That agony when a rain delay begins is unique, especially when your team is ahead (it’s not an official game until four-and-a-half innings are complete). And the joy when the rain stops and they start rolling up the tarp – there’s nothing like it. This whole segment was great, including the speech by the father there with his 14 year-old daughter, and Sun-Shiro and his tiny umbrella.
Uchuujin MuuMuu (Me and the Alien MuMu) – 04
Back in the Spring check-in I noted “In a season without Apocalypse Hotel, Me and the Alien MuMu might be the weirdest show airing”. Well, TBH this week it definitely was the weirdest. Part of that is because Apocalypse had its least weird episode, but MuuMuu definitely held up its end of the bargain.
After a callback to that massive electric bill (for the record I would be seriously pissed if the conbini clerk loudly questioned my utility bill), most of this episode focused on Tenkubashi, the president of the Human Regenerative Society (who by the way is played by Kiuchi Hidenobu, really a marvelous and underrated seiyuu). And he’s perhaps the weirdest character in the cast. What I will say about him is that he’s genuinely passionate about engineering, pretty brilliant, and a very good teacher in fact. And that he – like Uchuujin MuuMuu itself – is resolutely pro-science. But in the latter case, with a cautionary twist.
He’s also a menace to society, as this ep proves out. He teaches Sakurako how to swap out the motors on hand mixers for RC car ones, which the society sells (for meal chits) to the bodybuilding club to mix their protein shakes. Well and good, if a little dodgy. MuuMuu tries a little experiment using pyramid power (sorry kitty, Mythbusters busted that one) with disastrous results. But Tenkubashi then turns his attention to a long-distance charging system (“Babel”) for the school idol Kagetsu’s phone as yes, he seems to be in love with her. And after making some almost unbelievably crass and ill-advised techie jokes at their first meeting, he’s got some work to do to get on her good side.
It’s hard to overstate how loudly his contraption (mostly magnatrons from microwaves) screams “bad idea”. And after blowing up her glass of water, he then proceeds to go cyber-terrorism and knock out the power grid with an EMP pulse. All this happens within the framework of the series’ strange and disjointed narrative style, peppered with “technology for dummies” moments and set to Kuricorder Quartet’s irrepressible soundtrack. And it’s hard to overstate just how much of a role that soundtrack plays in establishing the mood here – it’s basically impossible to listen to Kuricorder’s music and not be happy, no matter how weird things get. This combination is working for me, no question about it – and I’m sure not getting anything like it anywhere else on the schedule.
The post Weekly Digest 04/30/25 – Zatsu Tabi: That’s Journey, Ballpark de Tsukamaete! (The Catcher in the Ballpark!), Uchuujin MuuMuu (Me and the Alien MuMu) appeared first on Lost in Anime.
