A stunning montage of some of the best photorealist shots anime has to offer invites us to contemplate the forested pathways of a mountain shrine, as a gentle score and birdsong lull us into a restful state. A young woman climbs the stone steps, flushed with exertion. Cut to the Kadokawa HQ, where 18-year-old mangaka Chika Suzugamori is pitching not one, but three—count ’em, three!—new drafts. She’s already won a million yen prize as an up-and-comer, and it’s time for her sophomore release. Only, she’s blocked! Her editor is nice about it, but the work just isn’t coming together; it lacks that certain something to hook the reader. Maybe, Editor-san suggests, Suzugamori should weave her hobbies or something else she enjoys into her stories? It’s a great idea, except that our heroine doesn’t have any hobbies! Her entire life is manga! But as she’s wallowing in disappointment later that evening, the white noise of her television suddenly catches her attention with a program on taking a trip, inspiring Suzugamori to do the same. She asks her social media followers to tell her which direction she should travel in, then goes to sleep. The next morning, she awakens to discover that a senior colleague with a ton of followers has reposted her little survey, and so now she really has to commit! The public has spoken: She will go up. And so, a mangaka’s new (expensive) hobby of journeying begins! Step by step, we follow Suzugamori on a low-key, yet satisfying wander to a quiet onsen town and hike up to a mountain shrine. Siggghhhh! Now this is the life!
Guys, this is quintessential iyashikei right here! These 23 minutes are refreshing, inspiring in a relaxed way, and downright healing! It’s Yuru Camp for grown-ups, without the stress of wrestling rogue tent poles or braving cold winds. All the little details of Suzugamori’s trip are documented gently, from the trains she takes to the cost of tickets and entrance fees to attractions, to (of course) what she eats along the way. A mellow-voiced narrator slips in some key historical context, advice, and the occasional encouraging axiom, keeping things interesting amid the leisurely pace. I can see that each episode will be a mini education on some corner of Japan; I can also see this series quickly becoming a pilgrimage route informing tourists’—international and Japanese alike—own journeys off the beaten path. The animation is, frankly, gorgeous, particularly the backgrounds. As it should be, too, considering that the studio, Makaria, has specialized in backgrounds since its inception in 2016, providing other studios’ projects with beautiful artwork, including Lerche’s 2017 remake of Kino’s Journey, and another journey-themed series, Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina. This season marks Makaria’s launch as production lead, and in Zatsu Tabi/That’s Journey, they’ve chosen well; this is a perfect series for this team! The score is peaceful and at times wistful, while Suzugamori herself strikes the right balance between motivation and hesitation, motion and stillness, emotion and reflection, making her an ideal iyashikei protagonist. She has things to learn, and ways in which she will doubtless grow, but there is no desperation or urgency here, only the quiet joy of discovery. So far, she’s holding herself aloof from others, choosing not to converse with other travelers; but I daresay this will change over the course of the series, as she begins to find friendship along the way in this new facet of her life. This is going to be one I look forward to each week, I can already feel it!
Zatsu Tabi is streaming on Crunchyroll.
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