Anime vs. Real Life’s focus today is going to be on one of the lesser talked about shows this season – KADO: The Right Answer. I was basically going into this show completely blind, only knowing that it was an original production by Toei, but was pleasantly surprised to find such an engaging and also intriguing sci-fi thriller. You can probably imagine my bewildered reaction after the somewhat mundane episode 0, when the giant mysterious alien cube started manifesting out of left field over Haneda Airport’s runway D at the end of the episode. It was also quite refreshing to see the show take a level-headed approach to the whole first contact scenario, trying to enter into negotiations with the alien first, instead of immediately trying to gun him down, or calling in some kind of mecha army (pretty sure that one is still going to happen). It might also be worth noting that, while CG anime aren’t necessarily my cup of tea, KADO: The Right Answer’s CG actually seems to get it right and looks at least miles better than some of its peers.
Now, after the never-racking relocation of the alien cube, Kado, in the latest episode, why not take a look at some of the show’s real-world locations?
*All images were taken with GOOGLE STREET VIEW
KADO: The Right Answer’s first episode introduces us to the ace negotiator Shindo of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ International Intelligence and Communications Division (phew, I even shortened that a bit), and various other government institutions, indicating that a good chunk of the show is going to take place in Tokyo’s political center, the Chiyoda Ward. Numerous of Japan’s ministries are located in Chiyoda’s Kasumigaseki District, one of them being the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (picture above).
Kasumigaseki Bus Stop in front of the Ministry of Finance.
The Cabinet Office Building is located in Nagatacho. Shindo and Hanamori originally planned to take some time off, but their plans got foiled by an informal request from Undersecretary Igarashi from the Cabinet Office to buy up the property of an outdated steel company.
However, Shindo still sees some potential in the plating factory, so he consults Professor Mifune of the National Institute for Integrated Sciences to discuss a new type of low-friction plating technology, which could keep them in business. The building in the anime was modeled after Honda’s research institute in Wako.
After another successful job, Shindo and Hanamori board a plane at Haneda Airport and are on their way to an international conference. However, out of nowhere a mysterious cube starts to materialize over Haneda’s runway D, and swallows the aircraft. Haneda Airport is located just a bit south of Tokyo and is one of city's two major airports. While the faraway Narita Airport handles the majority of international flights, Haneda handles the main share of the domestic ones and an increasing number of international flights, making it Japan’s busiest airport by total passenger traffic by far. So you can probably imagine the chaos that an alien cube hindering all airport traffic would cause.
The red arch located outside of Haneda Airport.
Intersection in Kasumigaseki next to Hibiya Park. Located to the right is the Ministry of the Environment, but what actually helped me find this exact spot was the distinctive silhouette of the Toranomon Hills Mori Tower in the background.
I also tried to play around a bit with the latest version of Google Earth, which is now able to render landscapes in 3D from any angle. The warehouses in the bottom right are part of the Ota Market.
The east façade of the Kantei, the Prime Minister's official residence.
Camp Asaka is the headquarters of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Eastern Army. The camp is located in close proximity to the before mentioned Honda Research Institute.
Car park close to Haneda Airport.
This shot of Anamori Bridge looks a lot less spectacular without the giant alien cube looming in the background. At least there’s a cool tailplane-shaped streetlamp.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The NKK (totally not NHK) reporters wait around in the Haneda District.
In episode five, Shindo heads to the JGSDF Camp Mishuku, where most of the wams end up in.
The protestors outside of the Prime Minister’s residence are urging the prime minister to hand over all of the wams to the UN.
And in the end, the prime minister decides to hand them over to the UN. His speech also gets displayed on the massive screen of Shibuya’s Q Front Building.
Chofu Shopping Street, where Shindo’s mom runs her restaurant, was probably based on Tenjin Shopping Street, located in Chofu.
In episode six, Shindo and Yaha-kui zaShunina decide to finally move Kado to more to a more suited location. Kado passes through evacuation zones 14 and 15 here, which encompass parts of Chofu. The bridge in the background is Tamagawara Bridge.
Again, it looks a lot less exciting without the giant cube rolling along the Tama River in the background
The Seibu Prince Dome is located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, and is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team.
And after a long day of intense cube rolling, Kado finally reaches its destination, which is Sayama Lake, located north-west of Tokyo. Pictured in the foreground here is the Seibuen Yuenchi Amusement Park.
What are your thoughts on Yaha-kui zaShunina’s vision for mankind? What would be the consequences of an infinite source of energy, or the disposal of the human body’s need for sleep? Sound off in the comments below!
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You can follow Wilhelm on Twitter @Surwill.
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