Shopping Guide
Comic Market 89, the world’s largest event for displaying and selling new doujinshi, opened its doors on Dec. 29. The event will run for three days from the 29–31.
Comic Market (Comiket) is a massive event for otaku that records over 500,000 total visitors each time it’s held. This time marks its 89th holding, and counting from when it first began in December 1975 this year also marks its 40th anniversary.
A total of 35,000 circles are participating in this Comiket, with 130 businesses exhibiting. Though each area was jammed with people, it was announced that attendance for the first day was actually about 30,000 people less than first day attendance for the last two holdings (180,000) with the total being 150,000.
The cosplay area on the first day expanded to three locations and was popular with attendees for all the cosplay on show, from Kantai Collection, Love Live!, Idolmaster Cinderella Girls, and Touken Ranbu, to anime that aired this year including JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Osomatsu-san, and Seraph of the End.
In order to keep the event safe from terrorism, police were on increased alert and for the first time were inspecting attendees’ bags upon entry. There was also a noticeable increase in the amount of staff patrolling the venue.
Comiket is making attendees’ enthusiasm skyrocket. And there’s plenty still in store before it comes to a close on New Year’s Eve!
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article written and photographed by Kohji Sakurai and translated by Jarrett Meuser.
