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 began an exhibit in Akihabara of its students’ works. We went to check it out and were surprised to find that the venue is a blood donation center!)
Recently, the Nihon Anime and Manga Technical School (JAM) began an exhibit in Akihabara of its students’ works. We went to check it out and were surprised to find that the venue is a blood donation center!
The event is being held in the Akiba:F Blood Donation Room, which is in a favorable location just a minute’s walk from the JR Akihabara Station. Those who have an image that comes to mind when they hear of a blood donation center would certainly be surprised by this location. The center’s wide-open interior has a unified theme of being from the near future. The center also has a drink server, manga, and more. They have more than 1,000 manga for those who come to donate blood to enjoy, which gives the space a sense of convenience and pleasantness.
The space is also naturally accented with items like illustrated postcards and cushions, which really bring out the feel of being in Akihabara. Also on display are works from what we thought were pro illustrators. When we gazed at them and were told that they were all works from students at JAM, we were shocked for the second time. Students’ works weren’t just displayed on the walls; animations were flowing on monitors and panels were displayed as window installations at the center’s entrance. When we were told in detail how such perfect works were all created by current students, our jaws dropped to the floor.
Our eyes then turned to a special section of the center’s bookshelf on which works by manga artists who graduated from JAM and are currently active in industry magazines were tightly packed. The creative urge of JAM’s current students being embodied into such powerful works was easy to imagine from the fact that graduates of JAM are active as pros.
This exhibit is being held for a long period until August 13. If you will be traveling in Japan during that time, make sure to stop by Akihabara and check out this awesome space. We’re sure that you will feel firsthand the height of the quality of work that is born from the place where education relating to Japanese anime and manga began.
JAM Official Page:
http://www.web-jam.jp/ (Japanese)
Akiba:F Blood Donation Room Official Page:
http://www.tokyo.bc.jrc.or.jp/rooms/roomhp/room20.html (Japanese)
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
