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For two days, from May 28 to 29, 2014, Miku Expo 2014 was held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. Miku Expo was a large-scale event that celebrated Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku along with other popular Japanese subculture phenomena with various exhibitions and a 3D concert performance. Fans were able to fully experience the fascinating world of Hatsune Miku from beginning to end, with other Vocaloid characters making appearances as well. Here's our report from the world's first official Hatsune Miku festival.
Over 15,000 fans attended the exhibition and live performances at Miku Expo. From this number alone, it's apparent just how popular Miku is in Indonesia. The event featured illustrations of Hatsune Miku by various artists, an exhibit about the history of Hatsune Miku, popular figures like Nendoroid and figma, as well as a life-size figure exhibit and Hatsune Miku official merchandise for sale. Hatsune Miku illustrations by many popular illustrators were on display, including work by the original Miku character designer, KEI. There were also card games, nail art, and origami booths that offered a unique and fun experience for Miku fans. Let’s take a look at the various booths and the live performance.
[The Booths]
- Official Merchandise + Consignment Sale Booth
This booth had a range of Hatsune Miku products for sale, from official event merchandise to goods by other businesses like Good Smile Company. Hatsune Miku goods are in high demand even in Indonesia, enough so that many fans rushed to this booth as soon as the event opened. Among the most popular goods was the Snow Miku figure. Some devoted fans even started lining up at 5:30 a.m. just to get their hands on it.
One fan said he saved up his money just to buy the figure. Another adolescent fan postponed receiving his birthday present until the event so he could get the figure; it was clear that the love for Hatsune Miku crosses many different age groups.
The goods booth was consistently crowded until the afternoon of the second day. It's apparent just how much Indonesian fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Hatsune Miku in their country.
- Bushiroad Booth
Bushiroad, the trading card company behind such popular games as Cardfight!! Vanguard also set up a booth at the event. They provided a space for fans to experience Weiß Schwarz, a card game in which Hatsune Miku is one of the characters. The booth was continuously bustling with fans enjoying their card games from opening until closing.
- Karent Booth
Karent is a worldwide music label, used by many artists, that specializes in Vocaloid content. Currently, over 4,500 songs are being distributed by Karent to the world. At their booth, fans were able to freely listen to samples of a variety of Karent registered songs. Fans enjoyed listening to the latest songs that are being continuously made every day.
- Miku History Booth
This booth featured a recorded history of Hatsune Miku, since her birth in 2007 up until the present day. A lineup of figures from Nendoroid, figma, and Pullip were also displayed. Many fans took pictures of some of the rare items on display. So many were eager to enter the booth that they had to wait in line.
- Interactive Booths
These fun booths let fans try their hand at some Hatsune Miku origami, nail art, and even cosplay. The Cosplay Makeup Show had many applicants, but only those chosen were lucky enough to participate in the event. Japanese makeup artists used their skills to make extremely detailed and accurate cosplayers out of each participant. Each one was transformed into Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len, Megurine Luka, Kaito, and Meiko respectively, before going onstage for a photo shoot. All of the fans seemed to enjoy it immensely. One makeup artist commented, “It was my first time doing makeup on an Indonesian person, but they were really enthusiastic and I enjoyed doing it."
- Tokyo Otaku Mode
Tokyo Otaku Mode participated in Miku Expo 2014 as a media partner. We sold fanart goods made by registered TOM Special Creators. It was the first time that fan-made art was made available as official Miku merchandise. In addition to the merchandise, we also displayed illustrations by Special Creators, junk art, and latte art. The high quality of Japanese fanart appealed to many fans, who took photos as they passed by our booth.
- Life-size Wing Miku Figure
At the end of the exhibition hall, a 160-centimeter (5’3”) tall life-size Hatsune Miku figure was on display. This real life "Angelic Miku" had wings growing out from her back. Fans were mesmerized by her overwhelming presence, and lined up to take photos with her.
[The Rowdy Hatsune Miku Live Show!]
But, of course, Miku Expo wasn’t all about exhibitions. Hatsune Miku herself made an appearance for her Indonesian fans in a large-scale live show. The live performance used a 3D image of Hatsune Miku and was held three different times over the course of the two-day event. Each time, the venue was packed to its 2,500-person capacity and overflowing with excitement.
From the opening song “Senbonzakura,” the level of fan excitement was at a maximum. You could literally feel the energy as the venue shook with the crowd's cheers. Kagamine Rin/Len, Megurine Luka, Kaito, and Meiko also made appearances on stage. The light show was astoundingly gorgeous, and combined with the power of a live band, made the space feel like it was part of the Hatsune Miku universe. Miku also thanked her fans and addressed them in Indonesian in between songs. This seemed to really resonate strongly with the fans. Some fans even shouted in Japanese, “DAISUKI!” (I love you!).
While the performance was amazing, the way that the fans enjoyed the show was also surprising. They used the same color light sticks and hand motions to match each song and character, just like fans do in Japan. It seems like the way to enjoy a Miku performance is common knowledge among all fans. It felt like watching a performance in Japan. That’s how enthusiastic and devoted the Indonesian vocalic fans are to Hatsune Miku culture. You could feel the depth of the love they had for Hatsune Miku and Vocaloid.
Fans got really riled up when Miku performed one of her hits, “Mikku Miku ni Shiteageru,” and sang loudly along. It seemed that the many fans who gathered in Jakarta were all extremely satisfied with Hatsune MIku’s first performance in Indonesia.
Miku Expo 2014, the event that excited so many Indonesian Miku fans, is not over yet. Another Expo will be held in the near future, and the location will be announced soon. This event truly has everything Hatsune Miku and Vocaloid fans could ask for. When will it be held next? We’ll just have to wait and see!
Some of the goods sold at Miku Expo 2014 are available for purchase on the Tokyo Otaku Mode Premium Shop. Many of the items available were sold out at Miku Expo. Illustrators, who are avid fans themselves, have poured their love into these special items. Miku fans, don’t miss out!
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
*Reported by Daiki Nakata*
