Shopping Guide
An event of a national scale, Handmade In Japan Fes 2013 was held for the first time for two days, from July 20-21, at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center. The main sponsor was Creema, an online market for creators. With 1,962 booths and works by 2,425 artists, the festival was a way to experience and celebrate the creative culture of Japan. Over the course of two days, about 26,000 people attended the event.
One of the purposes of the event was to support the creators and craftspeople and the dedication they have to making their handmade goods. Some of the hottest spots were the "Creator Areas," of which there were ten in total. In these areas, attendees were able to get personalized illustrations, accessories, dolls, clothing, furniture, and other miscellaneous goods made with such technique and attention to detail that one can only find in Japan. Mock anime and manga works modeled after participants delighted attendees with their cuteness, some onlookers exclaiming how they wanted to take them home and put them up in their house. Other highlights included live musical performances, live improvisational paintings, and T-shirt design workshops.
Though the event is over, summer has just begun. There are many other otaku-oriented events to come including Wonder Festival and Comic Market, so there is much to look forward to!
© Akamaru Inc.
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
