This Summer’s Comiket Brings in 550,000 in Attendance Over 3 Days!

Comic Market 88, the world’s largest doujinshi event, was held from Aug. 14–16. Approximately 550,000 people visited the event at Tokyo Big Sight over three days (180,000 the first day, 160,000 the second day, and 210,000 the third day), recording about the same number of attendees as last summer’s event. The event was divided into three areas—corporate booths, doujinshi booths, and a cosplay area—with a constant stream of people in each; it was just as popular as always.

The venue was mainly comprised of doujinshi booths, and there were throngs of people from all corners of the globe. Even taking photos was a challenge, as it was hard to capture long distance shots.

There were even artists sketching illustrations during the event.

The corporate booth area was set up on the fourth floor of the West Hall, and at booths like the one for Shaft, a company that produces popular series including Bakemonogatari and Madoka Magica, products sold out in a flash after the doors opened. There were roughly 10,000 people who stayed overnight the night before the event to get first dibs on the goods offered at each company booth. Among them, there were even those Comiket warriors who lined up before the event began on the second day. There was also no shortage of attendees from France, America, and other Western countries.

Popular as well, the corporate booth area in the West Hall was jam-packed with people. Even outside the area, there were lines hundreds of meters long as attendees waited to get their hands on the popular goods on offer at each booth.

The corporate booths were so popular, in fact, that within an hour of opening products were already sold out.

Cosplay of Love Live! and Kantai Collection was seen left and right in the cosplay area. Because each series has so many characters, female groups cosplaying together really stood out. In response to the spring and summer anime, we also caught sight of popular characters from Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Hestia from DanMachi, and even Ninja Slayer from Ninja Slayer From Animation.

A parking lot was used for the cosplay area on the first day. Everywhere we looked there were people, people, and more people.

This is a garden area that was opened up for cosplay photography. Popular cosplayers were surrounded 360° by photographers.

In addition to cosplayers from Asia, Australian cosplayer Ladybeard who is often recognized even in Japan hastened to the cosplay area as well.

The next Comiket, Comiket 89, will be held in late December. If you’re interested in attending, why not plan a trip to Japan to sync up with the event’s schedule?

Comic Market Official Site

This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.