Letter From the Editor

Dear Readers,
It’s your trusty editor Kuro here!

Welcome back TOMZINE readers! We’ve got an exciting Summer issue for you with features delving deep into otaku hobbies and summer activities.

Cosplay is a hobby enjoyed by many anime and manga fans. Whether you’re a cosplayer or an admirer of cosplay, it’s always exciting to become or see your favorite characters in real life. With this in mind, we headed to the Nipponbashi Street Festa 2026 in Osaka. It’s one of the largest street cosplay events in Japan where cosplayers can freely, safely walk around an area of the city.

Continuing with the cosplayer festivities, we examine what goes into making cosplay weapons and props at TAKUMI ARMORY. Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with the owner as we also take a peak behind the scenes at their factory/warehouse.

Turning briefly away from hobbies, have you ever wondered what goes into running the TOM Shop? To answer that question and more, we interviewed Sarah, the Head of Global E-Commerce at Tokyo Otaku Mode! From her history at TOM to the complexities of running the TOM Shop, this issue’s TOM Staff Interview is one you don’t want to miss!

We also take a look at Japanese Summer Festival attire, show how I deal with the summer heat, and we find out what hobbies the TOM Staff are into with our latest TOM Staff Picks.

We hope you enjoy volume 4 of the TOMZINE, and don’t forget to check out the deals page for your TOM Shop 5% OFF coupon!