The coronavirus outbreak has calmed down, and the number of people out on the streets has returned to normal. Not only will there be an increase in the number of people shopping, but spectators will be allowed in for baseball, soccer, horse racing, and other events, as well as concerts by musicians. In particular, the ban on cheering out loud has been lifted, and I feel that life has returned to normal.
The other day, a concert for the popular smartphone game ``Uma Musume Pretty Derby'' was held in Nagoya, and it was a great success. It was also held in Tokorozawa in the spring. The venues for such events are exhibition halls and stadiums. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, particularly large-scale events are held at Tokyo Big Sight and Makuhari Messe. We will introduce events and venues held exclusively for anime and games.
Tokyo Big Sight “Comic Market”
Tokyo Big Sight is located in the reclaimed area of Tokyo Bay and can be accessed by Yurikamome, Rinkai Line, and buses. A particularly famous event is Comic Market. Held for three days each summer and winter. There are doujin goods sales events held by general circles and goods sales events organized by companies. There are also many cosplayers. It seems that famous manga artists also participate in the general circle.
Tokyo Big Sight has two buildings, the west building and the east building, and Comic Market uses all of them for the event. However, you may have to take a long detour to avoid congestion, and the route is difficult to get around. Tens of thousands of people attend, and the event is even featured on TV news. Many visitors arrive at the venue on the first train in the morning and wait in line for several hours until the venue opens. That's because your favorite goods sell out quickly. In the afternoon, you can enter without lining up and take your time to look around. However, many of the goods are sold out. However, is it the pinnacle of Japanese otaku culture? It's an event, so if you like anime or games, I think it's a good idea to experience the atmosphere once. If you stay for 2 to 3 hours after eating lunch and return an hour before the end of the tour, you will be able to explore the area relatively without crowding. It's free to just participate!
Makuhari Messe “Tokyo Game Show”
Makuhari Messe is located between Tokyo and Chiba. Nearby are a large shopping center and Chiba Marine Stadium, the home stadium of the professional baseball team Chiba Lotte Marines. A particularly famous event is the Tokyo Game Show. This is a commercial event, with business exhibitions on weekdays and general exhibitions on weekends.
Manufacturers of consumer games and smartphone games introduce new products and sell goods. The Metaverse was also a hot topic this year. Above all, it's great to be able to experience popular games before they're released. There will also be live game music. However, it seems that major companies such as Nintendo and Microsoft did not exhibit this year, so I am worried about what will happen to exhibitors in the future. Games aren't selling as well as they used to, and if you think of it as a business, the cost of exhibiting will probably be high. Please note that the general public cannot participate on weekdays and there is an admission fee on weekends as well.
Other general events include Anime Japan and Nico Nico Chokaigi. Popular games and anime also hold offline events for fans. The ``Uma Musume Pretty Derby'' concert that I introduced at the beginning is one such event. Offline events and fan festivals are also being held for popular games such as "FinaFantasy14," "THE IDOLM@STER," and "FateGrandOrder." There are also goods that can only be purchased locally, sculptures of game characters, and snacks based on game characters. If you're a fan, you'll probably enjoy it, so if there's an offline event for your favorite game, why not take part in it?
