"Tokyo International Anime Fair"
This is an annual international trade fair for anime industries. The Tokyo Metropolitan City and anime-related enterprises jointly operate this fair (the Governor of Tokyo acting as Chairman of the Executive Committee) with the aim of promoting and fostering the anime culture, highly evaluated overseas, as important content originating in Japan.Exhibition booths are set up to publicize the latest works of Japanese and foreign anime production companies, TV broadcasting stations and imaging companies. There are also all kinds of symposiums and stage events with the participation of popular voice actors. Moreover, at the competition for awarding excellent works, the "Animation of the Year Award" recipient is selected from among commercial entries released the preceding year, and the Open Entries are selected from contributions by the general public in order to cultivate new talented anime creators.
Dates of fair: Every year for 4 days from late March. The first two days are business days for industry participants only, and the last two days are open to the general public.
Hours: 10:00-18:00
Places:Tokyo Big Sight (East Exhibition Hall 1 & 2, and other locations)
Access:About 7 minutes' walk from Kokusai-Tenjijo Station on the Rinkaisen Line.
Kokusai-Tenjijo Station is approx. 10 minutes from Oimachi Station on the JR Keihin Tohoku Line.
Or, about 3 minutes' walk from Kokusai Tenjijo Shomen Station.
Kokusai Tenjijo Shomen Station is approx. 23 minutes from JR Shimbashi Station on the Yurikamome Line.
"Tokyo Anime Center", a base for disseminating information on Japanese anime, is located in front of Akihabara Station in Tokyo. In addition to providing the latest news to anime fans not only in Japan but also to those coming from overseas, the center plans to organize events participated in by creators and voice actors, and offer original goods available only in its official store. Also, in the adjoining Theater Hall, previews will be shown of the latest anime films and mini concerts will be held. This Tokyo Anime Center is surely the first place anime fans will want to visit in Akihabara.
Shotaro Ishinomori (1938-1998) who, together with Osamu Tezuka, produced many heroes such as "Cyborg 009" and "Kamen Rider", is a crucial part of Japanese manga history. Located in his birthplace, the Ishinomaki Mangattan Museum exhibits Ishinomori's works as a manga artist and displays the many characters that he created. Here, you can look at the original scripts for the hit works, and browse through the variety of original goods sold in the museum shop.
Osamu Tezuka spent his youth in Takarazuka City. With the goal of widely diffusing and passing down the great accomplishments of Tezuka to future generations, Takarazuka City founded this Memorial Hall built on the theme of 'love of nature and the preciousness of life' in 1994. At the entrance, there stands a monument of "The Phoenix", his life's work. Inside the Memorial Hall, a page from Tezuka's works is reproduced, and valuable materials are on display. There is also a Hi-Vision Theater where you can watch original anime films, and areas where you can read manga and experience producing anime. You will be able to see, touch and feel the world of Osamu Tezuka.
Studio Ghibli enjoys worldwide popularity for "Spirited Away", which won an Academy Award, "Howl's Moving Castle", "My Neighbor Totoro" and numerous other works. At Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, you will feel as if you have stepped into the very world of these works. Director Hayao Miyazaki's ideas and images of "an ideal museum" are reflected throughout the museum. In addition to the permanent exhibition that provides some insight into the process of how animation is created origin of Ghibli works, there are also special exhibitions that introduce animation from different angles. After you have watched the original short animation films that can only be seen here, why not have a meal in the adjoining cafe, and enjoy shopping at the museum's store that offers lots of original museum goods. Reservations must be made in advance for admission. Please be sure to purchase reservation tickets before your visit. For reservations from overseas, you can find the necessary information on their official homepage.
Suginami-ku, Tokyo, the location for many companies related to animation production, is known as an 'anime town'. The Suginami Animation Museum, which opened in March 2005, is a center that provides a fun and systemized way to learn, experience, and understand anime. In addition to diverse exhibits on the history of Japanese anime, an anime production workplace, and the latest digital production technology, the museum also invites professional creators to give talks, and organizes workshops where you can actually experience producing anime. Moreover, in the library filled with a rich collection of anime-related materials, you can browse through books and watch DVDs.
Toei Animation, famous for its numerous hits including "Dragon Ball", "Sailor Moon", and "Precure", is the leading anime production company in Japan, having launched many popular works over the 50 years since its foundation. A gallery is set up in the Oizumi Studio where you can see the entire history of this company (only in Japanese). Among the valuable items displayed are anime scenarios, storyboards, configuration data, original drawings, celluloid pictures, advertising posters, etc. Please do the entrance procedure at entrance guard when you enter.
The tiny little "Pokémons" in the popular game software "Pocket Monster" immediately captivated the hearts of children. And Pokémon Center specializes in related goods. You"ll find all kinds of Pokémon products including, of course, game software, but also cards, stuffed dolls, stationary, clothes, CDs and DVDs. You should also check out the original goods only available at Pokémon Center! Besides Tokyo, there are outlets in Sapporo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka.
"Nakano Broadway", lined with many stores offering products for anime & comic maniacs, is a popular spot among the "Otaku", together with Akihabara. "Mandarake", which started off as a small store in one corner of this district, is well known not only for anime & comic goods, but also for rare items in a wide range of genres. The products sold include second-hand dojin-shi, posters, autographed shikishi (paperboards), AV software, games, figures, and so on. Mandarake is growing fast, and currently has 11 stores nationwide.
We recommend Animate if you are planning to buy anime & comic character goods. Located very near Ikebukuro Sunshine City, the Ikebukuro Head Store holds many sales and events and has a wide selection of not only goods related to popular works, but also books, AV software, games and trading cards, to satisfy the most fervent fans. Here, you will also find lineups of exclusive items that can only be purchased at Animate stores. There are some 70 shops nationwide, in Sapporo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other cities.
Three-dimensional "figures" of popular characters in anime & comics are also in high demand among fans. On each of the floors from the 1st Basement Floor to the 6th Floor, AsoBitCity has a rich lineup of figures of all genres. It is characterized by its abundant stocks ranging from "shokugan" (sophisticated miniature figures sold together with sweets) to figures of hit anime characters. On the 5th Floor, there is a corner displaying life-sized figures, and the 6th Floor sells costumes for "cosplay" (costume play - having fun dressing up as anime & comic characters).
"Gamers", famous for its "DiGi Charat" mascot character. Besides products related to game characters, Gamers offers a wide array of CDs, DVDs, books, magazines, etc. In particular, it boasts a rich lineup of trading cards, as well as events organized on a regular basis. There are some 20 stores in cities throughout the country, including Sapporo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Hakata.
"Comic Tora no Ana"achieved rapid growth as Akihabara transformed from a town of electrical appliances and personal computers into an anime & comic mecca. In addition to selling magazines, comics and AV software mainly targeted at the"Otaku", this store is characterized by its "dojinshi" (fan-produced magazines) by amateur artists. AKA Comic Tora no Ana 1 offers a wide selection of dojinshi and dojin software (only Japanese corresponds). In addition to the Tokyo stores, there are branches in Sapporo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.