COMIC1 2017

This year all-genre dojinshi market COMIC1 has become a bi-annual event. If you have missed today's gathering you can always check out the new autumn edition (#12) on October 15 (10:30-15:30) at Tokyo Big Sight East Hall. For more info:  http://www.comic1.jp/index.htm and Circle.ms, the info motherlode for otaku indie publication-related festivals  https://app.circle.ms/CEvent/Detail/21037. Dojinshi are covered from p. 116 of my guide.  



JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 30th anniversary exhibition

While this blog is mainly about otaku events in and around Tokyo, an exhibition devoted to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is always worth mentioning.
JoJo's fans will remember the fourth part of the series, Diamond is Unbreakable. First serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1992 to 1995, this story features the city of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture (called S-City in the manga). That's why the upcoming exhibition will take place at the Sendai Mediatheque from August 12 to September 10.
Travelling to Sendai from Tokyo (a 90- to 120-minute Shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station) costs around 10,000 yen one way. When you add the 2,000 yen entrance ticket (1,200 for high school students and younger fans) it makes for a rather expensive trip but hardcore fans will hardly want to miss the hundreds of original page art that will be displayed to celebrate Araki Hirohiko's manga's 30th anniversary.
http://jojofes.com/

Talking Hiroshima Blues

One of last year's biggest anime sensations has been In This Corner of the World, a tale of everyday struggle in wartime Hiroshima. Last week I had the pleasure to meet director Katabuchi Sunao who talked about the making of this beautiful movie that last year was chosen as best film of the year by respected film magazine Kinema Junpo. 

Some of the material that Katabuchi collected during the making of the film in order to recreate wartime Hiroshima as faithfully as possible. The bookcase behind him is full of Hiroshima-related books and magazines.

Many thanks Katabuchi-san for sharing your fascinating tales.