Twentythree

Otaku event in Tokyo becomes the main stage for this season’s hottest anime, manga and video game characters. 

As last year came to a close, some of the nation’s best cosplayers came out to play at Winter Comiket, or “C103” as this 103rd iteration of the doujinshi fair was known in the community.

Held on 30 and 31 December, the first day of the convention was blessed with sunny skies as 140,000 people — 10,000 more than 2023’s Summer Comiket — visited the venue at Tokyo Big Sight.

The number of registered cosplayers was also impressive, with 2,076 men and 3,976 women taking part. In addition, 114 companies exhibited, and 13,700 spaces were taken up by doujinshi sellers, making it one of the largest Comikets since the start of the pandemic.

▼ DMM Games’ Taimanin was amongst the company booths

▼ As was Yostar’s Mahjong Soul and Type-Moon

As for the franchise making the biggest mark at the event, that accolade went to Blue Archive, which could be seen throughout the venue.

▼ Holo Live was also strong in popularity.

One of the biggest surprises was this notice, posted inside the media reception area, which told us that Comic Market had been awarded the Golden Medal of Merit by the Japanese Red Cross Society.

This was in response to the blood donation drive at nearby Kokusai Tenjijo Station, which is held whenever Comiket occurs. The shelf life of blood is said to be quite short so the blood donated during Winter Comiket will likely be of immediate use in medical settings during the year-end and New Year holidays.

For many visitors, however, the highlight was the cosplayers, and they didn’t disappoint, with beautifully made costumes and well-honed poses that brought a smile to everyone’s faces. So let’s take a look at some of the best from the day below!

▼ Exit 8 from The Exit 8 | Cosplayer: ⒿⓀ①ⒸⒻⓉ/①

▼ Genba Neko (Onsite Cat) | Cosplayer: @nora912 

▼ Nazuna Nanakusa from Call of the Night | Cosplayer: @rincha40_cos  

▼ Yzak Jule from Gundam Seed| Cosplayer: @sukumizuus

▼ Baki and Baki’s House from Baki the Grappler | Cosplayer: @zakizaki62623 (Baki) and @denki_sanda (Baki’s House)

▼ Kama from Fate/Grand Order | Cosplayer: @Yukinozomi3

▼ Rime from Kamitsubaki Studio | Cosplayer:@yamo8cos

▼ Harusaruhi from Kamitsubaki Studio | Cosplayer: @nayupettan

▼ Kaf from Kamitsubaki Studio | Cosplayer: @su_zu_na_sc

▼ The three cosplayers above were associated with the official Kamitsubaki Studio booth (pictured below).

▼ Suzuran from Arknights | Cosplayer: @_Yoko0_

▼ Modernia from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @homakiho

▼ Soda from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @rinyanpassan

▼ Snow White: Innocent Days from Goddess of Victory: Nikke | Cosplayer: @suya0113

As this year’s cosplayers kept everyone’s spirits up in the cold outdoors, the cosplayers at the official booths indoors did a great job of attracting attention.

▼ Here we have software publishing companies Aquaplus…

▼ …and Nexton.

▼ Alongside anime Synduality: Noir…

▼ …and video game Reverse: 1999.

▼ Other highlights included Muv-Luv…

▼ … and HoYoverse.

▼ And to wrap things up, one final look at the Yostar booth.

So there you have it — a bumper collection of photos from Day One of Winter Comiket. It was a fantastic day made even more enjoyable by the cosplayers who kindly posed for us, and now we can’t wait to see what Summer Comiket has to offer!

Photos ©SoraNews24
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Minor characters get a starring role in this huge new collection.

For some Studio Ghibli fans, the lesser known characters are often more sought after than the popular ones, with their relatively short screen time making them even more elusive and special.

Now there’s a chance for us to get better acquainted with these fleeting faces, thanks to a new Spirited Away collection that covers a whopping 20 characters from the movie.

The entire lineup contains the following characters, listed left to right, top to bottom in the images below.

▼ Rin, Sen, Haku, No Face, Kamaji, Soot Sprite, Yubaba, Boh (in mouse form) and Haedori.

▼ River Spirit, Haku (in dragon form), Kasuga-sama, Ootori-sama, No Face (Big Mouth), Oshira-sama

▼ Pig, Chihiro, Boh, Yu-Bird, Aogaeru, Kashira

This cast of anime characters isn’t just for show — they’re designed for human interaction, because they’re actually finger puppets.

Pop them on your finger and you can create your own magical storylines and encounters between individuals and spirits that may have never crossed paths otherwise.

The collection is vast and includes the two personas of the central character, showing her in her initial role as Chihiro and as bathhouse employee Sen (front, right and second from right, respectively, in the image below).

▼ With so many characters at your fingertips, you can easily recreate moments from the movie…

▼ …and Haku and Sen can live happily ever after in your room.

Interestingly, the all-important pig finally gets to enjoy the spotlight after being overlooked in the studio’s other bathhouse world collection.

The 20-piece finger puppet set is available exclusively at the Donguri Kyowakoku online store, priced at 9,990 yen (US$70.20). It’s a truly extensive collection that covers pretty much every character in the film, but if you’re lamenting the absence of the Dosojin statue, this self-righting Spirited Away doll collection has what you’re looking for!

Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku
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Three popular limited express train models get a semi-digital, semi-analogue watch makeover!

Ueno Station is one of Tokyo’s most famous train stations, known for its proximity to Ueno Park, a popular place for cherry blossom viewing and the location of Tokyo’s biggest zoo, and Ameyoko-cho, a bustling outdoor shopping and restaurant area (where we’ve found some really unusual food). Beyond that, it’s considered the “gateway to the north” since it’s a transit station that connects Tokyo to the Tohoku region of northeast Japan.

But did you know that Ueno Station is also one of Tokyo’s oldest stations? It was originally opened on July 28, 1883 (the 16th year of the Meiji era, when the country was just beginning to build trains). That means this year it’s 140 years old!

In celebration, Japanese watch company Citizen is releasing three special, train-inspired watch designs as part of its Ana-Digi Temp line, which combines both analogue and digital displays. Each watch is based on a popular train that once stopped–or currently stops–at Ueno Station.

For example, one is based off the Tokyu Express Hitachi 485 series (bonnet style), which began running in 1969 from Ueno to Taira Station in Fukushima (now known as Iwaki Station). It was initially run by the Japanese National Railway (which operated the railway network between 1949 and 1987), before the founding of Japan Railways.

The watch band and case are silver but the face is red and cream to match the colors of the train. Underneath the face is the JNR Logo, the stainless steel backing is etched with the Tokyu Express Hitachi logo.

The second design features the Hokutosei 24 Series Class 25 Limited Express Sleeper, which ran from Ueno to Sapporo from 1988 until it was retired in 2015. This train’s signature dark blue color is incorporated into the watch’s face, which is accented by gold lines. Underneath the face is the logo that was used in the train to designate its lounge car.

The band is black to represent night, since it’s a sleeper train, but the back is stainless steel and etched with the Hokutosei logo.

The last watch design is based on the Cassiopeia E26 Limited Express Sleeper, which currently connects Ueno and Sapporo. It’s known for its fresh new design and luxurious interior, and also for its all-double-decker cars.

The watch is silver and black, and the seconds face is decorated with the Cassiopeia logo, a starburst. The train’s five-color line logo accents the bottom right side under the face.

The Hitachi and Cassiopeia watches retail for 38,000 yen (US$266.76), while the Hokutosei sells for 40,000 yen, but all three watches are being sold by special order only between now and January 28. You can put your order in online through the Trainiart JE Mall online shop, and expect to receive one at the end of July.

If you’d like to see samples before buying, you can spot them at the museum shop of The Railway Museum in Saitama, at the Gransta Tokyo Station branch of Trainiart, and at a shop called Nomono at Ueno Station. They’ll be on display throughout the ordering period, so even if you just want to take a look as a train fan, you’ve got plenty of time.

Source, images: PR Times
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Anime studio’s New Year’s nengajo comes with a sweet message. 

On the first of January, people around the country receive nengajo (New Year’s cards) from friends, family, and people they may have done business with during the previous year.

Recently, it’s become customary for Studio Ghibli to send a nengajo of its own to fans, only instead of sending these New Year’s greetings through the post, the acclaimed anime studio opts to do it digitally, by publishing the “card” online on 1 January.

What makes this nengajo particularly special is the fact that it’s drawn by Ghibli co-founder and director Hayao Miyazaki, whose hand has created some of the studio’s most famous characters. For the first day of January, though, Miyazaki turns his hand to the year’s zodiac animal, giving us an insight into his creative mind with a very special character you won’t find anywhere else.

▼ As 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, Miyazaki has given us his version of the mythical beast, drawn in his signature style.

Along with the gorgeous artwork on the nengajo, which comes with the greeting “謹賀新年” (“Kingashinnen” or “Happy New Year”), is a message from the studio, which reads:

“To everyone,

We would like to express our sincere New Year’s greetings.
Thank you for always supporting Studio Ghibli.

Last July, for the first time in 10 years, we released a new film, The Boy and the Heron, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and since then many audiences have viewed it. The production period lasted seven years, during which time major incidents such as wars and the pandemic continued, but we are very proud to have completed the movie for people all over the world to watch. It will continue to be screened over New Year’s, so we would be happy if you could visit movie theatres to watch it.

In addition, Ghibli Park has been opening sequentially since the year before last in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, and once the Witch’s Valley opens in March, all areas will be complete. This is a project led by Director Goro Miyazaki, who has been promoting it for seven years since the concept was announced. We hope you can spare some time to come and see it.

In 2024, work at Studio Ghibli will begin on Friday, 5 January. On this day, Director Hayao Miyazaki will celebrate his 83rd birthday, and we are very happy that he is still working in the studio.

Thank you for your continued support of Studio Ghibli and Studio Ghibli’s films this year.

1.1.2024.”

It’s customary for nengajo to come with short messages relaying what one has been up to in the past year, and the above message from the studio reveals that 2023 was a big year for the company. Not only did Ghibli release its long-awaited movie from Miyazaki, which the director officially came out of retirement for in 2017, it also opened another highly anticipated area, Mononoke Village, at its theme park in Aichi Prefecture.

The studio isn’t resting on its laurels, though, with news that staff will be back at work in the studio from 5 January, which is incidentally Miyazaki’s birthday. With Miyazaki already bristling with ideas for another movie project, here’s hoping 2024 proves to be just as fruitful for the studio and its fans!

Source: Studio Ghibli
Top image © SoraNews24
Insert image: Studio Ghibli
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Participants pick the most unpleasant parts of public transportation.

Good manners and an amazingly convenient public transportation network are two of Japan’s biggest claims to fame. Unfortunately, sometimes those two aspects of Japanese society don’t perfectly overlap, with breaches in train/subway etiquette making what should be a smooth ride an unpleasant journey.

The Japan Private Railway Association conducts an annual survey on the manners of train and station users, asking respondents what behavior they find inconsiderate and aggravating. For this year’s survey, conducted through the association’s website, 8,210 responses were collected, with each participant asked to pick the three most impolite behaviors they’ve encountered, and at the top of the list was sitting impolitely, picked by 37.1 percent of respondents.

In particular, train passengers spreading their legs wide or stretching their feet out far in front of themselves were cited as impolite. Japanese trains generally have wide bench seats which are designed for a set number of passengers, sometimes even with upholstery patterns serving as visual markers of how much space each individual is supposed to take up. Spreading your legs out wider than that, therefore, is seen as encroaching on someone else’s space, and stretching your legs out too far in front of where you’re sitting cuts into the room where passengers who weren’t lucky enough to grab a seat have to stand, as well as creating an obstacle for those trying to board or get off the carriage. Some participants also expressed annoyance at passengers who take naps while seated and then, as they’re dozing end up leaning into their bench neighbor’s personal space or using their shoulder as a pillow.

In second place, chosen by 33.5 percent of respondents, were people who don’t cover their mouths while coughing or sneezing. This is something train passengers are increasingly aware of since the coronavirus pandemic, and also likely picked up a few extra votes by nature of the survey being conducted in October and November, when flu season is approaching and also the time of year when windows are increasingly shut on trains, which keeps the interior warm but also limits ventilation of airborne germs.

And in third place, chosen by 31.3 percent of respondents, are poor manners when boarding/exiting the train, or when others are doing so. To clarify that wide-ranging complaint, if you’re waiting on the platform for a train, good manners dictate that you should stand to the side of where the door opens and wait for any passengers to get off before you yourself board, even if that reduces your chance of snagging an empty seat once you’re onboard. On the other side of the situation, if you’re already on a crowded train and standing near the door (often the least crowded place to stand), when the train comes to the next station, even if you’re continuing on to somewhere further down the line, you’re supposed to step out of the train to clear the door passage for anyone who is getting off there, and then reboard the train. This also connects to the rule about not standing right in front of the doors if you’re waiting on the platform, since you need to not only leave space for anyone who’s getting off and leaving the station, but also a spot for anyone to stand who’s only temporarily getting off and going to reboard.

In general, Japanese etiquette sees being calm and non-confrontational as a virtue, so even if you happen to inadvertently commit any of these faux pas, you’re unlikely to have anyone yell at you or otherwise angrily try to correct you, especially if you look like a visitor from overseas. On the other hand, the fact that no one is going to call you out for these things makes it all the more important to be aware of them yourself and avoid them, so that everyone can enjoy the ride.

Source: Japan Private Railway Association via Norimono News via Livedoor News via Jin
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Pakutaso (1, 2)
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The surprising omission of a few popular series has some net users shaking their heads.

One of the Internet’s primary sources of Japanese-language news and featured articles about manga is a website called Comic Natalie, which just celebrated its 15th anniversary on December 25, 2023. In commemoration of the big day, as well as to take a stroll down memory lane, the site decided to host a general election among its readers to determine the most popular manga series that have concluded in the past 15 years.

The rules stated that for stories to be eligible, they had to have been serialized in a magazine or on a website or app and have concluded between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2023, regardless of start date. One person could enter a minimum of one and up to 15 votes for different series, but multiple votes for the same series were invalid. One-shots and stories with overly adult themes were also disqualified.

Comic Natalie revealed the top five winners out of 62,499 total votes on December 24, 2023, which we’ll count down below.

5. Fullmetal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師)
Hiromu Arakawa
Original manga run: 2001-2010 / 27 total volumes

In a world where alchemy is practiced as a science, the Elric siblings Edward (the vertically challenged older brother) and Alphonse (the younger brother whose soul is bound to a suit of armor) must search for the philosopher’s stone to restore their bodies after committing the taboo of human transmutation. Along the way, Ed becomes a State Alchemist, encounters mysterious Homunculi, and proves that he’s willing to endure anything to reach his goal, even if it costs him more than an arm and a leg. At its core, Hiromu crafted a lasting story about the powerful bond between brothers.

▼ A July 2023 post by manga writer Chanmei celebrates 22 years since the start of Fullmetal Alchemist‘s publication in Monthly Shonen Gangan Magazine.

22年前の今日は「月刊少年ガンガン」で荒川弘先生の『鋼の錬金術師』が連載開始した日。

エドの旅路は終わったけど、私たち読者の旅路は命ある限り続いていく。原画展などでまたエドたちと再会する時に今よりも誇れる自分でいたい。

そのために歩み続けようと、心にそう誓いながら毎日生きています。 pic.twitter.com/9zhe53KpgF

— ちゃんめい | マンガだいすき (@meicojp24) July 11, 2023

4. Attack on Titan (進撃の巨人)
Hajime Isayama
Original manga run: 2009-2021 / 34 total volumes

After witnessing the brutal death of his mother at the hands of a gigantic lifeform known as a Titan, Eren Yeager and his friends become members of the military’s Survey Corps to try to take back the rest of the world beyond their city’s walls from the Titans. As the true nature of the Titans is slowly revealed, the lines begin to blur between who is enemy and who is friend. Readers are often in awe of Hajime’s incredible foreshadowing throughout the story as well as his portrayal of the harsh truths of war and the meaning of sacrifice for the sake of humanity.

▼ An original illustration was shared by series creator Hajime to commemorate the conclusion of the anime adaptation in November 2023.

◤￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣◥
　　　原作・諫山創
　 シリーズ完結記念
イラスト
◣＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿◢

「進撃の巨人」シリーズ
放送終了しました
10年間ありがとうございました#shingeki #最後の進撃 pic.twitter.com/WIt67dFiwg

— アニメ「進撃の巨人」公式アカウント (@anime_shingeki) November 4, 2023

3. Gintama (銀魂)
Hideaki Sorachi
Original manga run: 2003-2019 / 77 total volumes

On a lighter note, Hideaki’s long-running comedic manga masterpiece is set in an alternate late Edo period Japan (1603-1868)…but with aliens. Freelancer samurai Gintoki Sakata engages in plenty of running gags and breaking of the fourth wall in this zany, genre-defying series. Also, is there anything in the real world that Gintama hasn’t parodied in some form over its long run?

▼ A December 2023 post celebrates the 20th anniversary of Gintama‘s start of publication in Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine.

━━━━
　『銀魂』連載開始20周年！！
　　　　　　　　　　━━━━

本日12/8は『銀魂』連載開始20周年記念日
20周年を記念した「万事屋と仲間たちの名シーンまとめ」を20時よりプレミア公開！https://t.co/CJJfwQlJIT#銀魂20周年 #gintama pic.twitter.com/hqVB5s0Jdb

— ジャンプチャンネル【公式】 (@jumpch_youtube) December 8, 2023

2. Mob Psycho 100 (モブサイコ100)
One
Original manga run: 2012-2017 / 16 total volumes

Don’t let its confusing title fool you. This is the coming-of-age story of Shigeo Kageyama, nicknamed “Mob,” a young esper who’s learning to control his psychic powers and growing adolescent emotions in the midst of all of the obstacles thrown his way. As an unconventional manga protagonist, Mob is also in direct contrast to the more archetypal superhero protagonist Saitama from One’s first web manga hit One-Punch Man.

▼ Series creator One shared a thank you post to the fans who voted for Mob Psycho 100 in this Comic Natalie election.

モブサイコ、驚きです！
応援ありがとうございました！ https://t.co/tCehHRGIm3 pic.twitter.com/qYfxYTdt86

— ＯＮＥ (@ONE_rakugaki) December 25, 2023

1. Golden Kamuy (ゴールデンカムイ)
Satoru Noda
Original manga run: 2014-2022 / 31 total volumes

The manga taking first place in the general election follows Russo-Japanese War (1094-1905) veteran Saichi Sugimoto as he searches for the golden treasure of the Ainu, the indigenous peoples of the northern Japanese islands, along with the help of the Ainu girl Asirpa. The story is notable for being set largely in Hokkaido and featuring many important aspects of the Ainu culture and language. When notified of his win, Satoru shared that he was so sure that his story wouldn’t win that he didn’t even submit a vote for himself. The manga’s mark of popularity comes at a fitting time, however, as a live-action film adaptation is set to be released in Japanese theaters on January 19, 2024.

▼ A celebratory drawing was made by series creator Satoru for clinching the top spot in the election.

みなさまの愛ある投票、本当にありがとうございました。#ゴールデンカムイ　#コミックナタリー15周年 https://t.co/G3SLC5jGtX pic.twitter.com/kaOq3PRWvJ

— 野田サトル (@satorunoda) December 25, 2023

Upon release of the general election results, many net users were floored that some of the best-selling manga series of all time hadn’t even made the top five when others had.

“I love Golden Kamuy but I’m perplexed that it took the top spot.”
“Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer, Naruto, and Bleach are out of the top five?! Craziness.”
“I’d get it if Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer wasn’t #1, but for it to not even be in the top five is incomprehensible.”
“Attack on Titan was really amazing when I think about it now. It had hidden potential right from the start.”
“I’d go with these ones for the top five: #1 Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer, #2 Attack on Titan, #3 Fullmetal Alchemist, #4 Naruto, #5 Assassination Classroom”

While I personally can only say that I’ve read Attack on Titan and Fullmetal Alchemist in their entirety, I have at least one student who can vouch for Mob Psycho 100 as an excellent story in written or animated form. I discovered the following hastily scrawled, heartfelt recommendation on the back of their quiz one day:

© SoraNews24

There you have it–sold. It looks like we’ll all have a lot of catching up to do over the New Year’s holiday.

Source: Comic Natalie via Otakomu
Top image: SoraNews24
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