Even through the busy holiday season, there’s always one event otaku from around the world can look forward to: Comic Market, also known as Comiket, the world-famous twice-a-year celebration and marketplace of everything related to anime and Japanese pop culture! This year’s winter event, Comiket 105, saw a massive turnout of cosplayers, merchants, and attendees as another year comes and goes.
Each year, one of the most anticipated aspects of Comiket is the number of cosplayers, ranging from casual cosplayers to those doing so professionally. Corporate booths hired cosplayers to appear throughout both days, such as the publishers behind Blue Archive and Fate/Grand Order presenting those dressed as the games’ characters. Famous professional cosplayers as well as casual attendees showcased their outfits in the various cosplay areas, particularly the entrance plaza and garden areas. Many cosplayers were also in attendance celebrating current trends, with costumes from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and The One Piece seen frequently across the venue.
The cosplay scene also extends into the second day of the event, where independent cosplayers and models showcased themselves and their products throughout the halls of Tokyo Big Sight. Photobooks, DVDs, personalized keychains, and signed photos are just a few examples offered by the professionals at the booths, with popular models greeting fans personally at their tables.
On the first day, the vendor halls are primarily focused on independent artists and those selling doujinshi, fan-made merchandise and creative works that draw inspiration from existing series popular in Japanese pop culture. Similar to the merchandise found on the second day, these dealers and illustrators sell and showcase their own goods, ranging from music to keychains to manga. This year, the halls were dominated by Blue Archive circles, alongside staples like Uma Musume and The Idolmaster.
Corporate booths have a heavy presence throughout the event as well, with large companies behind well-known franchises holding booths at this year’s winter Comiket. Hololive, Aniplex, and Kadokawa decorated the halls with large booths and displays that showcase their works and products. Previews of upcoming merchandise were present as well, with new anime projects slated for 2025 showcased alongside prototype figures yet to be released.
Despite the cold at this year’s Winter Comiket, we and thousands of others still gathered at Tokyo Big Sight with plenty to see and do. We at Around Akiba took the time to interview many different cosplayers, attendees, and merchants who gathered at the event from all around the world, with a video in the works set to release soon! Until then, we look forward to the warmer Summer Comiket 106 and other otaku-oriented events on our radar for 2025.
