Here comes the Comic Market season!

This is your favorite MANGA.TOKYO otaku writer, Ayumi, getting ready to start her first battle of the year! This Comiket season is going to be so exciting. MANGA.TOKYO is also running a booth this time so if you are coming to Comic Market (AKA ‘Comiket’) then please come and take a look! Our goods are cute!

By the way, did you know that people say the Winter Comic Market is very good for otaku beginners? The heat of the Summer Comiket is unbearable, but you’ll be fine now if you prepare for the cold and the wind. Not to mention the smell from the sweat won’t be so bad… Anyway, how should we prepare to win over the war called Winter Comiket?

I’ll be honest with you guys, this is my first Comiket! I have called all my anime and otaku friends who have previous experience to share with me all their nifty tips and tricks.

Tote Bag

Tote bags are more useful than you’d imagine. Backpacks are always the norm when it comes to this kind of events, but tote bags are more considerate for the people around you. You won’t hit people by mistake and you won’t block pathways.

Comic Market Catalog

You can buy the Comic Market Catalogue at Animate and Toranoana anywhere in Japan. Aka: [the treasure map]. There is a purchase bonus depending on the shop, so choose wisely! I bought the catalogue at Toranoana this time, and I got this booklet as a bonus!

Such an exciting illustration.

By the way, in the free pamphlet describing the commercial booths, you can see MANGA.TOKYO!

Please take a look at our collaborative items that we’ll be selling at our booth!

IC Card

東京駅で、クリスマスケーキ買いました。もちろんSuicaで。 pic.twitter.com/lySvvRpbb6

— 鉄道新聞 公式アカウント (@tetsudoshimbun) December 23, 2016

Wondering what to do with the public transport? The best thing is to buy a transportation IC card like JR’s Suica. The card is only 500 yen and then pay-as-you-go. When you are done with your up and downs, you can give the card back for a full refund. The card is very useful if you plan to do some sightseeing in Tokyo. There is a very useful smartphone app available!

There is more information about Suica here→http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/

Coin Case

Be considerate to the poor people at Comiket booths. Imagine if every person came with large bills like 10,000 yen and 5,000 yen and they had to give change to each one of them. Try to exchange your notes into 500-coins and 1,000- yen notes beforehand and keep them in a coin case.

Legless Chair (one that can fold)

Do you think that a chair is irrelevant? Think again. All my friends told me that a foldable chair is a must-have item at Comiket.

They say that my back will hurt from standing for too many hours and the cold will freeze my bottom if I sit directly on the ground until the venue opens because of the strong winds. I really don’t want to demolish my bottom yet, so I will listen to the advice and bring a chair.

Winter Clothes Ignoring Fashion

The most funny advice I got was from a friend with whom I was discussing my fashion choices: ‘You are going to die for sure if you try to be fashionable.’

Prefer clothes to protect from the cold and wind for attending the Winter Comiket. I ended up getting told that ‘fancy clothes like duffle coats are not allowed’ by the pro participants.

Here’s what I was recommended:

・a down jacket (a long one is better!)
・jeans or any pants (a skirt is okay if you have no problem with the cold)
・an inner shirt with any heat technology
・warm tops like a sweater
・mask (to prevent flu and cold)

Hmm, I think I look a little awkward…but to go through the war I can’t be selfish and say that I want cute clothes. So please come with your best and warmest clothes. It’s better if the materials protect you from the wind!

Shoes Without Heels

I can hear you say, ‘I’m used to high heels, I can run with them!’ Yeah, right, don’t we all? I don’t recommend high heels. I guarantee that you’ll step on people and hurt them. Please wear comfortable sneakers. Comiket is a place where you don’t know what will happen till the end. Please wear shoes that you are used to!

Heat Pads

Don’t underestimate the cold. Heat pads come in both adhesive and non-adhesive packs. It’s good to have both. Put the adhesive on your inner shirt and put the non-adhesive ones in the pocket of your outer jacket. They will make the difference, especially if you struggle with the cold. They are especially nice and warm if you have them on your belly and your back.

Emergency Provisions

新CM「小さな栄養士」篇がスタート！
カロリーメイトは、その小さな瞳で、毎日あなたのことを見守っています。
この小さな栄養士たちが語りかけてくる、不思議で可愛らしい世界観をお楽しみください！#カロリーメイト pic.twitter.com/ByTZrStE6B

— カロリーメイト (@CalorieMate_jp) October 15, 2016

Food is important. Expect to be hungry all the time, so bring food that you can eat with one hand and doesn’t smell that much like Calorie Mate and gel packs. Sweets and chocolate are a must.

Clear Files / Wallets

Doujinshi (fan-made comics) are the goods most associated with Comiket. A4 clear files and wallets are incredibly useful if you plan to buy a lot of them. Keep your treasured possessions bent-free.

Passion to Get What you Want

The most important thing to have though is passion. PASSION FOR WAR. Ok, I’m overreacting a bit, but you know what I mean. Comiket is war. You need to fight to get the goods and books that you want. You need to be fired with a burning desire that screams ‘I’M DEFINITELY GETTING WHAT I WANT!’

And the best way to keep that passion is to love otaku culture, stay healthy, and wait for the day in excitement. Don’t oversleep that day!

Important Points

・Never do something that you are prohibited to do. Rules are there for a reason. Read them and make sure that you understand them.
・There will be handbag-checks for general participants. Don’t bring any dangerous or hazardous stuff.
・Coming at night and waiting overnight is prohibited. Be considerate and attend the event like all the other participants.
・Watch out for pickpockets and thieves! Please take care of your own belongings. There are many people at the venue and each one needs to look out for himself and protect his items from people who might want to steal them.
・Please do not come if you have a fever or are feeling sick. This is to prevent infections.

Let’s Treasure-Hunt!

Comiket is THE place for every anime and otaku geek to celebrate his fandom and be proud of his hobbies. Beginners and regulars alike can enjoy the Winter Comic Market. There are countless booths full of people who have created titles, manga, figures, and various items based on games, anime, manga, and more.

And if you find everything you wanted and still have time, please walk around the venue, see the other booths, talk to people. It might open a door for a new hobby, too!

I’m also going to participate at the end of this month so I’m going to report from the spot about the venue and about the goods war in my next article! Please look forward to it and don’t forget to visit the booth of MANGA.TOKYO! Follow the rules and have a great otaku life!