Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- comike_guide [2025/12/30 07:13] – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
+++ comike_guide [2026/01/03 06:47] (current) – particles
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+======A fan guide to Comic Market in Japan for English speakers======
+Welcome to my **unofficial fan-guide** to [[https://www.comiket.co.jp/|Comic Market]], summer & winter (newly added) edition. This guide was written for C106 (summer) and C107 (winter).
+**This is not a replacement for official correspondence from the Comic Market Preparation Committee. This is supplementary and sometimes a restatement.** I suggest you read:
+  * [[https://x.com/comiket_intl/status/1955639011160338568|Tips for first time participants]]
+  * [[https://x.com/comiket_intl|The official Twitter account’s post for international attendees]]
+    * This includes hot things like links to maps, image entry guides, etc.
+  * [[https://webcatalog.circle.ms/lp|The official web catalog (international version)]] contains a listing of all participating circles
+If you have any questions, you can hit me up on discord at particles.jp, [[https://twitter.com/kaisoku_densha|@kaisoku_densha on x]], or Bluesky at @particles.jp.
+===== Intro to Comic Market, values and ideals =====
+For starters, I recommend that you read all of the information posted on the [[https://www.comiket.co.jp/info-a/TAFO/C106TAFO/cmkfor.html#english|official website for overseas attendees]]. That includes:
+  * [[https://www.comiket.co.jp/info-a/TAFO/C97TAFO/cmkfor_eng.html|The insert in the catalog from C97]]
+  * [[https://www2.comiket.co.jp/info-a/WhatIsEng201401.pdf|What is the Comic Market?]]
+  * [[https://www.comiket.co.jp/info-c/IdealsAndVision.html|Comic Market's Ideals and Vision]]
+  * [[https://www2.comiket.co.jp/info-a/C77/C77CMKSymposiumPresentationEnglish.pdf|The Comic Market today and overseas participants]]
+Comic Market is a special event to me. I grew up reading works from Comic Market, without knowing where they were from. I'd see things like [C58] on works and not understand what that referred to. Comic Market is the de facto source of most long-form fan works for Japanese media. What this means is that if you've been exposed to //doujinshi// or //doujins//, it most likely was distributed at Comic Market or a smaller distribution event in Japan for a single limited time. Some artists have works on consignment, and some artists do not participate, but overwhelmingly, Comic Market is the epicenter of doujinshi culture.
+Doujinshi, of course, are fan works based on originals. In English and contemporary culture, you might call this "fan fiction" but this term extends to things like music remixes, derivative art works, comic books, literature, and more. The overwhelming majority of works at Comic Market are derived from other Japanese media or moe media. There are exceptions to this -- most people are surprised to venture into Comic Market and find jewelry, train spotting guides, programming guides, manuals, hobbyist electronic projects, and more. There is a diverse set of groups who participate in Comic Market, and depending on which circles apply, you may have all sorts of things and those things change depending on popularity, timing, and more.
+Circles are the de-facto way of grouping people who meet at Comic Market. The halls are organized roughly by circle type, genre, and even related circles. For example, if you're interested in music, all of the music circles are generally in the same general area. A circle can be one or many group of people. You can think of the term to refer to "distribution circle" or "sharing circle".
+If we sum it up, Comic Market is a place where circles distribute doujinshi to other participants, as a day of culture. Comic Market for Japanese speakers is as much a chance to meet new friends, catch up with old friends, distribute new works, network, and take a break from normal societal obligations. Comic Market calls itself a "day of hare" -- a day away from the tedium of day-to-day life that is celebrated and cherished for culture.
+The defining point that many Japanese people are frustrated by at Comic Market is that people lose the concept of "participation". At Comic Market, all people are participants. You might blow this off because in English, the term isn't quite as well-defined. Think of it more like "everyone is an equal". The staff volunteers participate because that's their way of participating. Circles participate by distributing works. And visitors in neither category participate by meeting new people, communicating, sharing works, and other things. The staff are no more important than the people who are "general participants". **The circles that participate are no more important than the people who attend and don't distribute things**. In other words, when you participate in Comic Market, you become one of the people who is part of the Comic Market, in no greater term than anyone else.
+Being a participant leads you to have a few necessary obligations, no matter what role you're in:
+  * You should uphold our shared ideals for the vision of Comic Market.
+  * You should be helpful and cordial with other participants, even if you can't speak Japanese.
+  * You should be courteous, polite, and respectful to all participants, including all circles, all cosplayers, and the like.
+Overseas participants -- particularly those who are not familiar with doujinshi culture to its full extent -- may find themselves surprised by the content shared at Comic Market. You might find circles that distribute goods you find difficult to consume. You might find them difficult to look at. You might personally be offended by some goods. The important thing to remember is that this shared space exists to protect free expression for all. The very thing that gives you the doujinshi culture that //you prefer// also gives other people the culture //they prefer//.
+If you are an overseas participant, I suggest that you really reflect on what this means. Comic Market is the world's largest fan convention, and it distributes so many different works, connects so many people, and serves a relatively simple set of ideals. It is disrespectful to participate and not uphold these values.
+Comic Market is called Comiket by many attendees, and Comike by the preparation committee, which does things like procure the venue and recruit volunteer staff. I hope that you enjoy participating in Comiket with me, and I hope that you find the same warmth I did when I started participating. Meeting some of my favorite artists in the world has brought me immense joy.
+===== Warnings and rules =====
+The official guidance for overseas guests should be followed at all times. But I want to emphasize some things because they're important and maybe not intuitive if you're not from Japan, or if you don't read Japanese:
+  - No photography. The official rules say you must obtain permission from anyone you take a picture of. This means **any participants**. If you're taking a room wide shot of something, you will likely include at least one other participant. Taking photos without other people's permission is not permitted. Japan has a detailed history involving unwanted photography. Any photographs posted publicly can result in legal action if the person who was photographed believes that the photo is disparaging in any way. Because of the diverse content at Comiket, you should not take any photographs of other people. I know this sucks to think about, but let me paint a word picture: How would you feel if your boss saw you looking at 18+ content in a random Internet photo? It is not okay for you to take pictures of other people.
+    - Cosplayers are protected here too. You must ask permission to take photographs of cosplayers.
+  - This is not a child friendly event. Comiket is physically demanding, and not only is it quite dangerous for children, it is trivial for them to get lost and even more trivial for them to be exposed to content that you might not want them to see.
+  - Comiket is extremely physically demanding in almost every dimension. If you are in bad health, feeling unwell, unrested, etc., you are putting yourself in danger by participating. There is no way around it: with hundreds of thousands of participants at each event and limited first aid and support staff, you can easily become injured. Please take this warning seriously.
+  - Do not sleep at the venue overnight. Arrive no earlier than 8am on the day of the event. Arriving any earlier will jeopardize the ability of Comic Market to exist in the future. The only way to make sure that the neighborhood is supportive of us is to respect these rules.
+  - Do not cut in any lines, do not jump lines, etc. The entry line -- which is used before the venue opens, acts as a safety measure and crowd control measure. You will have the opportunity to sit down in this line. Do not jump the line, do not occupy spaces other people have temporarily vacated, etc. If you notice someone having a problem in the line, such as a medical emergency, alert the volunteer, yell, scream, or do something. There are too many people around for the staff to check. In the summer, it is extremely dangerous to be in the heat without necessary items for a long time.
+  - Cellphone coverage in and around the event is a mixed bag. While in the waiting line, you should have adequate coverage for basic things, but you will lose coverage in areas or have extremely slow times. You should save entertainment, maps, etc., and other things for offline use.
+==== Stuff that this guide doesn't cover ====
+This doesn't cover ticketing, the basic rules, things like that, other than what I've already listed. Please check the official resources in English for the general rules, for things like ticketing, etc.
+==== Staff SNS ====
+During the event, you should follow the [[https://x.com/comiket_intl/|international staff twitter account]] with notifications on, and potentially [[https://x.com/comiketofficial|the japanese staff twitter account]], with the help of translating anything they post religiously. Odds are, you will find useful information posted on these accounts. During emergencies, they may also post things here too. Please keep these accounts handy.
+If you do not use twitter, you should create an account, setup the app, etc, for the event.
+==== See also: Japanese beginner's guide ====
+There is an [[https://harenohi.comiket.co.jp/index.php/beginnersguide/generals/|official beginners guide to Comic Market]] in Japanese. My guide attempts to provide the same level of information, but in English. Nevertheless, you should consider reading the original official guide (using automatic machine translation).
+===== Logistics =====
+The most important thing to do when you attend Comic Market is to plan ahead. Comic Market is held on multiple days, with different circles each day. Sometimes, albeit rarely, a circle will participate on both days. This is usually rare and with a specific exception or some other reason. It does not happen often.
+==== Access ====
+Comic Market takes place at Tokyo Big Sight, aka the "international convention center". The best way to access the venue is to take the Rinkai line "Kokusai Tenjijo" station (that means "international convention center" in Japanese). Your favorite navigation app will guide you there effectively. Please note that the Yurikamome (the monorail) is not as preferred but equally viable. The Rinkai line is often run as a "through service" from other train lines in Japan. For example, the Sotetsu Line sometimes runs straight onto the Rinkai Line tracks. This means it's okay to board a train that doesn't say "Rinkai Line". When you're aiming for the venue, you want to go on a train bound for "Shin-Kiba" to get to "Kokusai Tenjijo". I recommend that you use an IC card for entry and exit, and do not expect to be able to get into the bathroom at "Kokusai Tenjijo" station, or buy tickets, etc. If you need to go to the bathroom before Comic Market, you should exit at a different station and go to the bathroom there.
+Once you arrive at the station, you can usually follow the giant mass of people towards the general participants line. The east and west/south entrances differ significantly. Depending on what you want to look at or get, go to your preferred entrance line. There are signs in English and the international desk staff will be around somewhere, so you can always ask for help. Follow signs and on-site guidance to get to the venue.
+==== Circle organization ====
+Each hall contains multiple genres loosely organized by genre and by circle, and related circles. Generally speaking, circles share tables at Comic Market, and are identified using Japanese and English characters, the day they're there, and a sub-letter. The general information is easy enough: day 1/2 have different content. Go to the correct hall. East halls 1, 2, and 3 and 4, 5, 6 are combined together into one large room. Halls 7 & 8 may also be open. In C106, east halls 1, 2, and 3 are closed. The map can guide you. You can freely walk between them. Therefore, you should pay attention to the boundaries in the hall for where the precise area to go is.
+Once again, circles usually share tables and are identified by row and number. You should consider learning hiragana and katakana if you have to communicate with your friends on where something is. Otherwise, you can just look at the pictures. For example, ケ32a means a circle is in the ケ row, table number 32, on the a side of the table. If you see "ab", it means they have both sides of the table. Otherwise, the a and b sides are the opposite sides of the table, and circles will have one or the other side. On the map, you'll see the table number, but not generally speaking the side of the table. Your desired circles typically are on one or the other side of the table.
+Lines typically form on both the left and right side of a table as well. You may find circles with exceptionally long lines. There will be signs that say "do not queue here" and the line is somewhere else. You can ask someone where the end of the line is. If you arrive at one of these overflow lines, usually you will be forced to hold the sign that says "this is the end of the line" until the next person arrives. Then, you hand them the sign that says it's the end of the line. The staff will guide you when it’s your turn to go from a sub-line to a main-line.
+Circles on the edge of the map are circles that the Comic Market preparation committee expects to need overflow capacity. When a circle is on the edge of the venue, or faces outside instead of inside, you can expect a longer line. Always check your artists and the map and be aware if the line is going to be outside.
+==== The Summer, and the Entry Line ====
+In Summer Comic Market, you'll find yourself in the entry line most likely. First of all, the main entry lines are divided into blocks of people in distinct rows. Before the event opens, you will initially stand in this line, then get a chance to sit down. As the opening time opens, your line will be instructed to stand and move. Please be aware of this as it gets closer to the entry time. It isn't a good idea to not be in your spot in line if the line is about to move.
+There are bathrooms in the entry line. The bathrooms are Japanese squat-style portable toilets. If you have not used a Japanese toilet before, you should familiarize yourself with this style of toilet. It is not very intuitive and you should be aware that it's rather unpleasant. Note that starting in C106, the indoor toilets of east hall 8 were made accessible, as an alternative. The line was very long, though.
+In summer, the entry line is significantly taxing. I (and the official beginners guide) recommend that you bring the following in the summer((Do you not have this stuff? You can totally buy almost all of it at don quixote or a similar discount store.)):
+  * Something to keep yourself entertained that doesn't require internet for the duration of the line
+  * Mobile battery pack
+  * **Deodorant**, for the love of god
+    * [[https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%80%902020%E5%B9%B4%E6%98%A5%E7%99%BA%E5%A3%B2%E3%80%91%E3%80%90Amazon-co-jp%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A%E3%80%91-%E3%80%90%E5%8C%BB%E8%96%AC%E9%83%A8%E5%A4%96%E5%93%81%E3%80%91%E3%83%87%E3%82%AA%E3%83%8A%E3%83%81%E3%83%A5%E3%83%AC-%E3%82%BD%E3%83%95%E3%83%88%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3W-%E6%B1%97%E3%82%B9%E3%83%83%E3%82%AD%E3%83%AA%E3%81%9B%E3%81%A3%E3%81%91%E3%82%93%E4%BB%98-%E6%B1%97%E3%82%B9%E3%83%83%E3%82%AD%E3%83%AA%E7%9F%B3%E3%81%91%E3%82%93%E4%BB%98/dp/B083LWRKS7|Soft Stone Double]] is a great stick-type deodorant if you don’t have any when you come to Comic Market
+  * Transportation IC card
+  * Any medicines you might need, including eye drops, headache medicine, tissues, etc.
+  * Hydration
+    * I suggest "Pocari Sweat" or "Aquarius", at least 3L in a backpack, if not more.
+    * Water
+    * A sport towel
+  * Food
+    * Convenience store food that doesn't require being held at low temperatures is good, such as sandwiches that aren't prone to spoilage (like mayonnaise)
+    * Snack bars
+    * Granola bars
+    * Energy jelly
+  * Pocket tissue
+  * Hand sanitizer
+  * Portable fan
+  * Frozen plastic water bottles
+  * A small folding chair
+  * A backpack to hold your purchases and other items
+    * I suggest Daiso A4/B5 protectors for media you intend to purchase.
+  * Umbrella / parasol to act as shade, rain prevention, etc.
+  * Rain poncho
+  * Sunscreen
+    * I suggest [[https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%82%A2%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2-50-%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%91%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B9%E3%83%81%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8%E3%82%A7%E3%83%AB-%E3%83%9D%E3%83%B3%E3%83%97-140g/dp/B0BSFK1RRP|Skin Aqua Super UV]] sunscreen, which can be found at limited convenience stores, but more probably, pharmacies like Welcia/etc.
+  * A hat
+Avoid foods and drinks that have diuretic effects like caffeine, green tea, coffee, etc.
+The entry line is on hard pavement/blacktop. You don't want to sit directly on it if you can avoid it, and it will get hot.
+Wear loose fitting clothes, like sport clothes, such as those from uniqlo in the "airism" brand. Wear loose fitting clothes, such as shorts.
+I suggest you look at my [[c105_report|C105 report]], which includes my backpack if you need to carry large amounts of items.
+=== You can leave the entry line! ===
+The entry line is organized into blocks, labeled like ''4の3''((For the record, the numbering starts at ''３の１'' for the normal entry line on the east side. The first two blocks are for the early entry participants. My experience is that ''３の１'' will be "closed" at around 5:50am on day 2. The closure time is, of course, on the piece of paper.)). Each column is 8 people long and there are a fixed number of rows. Once you have been organized by the staff, you can leave your line.
+An aside: "Organized by the staff" generally speaking means after the "morning briefing". Once a fixed number of rows have been created, a staff member will give general announcements in Japanese (and sometimes other languages) **to the group of people who were most recently sat down (including you)**. The "organization" of the line cutoff will be after you've been asked to sit, after announcements, after the applause for the speaker.
+Near the end of your line, you will notice that the line has a piece of paper on it. The piece of paper will tell you when to be back in line. You can, at your leisure, venture around the line, chat with friends, and go to the east hall 8 resting area, buy items from vending machines, etc. You can use the toilets!
+When you're done venturing around the venue, you can return to your exact spot in line. Please don't forget where you sat.
+**It is generally safe to leave your belongings behind in line, but please do not leave valuables behind. For example, you can leave a small camping chair, a parasol, and your backpack. But do not leave 50,000 yen.**
+{{ :0:c106:img_4629.jpeg?nolink |}}
+==== The winter ====
+In many ways, the entry line for winter is easier to manage than summer. It can be considered easier to participate because the only goal is to avoid freezing to death, which is significantly easier to manage than staying cool. You definitely need to bring cold weather items such as:
+  * A hat or earmuffs
+  * A warm coat / jacket
+  * Gloves
+  * Chemical hand warmers and toe warmers
+  * A scarf
+  * Umbrella / parasol
+  * Small sitting chair
+Initially, walking to the entry line, you will find that you will stay very warm. This is because you'll exit the station and walk to the entry line at a relatively brisk pace. Once you arrive at the line, though, you are significantly more vulnerable to the cold as you slow down and stop moving for a while. The earlier you arrive, the more vulnerable you are.
+I really suggest that you wear your cold weather clothing and plan appropriately based on the daily weather report. Remember that because of the proximity to the Tokyo Bay, the weather will be significantly cooler than inland temperatures.
+===== A general set of tips =====
+During Comic Market, you can expect to be extremely tired at the end of the day. You can expect a lot of lines, not a lot of places to sit or rest, and not a lot of items in vending machines. I offer you my tips:
+  * There are THREE ATMs on-site. Bring cash, preferably 1,000 yen notes or 500 yen coins if you can.
+    * One is in the east halls at FamilyMart (Japan Post).
+    * In the main atrium connecting east and west halls, 7-Bank and Mizuho both have ATMs next to each other.
+    * Many circles can’t break a 10,000 yen note.
+  * Your legs will be TIRED. You will be physically tired. Consider getting a hotel nearby if you can. Leave early. Plan for your body to be physically wanting to shut down by the end of the event, if you stay all day.
+  * Plan activities in one set of halls and move logically around on the map. Do not plan on returning to other halls. Changing halls is a LOT of work! You will need to navigate sometimes very long journeys outside in the hot sun to change halls.
+  * The end rush to leave is the worst time to leave if you are in a hurry. Expect at least 1 hour of time waiting to leave via train (standing in line at the station).
+  * Do not plan anything after Comic Market in the day. It’s your event for the day. Get some food/dinner, but plan on resting. You will likely need to shower after the event. It is hot, humid, and difficult in the summer.
+  * Bring good walking shoes. Practice walking before the event. You will be walking a lot.
+  * **Learn basic Japanese**. You at least will benefit from katakana, hiragana, numbers, basic manners, and terms like 新刊 at this event. If you must use a translation app, make sure your translation app works **without internet connection.**
+    * If you do not know basic Japanese, circle navigation can be extremely difficult or impossible! Communication with your fellow Otaku may also be impossible! Please try to learn basic phrases at least, like please, thank you, new release please, this please, that please, etc.
+  * Please try to count your money and be prepared to buy something when prompted. Don't wait until you're at the front of a long line to find your money.
+    * Usually I suggest putting coins in your pocket and bills in another pocket. Separate coins and bills by denomination. Many Japanese wallets (long type) conveniently have separators that work for each note type and also have a coin purse.
+  * Install [[https://nerv.app/en|NERV]] for disaster prevention news. There have been things like sudden rainstorms, typhoons, high winds, and other disasters. The worst place to be, for example, during a tsunami, is near the sea.
+===== Melonbooks and Toranoana =====
+Melonbooks and Toranoana both sell Comic Market new releases immediately after publication at their stores online and in-person. Melonbooks also opens Melonbooks Akihabara UDX, which sells even more goods. If you missed the event or missed specific circles, you might be able to find them in-store.
+Do note a general price markup: If you buy from these stores, you can pay 200-300 yen more for each item.
+===== On Booth, Fanbox benefits =====
+If you’re subscribed to Fanboxes or Fantia memberships, you may have the ability to reserve books during the event or order online. For example, one circle I visit has a signing benefit for subscribers to the Fanbox longer than 3 months. Another circle offers reservations for the new books, requiring arrival at a fixed time.
+Many circles also sell on booth after the event. Check your artist for details. These sales typically end either immediately after Comic Market (same day) or within the same week.
+Do note that even if you buy a set or similar, you’re not guaranteed to get all of the same items as were sold at Comic Market. Because of the nature of this event, items like colored paper prints, bags, totes, etc may also not be included. Please be careful.
+===== Cataloging tips =====
+When you're participating in Comic Market, you typically will need to bring a map and a list of circles you want to visit. I personally use the [[https://webcatalog.circle.ms/|Web Catalog]] for this. There is also an international version of the web catalog. It's a good idea to prioritize your circles by color coding which circles to visit, such as red for high priority and blue for low. Adding memos may be helpful.
+If you're using the web catalog, you can generate a printable file that you can then use at 7-11 to print on A4 paper (in color) and bring to the event. You should really only bring that day's respective circle list to each event.
+If you're doing this with the paper catalog, you can simply color code things on the paper catalog with a highlighter.
+I really suggest that you don't rely on your phone to access the web catalog during the event. While cell coverage has been improving over the years, this is very unreliable for things like trying to navigate your circles. Plus, if it's paper, you don't need to worry about it getting damaged -- but you probably don't want your phone destroyed.
+You can put your maps on a convenient clipboard for easy checking-off during the event.
+Similarly, if you're using the web catalog, you can use the "circle cut view" to look through each circle on a given day by genre, and see their prior works. It might be helpful to use this to see what each circle is bringing to the venue. Most circles will link off to Twitter or Pixiv, so you can easily view their works. Some of them may integrate more with circle.ms, and even show what they're distributing on the web catalog directly.