Comiket draws 260,000 fans, participants from record 76 countries
More than a quarter million attendees, including around 9,000 cosplayers, attended the convention held at Tokyo Bight Sight.
Tokyo's Big Sight venue transformed into a bustling hub for Japanese anime, manga, and game enthusiasts during Comic Market 108, also known as Comiket. Held over two days from August 15 to 16, this twice-yearly dōjinshi convention witnessed a record-breaking attendance of 260,000 fans, marking a 10,000-person increase from the previous year.
Spread across 23,000 spaces, the event showcased works crafted by participating circles, ranging from manga and art to various DIY items. Alongside the circulating creations, 121 companies exhibited merchandise and hosted special activities such as panels and meet-and-greet sessions. Cosplay took center stage, with approximately 9,000 participants registering for the outdoor cosplay areas, paralleling last summer's figures despite intermittent rain.
Attendees donned elaborate costumes, even sporting swimsuit versions of characters from popular video games like Goddess of Victory: Nikke, Blue Archive, and Azur Lane. The event's international appeal reached new heights, with a record 76 countries and regions represented among the attendees, according to organizers' ticket sales estimates.
Comiket has evolved since its inaugural edition in 1975, when just 32 circles and around 700 people were present. The upcoming Comiket 109, set for December 29 to 31, will for the first time span three days, responding to the demand that prevented last winter's event from reaching its previous record of approximately 750,000 people over four days.
For many fans, Comiket represents a vibrant space of discovery, connection, and celebration of their favorite fandoms.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
