As some people may know, I was back in Japan for New Years, and I was lucky enough that a comic convention in my somewhat local area was happening during my stay.
While I realize this event is from a while ago, I thought it may be worthwhile to write on this, especially for those folks who are interested in attending events of this sort in the future. This article will cover some general information about Japanese comic conventions, along with my personal experiences.
I will have to admit that I personally am not as well-experienced in attending these events, so the article is geared more or less towards “beginners”, though anyone is welcome to read on.

So what *is* Comic City?
Comic City is a comic convention hosted by Aka-BooBoo Tsūshinsha, and is often abbreviated as City or CC. It is held numerous times over the course of the year in either Tokyo, Osaka, or Fukuoka.
This article will be focusing on CC Osaka 77, held on January 10, 2010.

Before going to CC
The amount of preparation you can do for a comic convention depends on the event, but here are some things that you can do in advance for most conventions:
- Checking for circles – “Circles” or artist groups often have information on their website if they intend to participate in an upcoming event. If you have a certain series/genre in mind, you can easily search online for potential circles that you can visit. It would be wise to jot down which booth they will be located.
- Checking weather conditions – Most of the time, you can expect to wait in line to enter the venue, and such lines may extend and/or be located outdoors depending on the event. Always check the weather forecast, and dress accordingly. It never hurts to prepare raingear, extra layers of cloths, and liquids (to prevent dehydration).
- Checking traffic conditions – Given that these events usually attract a very large number of people, it is expected that public transit will be extremely busy and crowded. If this is your first time attending a particular venue, you would want to make sure to check transfer points and times. Often times, train stations may also take security/crowd control measures, so it may help to check your local transits’ websites for notices. Depending on which forms of transportations you plan to take, it may help to use IC cards or prepaid fare to avoid line-ups at the ticket vendors.

Given that CC Osaka 77 was the first event of its kind this year, and that it is one of the larger CCs, pamphlets (to be explained later) for this event was sold in advance. Of course, it is possible to purchase them at the venue, yet purchasing them in advance would give you more time to look over which circles are participating at the event, and would also give you an idea of the venue structure. I personally would recommend advance purchase.
However, I do have to admit I am usually the kind who ends up not doing much with the pamphlet until I get to the venue, and kill time looking at the pamphlet while waiting in line.

Things to bring
While these are items I personally prepare, I believe these are standard items that most people would bring to the event.

Starting with the “must-have”s:
- Pamphlet – For most events, this serves as an entry pass for regular attendees. Prices will vary depending on the event. They contain information regarding the venue, participating circles, and general event guidelines. I will go into more detail on this later.
- Small change – The more the better! If you are going to be at the event from the start (ie. in the morning), it is best to carry 100, 500, and/or 1000yen since circles will likely not have as much change at the beginning. Keep in mind that this is a convention where the artists are mostly amateurs, don’t expect them to be like a store where they can easily break your 10000yen bills!
- Liquids – For hydration (and in some cases, sugar). Regardless of what time of the year the event is happening, you do not want to be in a state of dehydration – it will not hurt to keep a bottle of water or tea in your bag. However, don’t overload yourself with liquids as restrooms tend to be extremely crowded throughout the event.
- Large durable bag – Needless to say, this is for carrying your acquisitions. My recommendation would be to use something like a tote bag – yes, it will potentially put a lot of weight on your shoulder, but the pain will only last for less than a day, and if you are that concerned about damaging your shoulder, just don’t buy that much! On the contrary, I do not recommend using those small suitcases with wheels. Yes, it may make it easier for you to carry your heavy books, but keep in mind that it can potentially block traffic (especially in front of stairs!), and it may be difficult to maneuver in the crowd. If you must use one of those, keep in mind you may end up constantly bumping into more people than you need, or being cussed at by a large number of people.

Other items that come in handy:
- Portable gaming devices – These especially come in handy if you plan to attend from the start of the event. You will be grateful to have one of these once you are finished browsing through the pamphlet about a hundred times and still have time to kill.
- Writing utensils – More specifically, highlighters. These come in handy when you are marking down which circles you want to check out.
- Sketchbook (more on this in part 2 or the article)
I realize I have listed quite a few items, though you will want to keep the amount of things to bring to a minimum – again, keep in mind that you are entering an extremely crowded venue.

Pamphlets
Personally, when I heard the word “pamphlet”, I had the impression they would be thin, 1-page things, but that impression has been completely shattered after attending my first CC.
“Pamphlets” for comic conventions tend to have at least a few hundred pages, and thus end up being rather thick and heavy.
You don’t believe me? See for yourself:

I know I’m using a rather old pamphlet in comparison, but in the photo are 2 pamphlets – one from Day 1 of Super Comic City Osaka 12 back in 2006 (on the top), and the other from Comic City Osaka 77 (on the bottom). I’m sure you can tell how thick they are by comparing it to the board from that video game system.
In terms of event intensity, both SCC Osaka 12 and CC Osaka 77 are about the same; however, the former extended for 2 days but with a smaller venue, and the pamphlet in the photo was only for the first day, which explains why the pamphlet is slightly thinner.
The thickness of the pamphlet somewhat reflects the size/intensity of the event, so you can expect the Comic Market (Comiket) pamphlets to be rather thick (and consequently heavy).

That’s about it for prepping for the event, the following article will cover things that go on during the actual event.

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