Comic Market 105, the 105th iteration of Japan’s biggest “doujin” (fan/amateur/hobbyist-made content) event, Comic Market (also known, primarily in the west, as “Comiket”) was held at Tokyo Big Sight on 29-30 December 2024.
Official website (ENG): https://www.comiket.co.jp/index_e.html
The biannual event had seen diminishing attendance since COVID-19 led to the event limiting entry following the guidelines determined by Doujin Japan 2020 since Comic Market 99: While Comic Market 97 saw a grand total of 750,000 attendees over four days, making for an average of 187,500 people showing up each day, C99 limited attendees to 55,000 per day, and while C100 increased the number to 85,000, this was still less than half C97’s count. C101 saw a slight increase to 90,000 attendees per day, and with Japan formally determining that the COVID-19 crisis was over, C102 did away with the restrictions accordingly, resulting in over 260,000 people attending over two days, and C103 similarly had 270,000 people attending over two days. C104 saw a similar but slightly less amount of people attending, with 130,000 people coming on each day for a total of 260,000 attendees, but Comic Market 105 again saw an upward trend, with 150,000 attendees on each day for a total of 300,000.
- Participants (day 1): 150,000
- Participants (day 2): 150,000
- Doujin circles (day 1): 14,500
- Doujin circles (day 2): 14,500
- Cosplayers (day 1): Male – 2388, Female – 4354
- Cosplayers (day 2): Male – 2352, Female – 3526
- Corporate entities: 114
There was a notable increase in the number of doujin circles participating with 14,500 per day; 13,700 on C103‘s first day had previously set a new record. Though Japan and Tokyo are seeing a cold wave making December colder than is usual, the temperature at the venue was relatively warm. C105 was also notable to be the first Winter Comiket in 10 years to not have one of the event’s day’s on New Year’s Eve.
While Comic Market is known primarily for its doujin (fan-made content) side, consisting primarily of doujinshi (fan-made comics, books, and magazines) but also including doujin games (not just video games, but analog games like card and board games too), doujin music, and other things like keychains, stickers, and various accessories, the event also has a significant corporate presence including numerous anime and game companies promoting their latest works and selling merchandise, and we compiled an assortment of photographs of the corporate area at Comic Market 105 below.
Comic Market might seem confusing to the point of being impenetrable to foreign visitors, but the event does in fact have an international desk that can provide aid in English, Chinese, and Korean, and the official website also has a section to help foreign visitors, and it was in fact reported that C105 saw participants from 75 different countries.
Another interesting thing done at Comic Market is blood drives by the Japanese Red Cross Society. People who donate 400ml of blood can get exclusive posters of things like anime, games, and Vtubers.
The effect of Comic Market on blood donations is quite significant: In late 2020 the NHK reported on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood drives, and noted that the Red Cross typically brought around 30 blood donation buses to Comic Market yielding 1,500 donors each time.
Comic Market is something truly special, and anyone interested in otaku culture, manga, anime, Japanese video games, or cosplay should definitely check it out.
(Unfortunately our cosplay photographer had taken ill, meaning no cosplay coverage this time. Sorry!)
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